Chapter 53 Colten
FIFTY-THREE
COLTEN
The idea of Lexi ever hurting has always broken me out into a cold sweat. As if somehow her pain is linked to mine, no matter how far-fetched that might seem.
But when she’s in danger? Every cell in my body is screaming, begging me to bring the other part of my soul back.
Because that’s what she is. What she’s always been.
I have no idea how I ever thought I could watch her love someone else, but now I won’t have to, because I will bring her home, and I’ll never let her out of my sight again.
My fingers fly over the keyboard, following the bouncing ball through servers and databases, blasting through firewalls like it’s what I was put on this planet to do.
But the reality is, I was only put on the earth for one thing.
To love Lexi.
Cruz barks orders into his phone on the other side of the room, occasionally softening when Pancake weaves through his legs, staring up at him through big green eyes until he inevitably relents and gives her a pat.
I had no idea cats were so aware of strong emotions. People always speak of dogs being emotionally intelligent, but from the way Pancake moves from the couch where Riley and Mary speak in hushed whispers to me and Cruz, I’d argue that cats are just as aware.
A small, manicured hand appears on the desk, just an inch from where mine rests on the keyboard.
I blink up at Riley, worry etched into her brow.
“Do you need anything? I haven’t seen you stop since we got here.”
“I’ll stop when Lexi’s home,” I reply, turning my attention back to the task at hand.
I’m close, I can feel it.
Digging through the web of clues has been the distraction I needed while we wait for the team to canvas the area and confirm Lexi is there, because we simply don’t have the extra men to infiltrate a building if our guy has just ditched her shoes, and therefore the tracker, at some random warehouse.
Nico and his men will land shortly, and at that point we’ll go in regardless of whether we have confirmation or not.
“Colten?” Riley waits for me to look up before continuing. “She’s going to be okay. You don’t think Lexi’s going to go down without one hell of a fight, right?”
I shake my head. It’s not in my girl’s nature to take something like this lying down, and I doubt she’s going to start now.
“Exactly. We’re going to bring her home, and she’ll be back to keeping you and Cruz on your toes.”
I nod, but the reminder of my wildcat and how she pushes boundaries only strengthens my need to lock her up in an ivory tower where nothing and no one can ever hurt her again.
“You and Cruz have given her all the tools she needs to survive until we get there. Trust her to keep herself safe until then.”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m cut off when my phone buzzes across the desk beside me.
I read over the message and meet my best friend’s eyes across the room before he gives me a slight nod.
“It’s time to move out. We’re leaving in five minutes.”
Time to go get my girl.