Colt had one of his friends take me back to the Fletcher mansion.It was unlike him, and I wondered if he was going to handle Mateo’s family or our blackmailer who he said they were close to catching.His friend Axel was chatty and breezy with all the markings of a playboy. And in my wariness, the first few minutes of the drive were uncomfortable. But when he started to sing along to Billie Eilish's song blasting from the car, I found my muscles relaxing. His voice was horrible, and I turned my face to the window to hide my smile. “You’re not laughing at me, miss, are you?”I pressed my lips together, shaking my head, even though my shoulders were quivering with barely restrained laughter.It struck me how much he and Colt had in common. And I suddenly felt like a misfit.I should not be here. I was supposed to break up with Colt, stay away for his own safety. But as usual, he cornered me again, took back the reins as soon as he went into that restroom with me yesterday. And now
I shifted under Colt’s intense stare, but went on, “I don’t think any of the other bikers saw us earlier. Only Delilah did.” “Delilah wouldn’t do that,” he replied with a contemplative expression.“Can I see it?” I changed the topic, “the building,” and my finger touched his computer.He opened it, but as he navigated to his emails, my eyes caught something.“Ten years?” I asked, and his eyes met mine. He squinted in confusion.“It’s been eleven years since senior high. Why are they having the decade-old reunion now?”“Do you keep in touch?” A small smile appeared on his face.“I’m surprised you do, seeing how you spoke to no one back then.” I rolled my eyes, and his hand fell to my waist.“I did talk to you.” His voice was amused.“Only after sticking a finger up inside me, and then calling me…” I trailed off, swallowing the rest of the sentence.I had learned to hate him for years, not understanding his rationale for humiliating me that way. And it would take time to unlearn that.
I heard heavy boots stomping towards us.“I know he’s here,” a gruff male voice said, and I shivered to the haunting memory of the man who nearly abducted me yesterday.My wide eyes met Colt’s, but he lay his index finger on my lips. I sealed my lips even as my heart raced fast with questions.Was this man not supposed to be in Dean’s custody? Although Colt had asked for him, the transfer couldn’t have been made yet. I would have known since I’d been by his side since we left that Sky lounge.The man’s next words made my heart stop, “Don’t miss a spot, I know he brought his whore here.”Colt’s eyes twitched, but I placed my hand on his arm. I did not care about name-calling. I had endured it my whole life. At that moment, a head peaked under the stairs, and locked eyes with us. For one agonizing second, no one moved, and just when the man raised his gun, Colt’s large hands grabbed his collar, pulling him into a headbutt.I yanked the gun out of his grip, and struck his jaw. He sl
I turned around to look at her, amused, “Should that scare me?”“Yes, I can make your life hell.” She covered the distance between us. “Colt is very important to me, and more than anything we’re friends.”“Good for you two.” I nodded.“I’m serious,” she reached out to brush my hair back, “Girl to girl, please go get your pleasures somewhere else.”“Hmm?” the sound left my mouth in amused disbelief.“That’s all you’re here for, and you can get it anywhere.”“How long have you known Colt?” my hands crossed over my chest now.“Half a decade,” she said very proudly, and I could no longer resist smiling.“It’s OK if you think me a clown. But I prefer to fight men, don’t make me have to fight a woman.”She started to walk away now, “Delilah.” I called, and she stopped, her neck twisting back.I walked towards her and caressed her beautiful red hair. “If you were a man, I’d not bother giving you a response.” I smiled at her now, “But I do not like to fight girls either. So, hopefully you li
“What?” I choked out.“That was not the last time something like that happened.” Colt’s hand moved to take mine now as my jaw hung uselessly. “Quiver’s corporation, Dad’s legacy,” he grinned darkly, “Is Dean’s god, and no one is too precious to sacrifice to this ever demanding god. Other people have had the same experience as me over the years, people who came too close to him or to me.”My eyes widened in understanding.“Is that what you were protecting me from in senior year?” I gasped.But he did respond. He stood up, and walked downstairs.When he returned, he had his computer in hand. “Take a look at this,” he said, opening the computer.I stared into the computer, watching a video much worse than what my private investigator had dug up.“Dean’s got damning videos of many important people, and has them all on a leash.”I shook my head, moving away from the computer in disgust, “He sends people to get raped and then blackmails their rapists?”“You understand it now.” He shut the
Colt had murder in his eyes, and at that moment I was convinced he would attack me.He flew off the bed, throwing the covers aside. “Colt!” I screamed his name, and he froze.The shutter in his eyes seemed to lift, and then they widened.“Olivia. Baby.” He hurried forward, but I jumped back, still terrified of the man I had just seen.“I’m sorry. Did I frighten you?” His eyes were worried now, and I finally stopped. His arms were around me immediately, hugging me softly.I stood stiffly, not hugging him back, feeling too disoriented between the videos I just watched and the man I just saw.I had my own demons, terrible ones, but I’d never tried to attack anyone right out of a nightmare.His arms slowly dropped from around me, perhaps sensing my discomfort. He took a step back, but I kept my eyes away from his face.I had so many questions.“Livia,” he called, and I felt his thumb beneath my chin, tipping my face up to look at him.I slowly exhaled through my mouth, and finally met h