Chapter 38
Colt
Isit on the hospital bed, my shoulder and arm throbbing.
Denver and Finn are with Theo while he gets checked over, and Ronan is still at the burning house, bribing whoever he needs to.
I told him and Finn about seeing Ranger again, and our men are still at the airstrip.
His plane hasn’t left. If he’s still alive, he won’t leave this city.
My bones ache, and I shift back on the bed and rest against the pillow, groaning softly. The medication is wearing off and I need a fuck load more.
And luck is finally on my side, because the curtain opens and a doctor steps in. He’s around my age, blond, and is reading a chart. “Mr. Harland.” He looks at me. “Rough night.”
I hum in agreement. “Burglary.”
He arches a brow as if he isn’t stupid. “In a burning house? Those burglars weren’t smart.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
He takes off his stethoscope and places the cold disc against my chest, asking me to breathe in. I do, and I eye his name badge. “Sebastian Whitlock. Sounds like a superhero name.”
“Married name.”
The name knocks on a memory somewhere, but I’m unsure how I’d know him.
“You’re not from New York.”
He pulls back the bandages and examines the wound, and I hiss in pain. “What gave me away?”
“Accent,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I moved here not long ago. Figured a different hospital would be a good change of pace.” We’re quiet while he works, and he puts on fresh bandages. “Bullets went through. You’re lucky.”
Once he’s finished, I wince as I pull on my T-shirt with great fucking difficulty. “I don’t know whether you’ve ever been shot, but it doesn’t feel lucky.”
He smiles as he tidies up the packaging. “I took two in the back once.”
I pause, adjusting my good shoulder as if to remind myself what normal motion feels like. “I didn’t expect that.”
“Neither did I.” He straightens up. “I’d prefer you to stay in so we can monitor your lungs.”
“Too busy.”
He tuts, as if he’s heard it before. “Keep the wounds clean. Don’t get shot again. You’ll be fine.”
He leaves and I take a breath, rubbing my head. This is beyond tired. This is bone fucking exhaustion. But I need to keep moving. I can sleep when I’m home.
I find Denver in the children’s ward, sitting by Theo’s bed, running her fingers through his hair as she stares at him. Finn brought her some clothes from home so she’s in jeans and a T-shirt, her face washed, her hair pulled back. He’s watching her with a concerned smile that I understand.
She has to let him go again. Theo’s mom is on the way. Taf is waiting at the airport for her now, and it’ll be a miracle if she doesn’t press charges. Her son was taken by the husband of a woman who showed up at her house unannounced, sobbing and saying she was Theo’s mom. It’s a fucking mess.
Theo seems fine, though. He has a packet of blueberries between his bare feet, his lips purple as he eats them enthusiastically. When I last held him, he was covered in soot and sweat, but Denver must have cleaned him up and he’s …
He has Denver’s gray eyes, but his hair is dark, almost black. Wyatt’s hair was brown, and … I look at Finn, and his returning expression says he sees it, too.
Theo is Ranger’s son.
It’s unmistakable.
Denver lets out a relieved breath when she sees me and stands, wrapping her arms around my waist. “How are you feeling? What did the doctor say?”
“His medical advice was not to get shot again.” I kiss her hair. “I’m okay.”
She smiles weakly at me before returning to Theo’s side.
“Isn’t he so beautiful? I think he looks like Dad.
Do you think he looks like Dad?” she asks Finn.
He nods, smiling warmly, and she gazes at her son, her smile bright.
“We can explain everything now. I can tell her the truth about how I lost him. Maybe she’ll let me see him. Do you think she will?”
I take a seat on the bed, and Theo blinks up at me. “Denver—”
“She might understand,” she says quickly, looking between Finn and me. “If I talk to her, she might … she might get it.” She runs her hand over Theo’s hair, and he picks up another blueberry. “She’ll understand. I’ll just tell her the truth.”
Finn goes to get an update from Ronan, and after Theo finishes his blueberries and falls asleep, Denver curls up on the bed beside him. She plays with his hair, never looking away from him.
“Do you think he knows me?” she asks quietly.
I lean my hand into the bed to watch them both. “Maybe. He heard your voice for a long time, and he seems pretty calm.”
Her longing expression is torture to see. “He’s Ranger’s son,” she whispers. “And Ranger knows that.”
I take her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Then we’ll protect him and his family. Ranger won’t get near him.”
She nods but seems unconvinced. It won’t be easy. Even if Ranger was hurt tonight, he’ll be back. He might come at us with everything if he has Denver and his son to fight for.
We’re each lost in our own thoughts, and when Theo’s mom arrives, we hear her before we see her.
