He doesn’t repeat it, but he doesn’t contradict me, and isn’t that just the death blow to my ego. This vital, rich man thinks I’m old and worn. I wish this plane had a trapdoor that would drop me out of it, Wile E. Coyote style. But this is my fault. I’m the one who asked for no bullshit.
“Anyway, it bothered me a lot. Holly had nothing but good things to say about you, and I fucking hated that your life had been torn apart. I got a little…fixated, I guess.”
He tugs at the collar of his button-up, loosening another button. “Holly really wants you to get your life back. And I guess I do too. It’s not ok, what those fuckers did. They’ll all pay. But you shouldn’t have to.”
He rests his head back, studying me. “So I’m here because I’ve been worried about you for two fucking months, and since you’re stubborn as fuck, I didn’t want to risk waiting and having you change your mind.”
His lips firm into a flat line. “I didn’t know about the fucking shooting. Or that you were in that much danger. My brothers told me not to steamroll, so I fucking waited, and I think it was the wrong fucking decision.” He stops and glances at Mia. “Sorry about the fucks,” he whispers, startling a laugh out of me.
“I don’t think I’m clear…I’m a project to you?”
He scowls, knocking his fists on the cream leather arms of his seat. “You’re not a fu- frickin’ project. Not really. I just…wanted to help.” He avoids my eyes and I have a feeling there’s more to it, but he looks like he’s done talking.
“What’s in it for you, though?” I press anyway.
“Jesus, woman, you’re just going to keep digging, aren’t you?”
“I’m sitting in your private plane, going god knows where on faith…yeah, I’m going to keep digging. What’s in it for you? Is it just like Sonja?”
He collapses back into his chair, sighing like I’m the most annoying woman in the world, but he can’t hide the small smile playing on the corner of his lips. “No, it’s not like Sonja. This is personal. I love Holly, she’s family, so that makes it closer, but…” He stops, brow furrowed. “We all need purpose in life, right? A reason to get up in the morning? And I’m guessing for you, it’s that little girl, right?”
“You’re right,” I mumble. “What’s your purpose?”
He frowns. “It used to be keeping my family safe. It still is, but it’s not the same. They’re all rich, capable, and damn good fighters in their own right. There’s very little for me to do anymore. I’ve been at…loose ends, I guess you could say. Then I learned about you and baby girl there, and I found a new reason to get up in the morning.”
He studies my reaction, a sad smile touching his face. “You don’t need to look so worried. I’d like to help you, keep helping you get on your feet. There’s no obligation on your end, Evie.”
“I make my own way,” I mutter, uncomfortable with being a charity case.
“Sure you do. That’s clear to anyone who’s spoken to you for more than five minutes. But you’re also generous and giving…you’re the one that gave Holly the money to get away.”
“That’s different. It was six-hundred-and-fifty bucks!”
“I bet if we do the math, that six-hundred-and-fifty was more generous, based on your salary, than me paying your rent for a year.” Eyes bulging at the idea of him paying my rent for a year, I open my mouth to object, but he barrels over me. “The point is, you helped someone who was down. Now I’m doing the same. You and I aren’t that different.”
“How are we the same, big man?” I ask dubiously.
“We both would do anything for the people we love. We both find it impossible to mind our own business when someone is hurting. Those are pretty great places to start.”
Sighing, I rest my head on my hand. “You couldn’t just stay in the muscle-bound meathead box I put you in, could you?”
His delighted laugh makes me smile too.
“So what do you want, Colt?”
“I could really use a friend,” eyes darting to Mia, he qualifies “two actually.”
“My friends don’t usually fly me around on their jets.”
“Then you just got a serious upgrade in the friend department, didn’t you love?” He says with a wink.
6
COLTON
She is tired. She is worn out. She looks like she’s aged a decade. So why the fuck am I struggling to keep my eyes off her?
I knew I was fixating. It’s not the first time, though it’s the first time it’s happened with a person. Usually, I just fixate on a new activity or hobby for a while, and that feeds the need. But this time it feels different.
