Chapter Thirty-Six
DEE
The Next Day
We spent last night making love—hard and fast, then slow and romantic.
Now I’m completely worn out, curled up in our bed with Colt’s arms wrapped tightly around me.
He’s still asleep, and I don’t have the heart to wake him.
After everything he’s been through in the last twenty-four hours, he deserves this moment of peace.
I hold him a little tighter and close my eyes, letting his scent calm me. I’ve missed him. It was only a week apart, but even an hour without him feels like too much. Being back here, wrapped in him, feels right. Feels like home.
There is still a twinge of guilt for asking him to take the test, but if he hadn’t, I’d be in Joseph’s guest room right now, pining for my husband and believing I left him so he could be with his ‘family.’ A family that was never his to begin with.
I can’t believe Macy never told him about Hux.
That betrayal is going to tear at more than just their brotherly relationship.
It could rip the band apart. And I know, somehow, I’m going to have to be the one to help Colt fix it.
Even if Hux is a complete pain in my ass, Colt still loves his brother.
He needs him even if he doesn’t realize it yet.
Colt stirs beside me, his arms tightening as he inhales like he’s breathing me in. “This is how I’m meant to wake up every morning,” he murmurs into my hair, his lips brushing my scalp.
“What do you mean?” I ask softly.
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. “Waking up entangled with my wife… shagged out from rooting her all night,” he smirks.
I chuckle. “You have such a way with words.” Shaking my head, I lean up to kiss him. He meets me halfway, soft and slow, his hand brushing over my cheek.
“Yesterday really was a shit show, I’m sorry,” I whisper.
He sighs, his expression softening. “Don’t be. I should’ve gotten the paternity test ages ago. I just… he looked so much like me. I didn’t stop to think that it’s because he looks like my fucking idiot brother.” I feel him tense again, and I know where this is headed.
“Look,” I begin carefully. “About Hux… what he did was wrong, no doubt about that. But maybe you should talk to him. I know he’s probably feeling like shit. For the sake of the band, at least hear him out.”
“Fuck him. He’s out of the band,” Colt growls.
“Babe…” I sigh. “12GUAGE-Slayed can’t exactly be about the Slade brothers if there’s only one of you.”
“I don’t care. We’ll change the name, get a new guitarist, whatever. That prick is never stepping foot on stage with me again. He’s always wanted what’s mine. He’s probably hit on you, too.”
I swallow hard. The first time I met Hux, he did throw out a line about ditching Colt for a ‘real man.’ But now’s not the time for that morsel of truth.
“No,” I lie gently. “He’s never tried anything. He hates me, remember? I doubt he’d ever try to get in my pants.”
“Give him time,” Colt mutters. “He’ll try.”
“Colt, I know you’re pissed, and I get it, but maybe Macy seduced him. You don’t know the full story.”
“Ha. Don’t even get me started on that bitch,” Colt snaps, turning his face into the pillow.
“Okay,” I say quietly, conceding for now.
He exhales hard. “You think you know people. Turns out, you don’t know shit. How the fuck am I supposed ever to trust Hux again, Dee?”
“He’s still the same person, Colt. He made a mistake, a big one, yeah, but it was a long time ago.
And, if you think about it, he did you a favor.
If he hadn’t screwed up with Macy, you might’ve married her.
You’d be stuck in some nine-to-five job, living a life that never would’ve brought you your dream… or me.”
His eyes find mine, and his shoulders relax. “I wouldn’t have met you,” he says softly. “And my life would be fucking empty.”
“Very fucking empty,” I tease. “Now shut up and kiss me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmurs before his mouth meets mine, hungry and grateful.
***
While Colt is in the shower, I head downstairs to start breakfast. I open the refrigerator only to find it practically empty—clearly, he didn’t get groceries delivered while I was gone. I sigh and shut the door, then cross to the coffee machine and start a pot.
My eyes fall on my phone, and I bite my bottom lip.
I shouldn’t, but… maybe I should.
Screw it.
I pick it up and call Hux.
He answers on the first ring. “Dee, is he okay?”
That alone tells me how much he regrets how things went down. “He’s okay. Quiet. Still angry.”
“Yeah… I get that.” He exhales. “I’m such an idiot.
I should’ve told him why Macy really left him back then.
We’d been fighting our attraction for ages.
That night, she came to me crying after another fight about the band.
