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He slid the sleeve off of my shoulder and looked.It was red, too, and hurt at the touch.
“Let’s get passed the officers and get you home,” he said, comforting me.
“Wait,” I said, looking at him.“Can you forgive me?”
He shook his head and cupped the side of my face.“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Colt, come on.I lied, I misled you.”
“You must’ve had a good reason.”
I swallowed hard and nodded.“He told me if I didn’t marry him, then he would come after you, and he wouldn’t stop until—” I couldn’t even muster the strength to say the word.It hurt me.
“Marry him,” he repeated so quietly I barely heard it.
“Until—” I tried again, but still nothing.
He understood, though, and let me go without saying it.“I know where you’re going with this and it’s okay, Scar.You don’t have to finish that sentence.”
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out again.
“Stop saying that, Scar.Your ex is a piece of work, that’s all.And his actions are nothing you should be apologizing for.”
“I’m scared, Colt,” I admitted.
He wrapped me in a hug and didn’t let go until he finished saying what he had to say.“You listen to me, Scar.That man is never getting anywhere near you ever again.And anyone who tries is going to have to get through me first before they ever lay a hand on you.If they didn’t want to go to prison, then they should’ve thought about their actions before doing it.Every action has a consequence, and they’re going to pay doubly, now for hurting you.”
I only nodded, without the strength to say more.“Let’s get out of here,” he said.
Again, I nodded, leaning my head on Colt’s shoulder.“And when we’re home, we’re going to call my friend at the FBI.”
I didn’t argue with him only took a deep breath for the first time tonight.I couldn’t believe it.What started out as such a beautiful day, making love to Colt for the first time, and realizing I was falling in love with my brother’s best friend, turned into an absolute nightmare.
Walking hand-in-hand outside the ladies room in the courthouse I swore to myself that I would never be so stupid again.I should have never let Nick goad me.I should’ve been strong enough to talk about it with Colt.I should’ve trusted Colt enough to help me.From now on, when he said he wanted to protect me, I was going to let him.I was never going to stop him again.Everything.That was what he was going to get from me.I would share it all with him.
Chapter Twelve
Colton
When I walked into the bathroom and saw Nick’s hands on Scarlet, pulling her back toward him, her hands inching forward on the floor trying to crawl away from him, I seethed.She had fear in her eyes, fighting for her life.It was all I could do not to beat the shit out of him.I wanted to punch his face in, tear him limb for limb, but I held back.
I never doubted for a moment that Scarlet could take care of herself, that she was a very strong, capable woman, but she shouldn’t have had to go through that.Just thinking about it made my stomach sick and I went back to seeing red, wishing that asshole was standing in front of me again, so I could do it all over again and punch him silly.
“What are you thinking about?”Scarlet asked, her hands brushing over my forehead.“So deep in thought.”
I was just glad she was okay, or as okay as she could be, and that she was here, with me.I was never letting her go again.I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip, and then up to her cheek where it was still red, resting just below it for a beat.
She whimpered.“It’s still a little sensitive,” she explained.
Grabbing the peroxide from the coffee table, she put some on a cotton swab.“Come on, we’ve got to get you cleaned up, too,” she said, pointing to my hand.
“It’s fine,” I fibbed.I didn’t want her to fuss over me right now, I just wanted to take care of her.It was quite early, but already she was far too important to me.
“Please, Colt,” she insisted, “let me.”
I didn’t want to argue, so I let her do her thing.When she went to wrap it, I said, “That isn’t necessary.”
She scoffed and continued as if I said nothing.“Yes, it is.You’re just stubborn.”
