Page 127 of Ransom

"Don't do that." Colton's voice drops lower, intense. "You're their rock right now, brother. You need to keep your head straight if you're going to be there for them."

"I know, I know." I cross my arms, fighting the urge to pace. "It's just... fuck."

"Talk to me."

"Maggie's just... giving up? There has to be something else they can try. Some experimental treatment, some specialist somewhere?—"

"Blair said there wasn't?"

"Says Maggie's made her choice. That she's tired of fighting." My fingers dig into my biceps. "But I can't just accept that. There's gotta be something."

Colton grips my shoulder. "Sometimes loving someone means respecting their choices, even when they tear you apart inside."

"Since when did you get so philosophical?" I try to joke, but it falls flat.

He squeezes my shoulder. "Sometimes the hardest thing is standing back and letting people make their own path."

I give him a look, and he grumbles low in his chest. We both know I'm not big on standing back in anything. "Not my style, brother."

"I know," he says, watching Blair carefully. "But hope can be a fucking awful thing. And your woman over there looks like she can't take much more."

A warmth spreads through my chest at Colton's words. Your woman. The possessive claim hits something primal inside me, makes me want to stride across the room and wrap Blair in my arms. Show everyone she's mine. But she's not. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if I can't get my head straight and focus on what matters.

I lean closer to Colton, dropping my voice to barely a whisper. "I need you to do something for me."

His eyes lock on mine. "Name it."

"Get Maggie’s scans to everyone we know. Specialists, researchers, anyone who might see something others missed. Have Dec hack the hospital records if he has to."

Colton's face doesn’t change. "You sure about that? Maggie might not?—"

"I don't give a fuck what Maggie wants right now." The words come out harsher than intended, but I mean every one of them. "Blair and Max are what matter. If there's even a chance..."

One thick eyebrow raises. "And if we find something? What then? You gonna force treatment on her?"

I watch Blair's silhouette against the window, the way her fingers press against the glass like she's trying to hold herself up. "I don't fucking know. But I can't just sit here doing nothing while Blair falls apart."

"You're playing with fire, brother."

"When haven't I?" My jaw clenches. "Just... make it happen. Quietly."

Colton sighs, but nods. "I'll talk to Dec tonight. Get the ball rolling."

"Thanks." I grip his shoulder, grateful beyond words for this family that always has my back, no questions asked.

"Just remember—sometimes the best way to love someone is to let them make their own choices."

"Yeah?" I meet his eyes. "Well, sometimes the best way to love someone is to fight like hell for them, even when they won't fight for themselves."

"You've done a lot of that," Colton says, something shifting in his eyes. Maybe it's the same thing running through my mind. The memories of him in those fucking underground cage matches. The anger that clung to him like a second skin.

"Yeah, I have. And every time, it was worth it."

Colton's eyes drift to Max and Mia again. "Okay. This is your show, and I'll support you any way I can. But when that woman comes after you with a bat, you're on your own. She looks like she could take a man down with one swing."

"Fair," I slap him gently on the cheek, making him duck away. "I'll bring Mia down later."

"Okay. I'm going to go downstairs and hug my wife. Today was too fucking intense."

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