Page 167 of Colt

Despite the pain, a small smile spread across my mouth. Darkness filtered from the edges of my vision, rising up to envelop me and making me succumb to its comfort.

As long as Freya was with me, everything would be okay.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Freya

Colt had been unconscious all day and night, though the nurses at Baines Memorial kept coming in hourly to check his vitals. He had a fractured jaw and a concussion so severe that there was bruising to his brain. Sophie had done countless CT scans and called in a neurosurgeon to examine him.

She was confident Colt would be okay physically, but I worried how the impact of what Dad had done would affect him emotionally. Colt had always thought the sun shone out of Pop’s ass, so I knew his mental state would hurt way more than his physical injuries.

Watching him lying unconscious in a hospital bed made me question everything.

Was it worth him being beaten for? Was it worth all the pain and heartache?

It was easy for me to say yes, we were worth going through all this shit for, but I wasn’t the one in hospital with bruising to the brain, a broken jaw, and a mangled face. Colt had lost everything because of me, and I knew nothing would be the same after what had happened.

Watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, I couldn’t stop the burn of fury that ignited in my veins. I’d never forgive my dad for this, or Bowie for not helping Colt in that ring. Abe was incensed that Dad had fought so dirty. It turned out that Pop and Shotgun had planned to take the brass knuckles to the fight in case Colt got the better of him.

My man never stood a chance.

The door opened and Sophie walked in, the squeak of her comfortable sneakers sounding from the tile floor. “How’s our patient?” she asked softly, going over to shine her medical torch in Colt’s eyes.

“His BP and heart rate have gone back to normal,” I informed her.

“Hmm,” she drawled. “His pupils are still dilated but not as much as before. Doctor Chen will be back over to check on him after her rounds.” Her eyes darted to me. “Have you eaten?”

I shook my head. “I think I’d be sick.”

Sophie gave me a pitying smile before coming over to sink down on the seat next to me. “He’ll need you fit and strong when he wakes up.”

“I know, Soph,” I murmured. “I just feel so sick about everything. It’s all my fault.”

Her hand reached for mine and she squeezed. “No. Colt knew this may happen. He went into it with his eyes open, probably more so than you.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I admitted. “I knew Dad could be stubborn, even violent, but I never expected this.” I blinked back tears, glancing at Colt’s battered face. “I don’t know how he’ll get over this.”

“He’s got you,” she smiled. “You’ll get him through it.” She nudged me gently. “If this breaks you, your relationship was never strong enough to begin with. Maybe it’s one of the reasons behind what your dad did, like a test. Perhaps he wanted to put you both under pressure and hope you buckled under the weight of it.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” I replied quietly. “I’m starting to see exactly how calculating my dad can be.”

“He’s an MC President, Freya,” she reminded me. “He’s got to be calculating to a point. He hasn’t made the club as successful as it is by letting what he sees as betrayals pass unchallenged. Your dad’s a good man ninety percent of the time, but we shouldn’t forget who he is underneath all the joviality.”

“I’ll never forgive him,” I vowed.

Sophie’s gaze went back to Colt, taking in the cuts and bruising on his face. “Neither would I if that was Atlas laying there. The problem is, John’s family, and although his behavior’s been vile, he loves you, and you love him.”

“I do,” I agreed. “But I’ll never forgive him, and I’ll never forgive the men who stood by and cheered while he did this. Shotgun’s dead to me. So’s Tex.”

She lifted a delicate shoulder in a shrug. “Again. I can’t blame you.” She glanced at her watch. “Visiting hours are about to begin. Cash and Breaker are coming in so they’ll keep you company. I’ve told Cash to bring some toiletries and fresh clothes in for you. Use Colt’s bathroom. Nobody will know.”

I looked up at Soph and smiled genuinely for the first time since everything had happened. “Thank you.”

She grinned. “Us doctor chicks have to stick together.” She paused briefly, her gaze going to Colt again before she continued. “Love is so fucking confusing, Freya. My ideal man turned out to be abusive and the man who treated me like shit turned out to be perfect for me. You know me and Atlas had a rough time at first but look at us now.” She stroked her pregnant belly. “Relationships aren’t perfect all the time. You have storms, but as long as you learn to stick together and weather them, you’ll make it through.”

We both looked up as the door opened and Cash and Breaker came sauntering into the room.

“How’s he doin’?” Cash asked, a worried frown creasing his forehead.

---