Chapter Fourteen
Colt’s hand clamps around my wrist, stopping me mid-stride. My breath catches as I whirl around, my pulse hammering in my ears.
Before I can protest, he grips both my arms, his hold firm but not forceful. His eyes burn into mine—dark, pleading, desperate.
“Dee, don’t you dare walk away from me,” he says, his voice low and rough, thick with something I can’t quite name. Frustration? Fear? Both?
My throat tightens. I feel the weight of every stare on us, the unspoken questions lingering in the air. My bottom lip trembles, but I bite down, swallowing the urge to let the tears fall.
“What?” I whisper, barely able to hold his gaze. “What do you want me to say, Colt?”
His jaw flexes, and for a moment, he doesn’t answer. Just watches me, his grip tightening ever so slightly.
“I don’t know,” he finally admits. His voice drops, barely above a whisper. “Don’t say anything if you don’t want to. Just… don’t walk away.”
“But wouldn’t it be easier if I did just that?
That way, you could have fun with all the girls.
I’m sure you miss having your little orgies and wild sex parties.
Since I came along, all you have done is go to bed with me in the next room while everyone here is partying.
Don’t you miss it? Don’t you wish I weren’t here so you could get it on with everyone?
I’m holding you back from who you really are. Who you’re meant to be—”
“Will you shut up, woman? No, I don’t miss it.
If I did, I’d still be doing it. I don’t want wild orgies and to party on, Dee.
I’m happy… with you. I want you, and only you.
You’re not holding me back. You brought the real me out of the man who was nothing but a shell.
I had no soul, and I didn’t care about anything.
You showed me how to live again, Dee. You did that. ”
He smiles but keeps talking, “So don’t talk to me about who I really am or who I’m meant to be because the person in front of you right now is who I am.
The guy who’s so into you that he makes a scene in the penthouse and has everyone staring at him as he confesses his feelings for you.
” I look around at everyone watching us.
“That’s who I am, Dee,” he says, hitting his chest with his hands.
“Jessi wanted this to happen. She’s a jealous minge, and her sole focus is getting you to leave.
But I’m not going to let that happen. I won’t let that happen.
” He exhales and looks down, shaking his head like he’s defeated.
I’m stunned in place. My heart is beating uncontrollably fast, knowing everyone’s watching us.
Colt glances up, his eyes meeting mine, waiting for me to say something… anything.
Letting out a long breath, I simply nod. “Okay,” I reply calmly, and he looks at me with his brow raised in question.
“Okay?” he asks, his head jerking back, testing the word on his lips.
“I get Jessi, and I understand her motives. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be with you? You’re amazing, Colt. Your past and I will have disagreements, but I think as long as we stay in the present, I’ll be okay,” I tell him honestly, meaning every word.
He smiles brightly, and when he pulls me to him, I wrap my arms around his waist as he nuzzles into my hair.
“Whoop, whoop! Now you two need to go and have some awesome makeup sex,” Dingo calls out.
“I think right now, I need another beer,” I joke, though not completely. I do need something to take the edge off.
Colt nods in agreement and walks with me over to the refrigerator while everyone, now seemingly done with our show, goes about their partying.
We take our beers and head over to the couch, where Jared and Hux are dividing cocaine into lines on the table. I look up at Colt, who shakes his head and leads me toward the bedroom.
We walk in to Johnny and Anna walking out of the attached ensuite. Poor Anna looks terrible. She’s pale and shaking.
“You all right?” Colt asks, letting go of me and helping Johnny take Anna to the bed.
She waves her hand in the air in some sort of gesture, but I’m unsure what it means.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She’s been puking her guts up. I think maybe it’s food poisoning,” Johnny says, his eyes glassing over full of concern.
“Shit! What did you eat, Anna?” Colt asks.
“I ate the prawns from the buffet. Everyone else ordered food, but I had the buffet. At the time, I thought the prawns weren’t chilled enough. I should’ve listened to myself,” she says, then a sound escapes her mouth as she dry retches.
“I so don’t want to be here right now. That music is killing my head,” she murmurs, and I look across at Colt. He’ll probably hate me for this, but I want Anna to be comfortable.
“Take our room. Both of you can stay in there. There’s an ensuite close to the bed, so you won’t have any issues. Plus, there’s not a giant celebrity party going on in there,” I offer, looking at Colt, who smiles at me.
“Are you sure?” I know you two like to have your privacy?” Anna asks quietly.
“One night won’t kill us. Plus, I’ll feel much happier knowing you’re comfortable.”