I tried to comfort her, and before I knew it, we were on the lounge, making out.
One thing led to another, and, well, I guess I have super sperm,” he mutters.
I chuckle despite myself. “It was only that once. A couple of weeks later, Macy dumped him. Then poof, she vanished. But I need my brother, Dee.”
“I know,” I say gently. “And Colt needs you too. That’s why I’m calling. I think… I think you should come over today. Talk to him. Be honest. No more lies. Do it for the band. Do it for your relationship. You’re going on tour soon. You can’t go out there fractured.”
“He’s talking about kicking me out, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” I admit. “And we both know that can’t happen. So come over. I won’t tell him. You just show up. He’s in the shower now, so give it an hour and a half. Just…” I pause to find the right words, “… don’t screw this up, Hux.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and when he speaks again, I hear something in his voice I haven’t heard before—humility. “Thank you, Dee. Seriously. I know this mess has torn you both up. I just hope you two are okay?”
“We’re getting there. But Colt is devastated. He thought he had a son. He lost his only shot at a biological child to you. That kind of pain doesn’t go away overnight. So tread lightly.”
He sighs. “I misjudged you. I’ve been a fucking prick. Sorry! Guess I was jealous.”
“Jealous?” I ask, blinking with shock.
“Of you and Colt. Of what you have. Of what Johnny and Anna have. Sia and Dingo. You came into our world and took all of Colt’s attention, and I was left out.
I just… wanted that kind of love, and instead of owning up to it, I took it out on you because you were the easiest target.
You didn’t deserve that. I respect you, Dee.
I really do. I want to be a better brother-in-law. ”
I blink back sudden tears as he continues, “Macy’s the only girl I ever really felt something for. Her coming back, Caleb… it’s like a second chance. I want to try with her. But I’ll ask Colt’s permission first. I know he loved her once. I just… I need to make it right.”
“Wow,” I say. “I had no idea.”
“No one does. You’re the only person I’ve ever told. Macy doesn’t even know.”
“Well, your Playboy days make a lot more sense now.”
He laughs. “Yeah. Anyway, I’ll be over in a bit. Thanks again. Really.”
“Just don’t upset him, or he might actually break your nose this time.”
“Dude’s got a mean right hook,” he mutters with a chuckle. “See you soon.”
I end the call as Colt walks in, towel slung low around his hips, hair damp, fresh from the shower. I slide my phone onto the counter and cross the room to wrap my arms around his waist.
He holds me just as tightly. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Well, someone forgot to order groceries,” I tease.
“I wasn’t exactly eating much while you were gone.”
“I handled the Caleb thing badly, but I swear, I thought I was doing what was right for you.”
“I know,” he says softly. “But it’s all worked out in the end.” Then his voice deepens. “Now, enough of the sad, mopey shit. Feed me, woman.” He pounds his chest like a caveman, and I giggle.
I rummage through the pantry and find a single can of beans. “This will have to do until I can get online and order some actual food.”
He smirks. “What?”
“Why are you smirking like that?”
“You want sausage with your beans?” he asks, grabbing his crotch.
I roll my eyes. “You’re disgusting.”
“My point stands.”
My Colt is back.
We finish our makeshift breakfast, and just as I’m clearing the plates, there’s a knock at the front door. Colt and I glance at each other.
“Expecting someone?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nope.”
We walk to the door together, and I brace for Hux, but it’s Joseph standing there with Princess barreling inside at full speed. She jumps up at my legs.
“Mummy missed you,” I coo, scooping her into my arms.
“I think you love that dog more than me,” Colt mutters.
“Sometimes I do,” I tease.
Joseph laughs. “So, I take it… things are back to normal?”
Colt wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in. “Yeah. I’ve got my girls back. Thanks for bringing her home.”
“They belong here.”
But then another car’s wheels crunch up the driveway.
Colt stiffens. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
I place a calming hand on his arm. “Let him explain. You two need to sort this out.”
He folds his arms but doesn’t argue.
“Hey Joseph,” I say brightly. “Have you seen the willow tree?”
Everyone turns to me like I’ve grown an extra head.
“Uh, yeah. You got married under it, remember?” Joseph replies.
I give him a wide-eyed get-with-the-program look.
“Oh! That willow tree. Yeah, you better show me again.”