“—my son, where is he?”
Denver gets off the bed, and Theo remains asleep as the curtains are thrown back. Jennifer Matthews stares at us, her eyes wild, and I see the moment she recognizes us.
And she slaps Denver across the face.
The sound climbs across my skull, and Denver takes a step back, her hand on her cheek as she registers the hit. Jennifer goes for her again. I pull Denver behind me and catch Jennifer’s hand.
“I understand you’re upset, but if you hit her again, I’ll have you removed from this hospital,” I say quietly, the staff and other patients watching with wide eyes.
Jennifer glares at me tearfully and I release her.
She immediately goes to Theo, and I turn to Denver, cupping her neck.
“Are you okay?” She nods silently, her cheek already flushed red.
Jennifer picks up Theo as he starts to cry. “It’s okay baby, it’s okay. Mommy’s here. We’re going now.”
“He has to stay overnight,” Denver says quietly.
“Why?” Jennifer demands, holding Theo to her chest. “What did you do to him? What did that man do to him?”
Denver straightens her shoulders. “There was a fire. He’s fine, his lungs are fine, but the doctors want to keep him just in case.”
“Fire.” Jennifer’s eyes fill with fresh tears. “Why would you do this? Why would you take him?”
I draw the curtains closed, and Denver steels herself, a cold kind of calm washing over her expression. “I didn’t take him. I didn’t even know he’d been adopted.”
“Liar! I have the paperwork. I—”
“The man who took Theo is my husband,” Denver says, and she sounds detached, almost like she’s talking about someone else. “When Theo was born—”
“Daniel,” Jennifer bites out. “His name is Daniel.”
Denver swallows hard, and I war against the urge to hold her.
“When Daniel was born, I was told he’d died.
I only found out a few weeks ago that I was lied to.
” Jennifer frowns, holding onto Daniel tightly, but says nothing.
“My husband is a dangerous man, Jennifer. He’s powerful.
He’s angry. And I know you want to walk away, but you need protection.
I’ll arrange for it, but you can’t fight me on it. ”
Jennifer whispers, “I don’t care who your husband is. I don’t care who you think you are. I’m going home.”
“If you go without my help, my husband will take him again,” Denver says. “I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this, but my priority is keeping my … is keeping Daniel safe.”
The two women stare at each other, both wanting the same thing, both likely despising the other.
Denver continues, “Until I can figure out how to stop Ranger from doing anything, you’ll always have someone close by.
” She dips her hand into her pocket and takes out a piece of paper.
Her number is scribbled on it. “If you see anything suspicious, no matter what it is, a car parked outside for too long, strange calls, even if a delivery shows up and you didn’t order it, you call.
I’ll get my men to verify anything.” Jennifer looks at the paper like it’s infectious but takes it.
“So, what now? You hire some fancy lawyer to take him? Because I’ll fight you.”
“No,” Denver says softly, shaking her head. “I’m not going to take him from the only life he’s known. You … you don’t even have to tell him I exist.”
“I know what I can and can’t do for my own son,” Jennifer snaps.
Denver withdraws slightly. “I know. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—” She clears her throat. “I just mean it would probably be safer if he didn’t know who he’s related to.”
Jennifer lets out a breath and leans against the bed. She closes her eyes, tears tickling her lashes, and Denver reaches for my hand. She squeezes it tightly, her body close to trembling, and I want nothing more than to take this all away for her. To make it better.
“I should head home,” Denver says. “Leave you to rest. If you want, I can put you up in a hotel—”
“No,” Jennifer says quickly, but with far less bite. “I want to stay here with him.”
Denver smiles weakly, her attention on Theo as he sleeps against Jennifer’s chest.
“He sleeps a lot,” Denver says.
Jennifer nods, eyeing Denver with caution. “He always has.”
“He was okay? As a baby?”
“Yeah. I mean, he’s my first, my only, so … I have no one to compare him to,” Jennifer says, her tone softening a touch. “But he was good. He … he smiles a lot. Always laughing.”
Denver’s eyes shine. “That’s nice. I’m glad he’s happy.” She rubs her hands together and sniffs. “You have my number if you need me.” She squeezes my hand as she passes, disappearing through the curtain.
Jennifer watches her go, and I wonder what she thinks of this mess. Her son taken. In hospital. This day has been a lot for everyone, but we’re used to the hell that comes with being in this world. Jennifer isn’t.
“She’s a good person,” I say, and Jennifer eyes me quietly. “All she ever wanted was Theo.” I smile at the baby in her arms. “You know where we are if you need us.”