“I don’t want to intrude on you two—”
“Shut up and take the room, woman,” Johnny exclaims, and we all chuckle in response.
“Okay, thank you, guys. I really appreciate it,” she says with a tremble.
“We both do,” Johnny relays as he leans down and picks her tiny body up in his arms.
“This is our room. You guys stay in here, okay? Don’t let any of the others talk you into letting them have this room. It’s the best one, although the bathroom smells like puke. Sorry,” Johnny apologizes with a slight smirk, and Anna moans.
“Get her to bed, Johnny. If she gets worse, call a doctor,” I tell him.
“Yes, Mum,” he replies before he walks out the door.
Colt closes the door behind Johnny, and we’re alone in our new room for the night.
“That was nice of you,” Colt says, walking across to me.
“You would’ve done the same thing.”
“Should we go out and enjoy the night with the others for a little longer?”
“Sure, why not?” I reply, and he leads me back out to the living room of the penthouse suite.
By this time, the after-party is in full swing, and the penthouse is crowded.
I look up at Colt, who is smirking at me.
Confused, I glance around the room.
There are half-naked women everywhere, and I can’t help but wonder if Colt gets turned on by them waltzing around in their underwear. He takes my hand and leads me to a spare spot on the couch. Unfortunately, it’s right next to Jared and Hux, who are laughing and setting up more lines of cocaine.
“Hux, man, seriously, why are you doing that shit again? You know what happened last time you were using.” Colt’s voice leaves no room for misunderstanding how he feels about what’s happening.
Hux rolls his eyes at Colt while Jared laughs. “Don’t worry about me. I have this sorted. It won’t get like last time. I know what I’m doing,” Hux replies as he snorts a line off the coffee table.
I look at Colt, who’s frowning, and his brows furrow. He then pulls me into his lap and holds me securely.
“Sorry, you gotta see this,” Colt says, then nibbles on my earlobe.
“Colt, you wanna line? It’s real good shit,” Jared asks.
“No,” he says with finality.
“Oh, c’mon man, live a little. You used to love to party?”
“I said… no, Coslecki. Don’t ask me again,” Colt replies with a stern voice.
“Geez, chill out, man. How ’bout you, Dee? You wanna go, baby?” Jared asks.
“Don’t go there. In no way will Dee ever touch that shit, and if you ask her again, I’ll make sure when I hit you, this time I actually break your nose,” Colt berates, clenching his fists.
This defensiveness has me concerned. I know Colt’s had dealings with drugs and partying in his past, but the way he’s reacting makes me think there’s more to this story.
“And as for you, little brother, when you end up back in rehab, don’t think I’ll be the one to come and help you through it again. You know how quickly you get sucked into this world and where it leads. You’re turning out just like Dad.”
“Fuck off, Colt. I can handle myself, and don’t you dare compare me to that fucker.
I’m in control of my life, and I’m having a bit of fun.
You know, letting my hair down and enjoying myself, something you seem to have forgotten how to do since you met little Miss Prim and Proper over there,” Hux answers, waving his hand at me.
Wow, I had no idea Hux didn’t like me.
I always knew Hux kept his distance, but it never crossed my mind that he blamed me for Colt not being around anymore.
Until now.
Colt scoffs, shaking his head before his lip curls in pure disgust. “Jesus, Hux. You’re high as a fucking kite. Maybe it’s time someone knocked you back down to earth.” His voice is sharp, lethal, and then, he shifts, moving me off his lap before pushing to his feet.
Panic tightens around my ribs. Not again. The last thing I need is another damn fight that ends in blood and bruises.
Hux meets Colt’s stance head-on, the space between them razor-thin, their chests rising and falling like they’re breathing in pure gasoline. Fists clenched. Jaws tense. Eyes locked in a stare so sharp it could cut the air we’re all frantically breathing.
One wrong word, one twitch, and this whole thing goes nuclear.
Hux bends down, his eyes narrow on Colt, his head tilted like some super villain, all while rubbing his finger along the leftover remnants of the cocaine on the table.
What in the hell is he doing?
Then, with a malicious smirk, Hux brings his powdered finger up and smudges the cocaine along Colt’s bottom lip.
Oh shit, Hux just launched the codes.
Colt frantically smacks Hux’s hand away from him with a grunt, Hux instantly returning fire, pushing Colt forcefully backward. “What the fuck do you think you’re playing at, Hux?” Colt asks.
I can’t help but notice that Colt licks the cocaine from his lips rather than wiping it away, my heart instantly sinking seeing the slight movement.
BOOM.