“Subtle, Dee,” Colt mutters, but I shoot him a pleading glance.
“No violence,” I whisper.
He exhales and nods as Joseph and I step outside, Princess trotting after us. It’s freezing, and I instantly regret my lack of layers, but we need to give the Slade brothers their space.
After what feels like forever—and losing all feeling in my toes—we head back in. I brace for shouting or bloodshed, but what I hear instead is music.
Joseph glances at me, and I can’t fight the bright smile lighting my face.
We follow the sound to the music room and find the brothers sitting with their guitars, playing together, grinning like nothing ever happened.
Relief floods me, and I let out a contented sigh, cuddling into Joseph, and we quietly make our way back to the living room.
***
“So, how’d it go with Hux?” I ask as Colt and I climb into bed for the night. The house is finally quiet after our two visitors left.
He exhales and leans back against the headboard. “Yeah… good. We talked it through. Hux told me he loves Macy. Can you believe that?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Maybe he needs to settle down. He has a family now, so why not make it official?”
“At first, I was against it,” Colt admits. “But then I thought, if Macy makes him happy, and I never want her in my life like that again, then why stop them? So I told him to go for it. My only hope is that she doesn’t screw him over.”
“I’m glad you two worked it out. The band needs that. You need that. And I know how much you love Hux, even if he’s a total dick sometimes.”
Colt smirks. “Hell yeah, he is a dick. But at least we’re on the same page now. He even told me he’ll be nicer to you from now on, seeing as he’s pretty sure you’re not going anywhere.”
I grin and lean over, kissing his shoulder. “Well, he’s right about that… I’m not going anywhere!”
Six Months Later
It’s been a few months since everything happened, and now the guys are officially kicking off their tour. Sia had her baby boy—an adorable bundle of chaos—and, believe it or not, Dingo is a surprisingly great father.
We’re all standing off to the side of the stage at their first concert back.
Anna, Sia, Macy, and me. It’s Macy’s first time seeing them perform live, so we’re all secretly watching her—waiting to see if she reacts like we all did our first time or if she really does hate their music as she claimed.
The lights dim, and the crowd explodes in a wave of screams. Anna grabs my hand, her grin stretching ear to ear.
This is always my favorite part—that pulse of anticipation just before the band takes over.
Dingo kicks in with a heavy drum beat, and Sia squeals beside us, bouncing like a fangirl.
Anna and I giggle, feeding off the excitement.
Next, Johnny walks out with his guitar, and Anna absolutely loses it, screaming and clapping like a teenager.
It makes me laugh and cheer louder. Then comes Hux, swaggering out like he owns the place, and all eyes shift to Macy.
She’s biting her lip, smiling, her body practically vibrating with energy, but she’s trying to hide it.
I catch Anna’s eye and smirk.
The band launches into their latest hit, and I swear I can feel the bass rip through my chest. I forgot how intense a 12GUAGE-Slayed concert really is. It’s not just sound, it’s a full-body experience.
Then, the spotlight hits center stage, and the crowd erupts like a bomb is going off. Colt rises through the floor, guitar in hand, spotlight blazing, looking every bit the rock god he is. I scream so loud my throat hurts, and jump up and down like I’ve never seen him perform before.
I don’t care if I look like a lunatic, I’m so damn proud of him.
He starts to sing the opening lyrics, and his voice is pure sex, rolling over me like a heatwave.
I sway with the rhythm, biting my lip because God, I want him right now.
My panties are soaked, and if he weren’t so hell-bent on keeping me off the damn stage, I’d be up there dragging him into the wings to make him mine right then and there.
But I know him, he’d lose his mind if anyone so much as looked at me naked.
The show keeps building, and when it’s Hux’s turn to solo, he crushes it.
We all scream for him, and I glance over at Macy just in time to see her bounce up and down, fully caught in the moment.
She realizes we’re watching her and freezes like she’s been caught doing something illegal.
We burst out laughing. She glances back at Hux, and that soft smile returns to her lips as she crosses her arms over her chest, trying to reel it back in.
But we saw it.
That first taste.
That moment when the music takes over, and there’s no turning back.
She’s hooked, just like we all were.
It’s only the beginning. The first show is always just the start, but before long, Macy will be up here with us, screaming every lyric, dancing her heart out, and claiming her place in the sisterhood.
Once a Slayette, always a Slayette.