Page 57 of Colt

Cash looked at me with soft eyes. “My sister’s a fuckin’ angel.”

Ed’s forehead furrowed. “What clinic?”

“The St. Francis Centre,” I stated softly.

He nodded. “I know it. It’s a good place. They treat you like a human there. They fed me a few times and got me a warm coat.” He smiled at me. “It’s great that you help. Not many do.”

“It must be a huge change for you.” I smiled sadly.

“Sometimes I miss the streets,” he said wistfully. “Nina said I’d been out there for so long I’d been conditioned to it. At the time, I hated it. I would’ve done anything for a safe, warm bed. But it’s hard to retrain your subconscious after years of the same old thing. Even sleeping on a soft mattress was hard in the beginning. I had to get up through the night and move to the floor.”

“I think it’s quite normal to feel that way,” I assured him. “When Kit came home from the military, he told me how he roamed the country. I know he found settling difficult. He said in combat, he used to sleep sitting up. It’s what he’d been trained to do. When he came home, he slept in a chair to keep watch and woke up at the slightest noise.”

“That’s what Nina said too,” he stated. “Are you specializing in mental health? Is that part of your training?”

“No.” I smiled. “I’m going the surgery route.”

Ed smiled thinly. “You’re a very calming influence, Freya. You’d be a great shrink.”

Cash held his hand out. “Come on, Sis. Let’s get you a caffeine fix. You’ll be gettin’ withdrawal symptoms soon.”

I laughed and threaded my arm through his. “You know me so well, Xan.”

We began to make our way toward the building. “How’ve you been? Pop said you’re takin’ a year out?”

My shoulder lifted nonchalantly. “It won’t be as long as a year. I graduated from med school early, but I’ve missed this year’s intake for interns. I’ve applied to the programs I like. Hopefully, I should get in somewhere for next summer.”

“Can’t you stay and intern at Baines Memorial?” my brother asked. “You’ve been away for so long. We miss ya.”

“Aww, thanks, Cash.” I laughed as we approached the building. “Who’d have thought you’d actually miss my ass, especially after the holidays last year when I ripped you a new one for stealthing Cara.”

He barked a laugh, grabbing the door open for me and gesturing me through. “You went fuckin’ loco. Though I deserved it.”

I walked past him, clutching a hand to my heart dramatically. “At last. The prince of the kingdom admits he’s wrong. Therapy must be working.”

He followed me through the door, his forehead furrowing. “Yeah, it is, but it’s also Wilder. I gotta do better for my boy. Can’t have him growing up like me.”

My heart contracted painfully.

Cash was a hard, brash man, but he also had a softer side he didn’t let many see.

People forgot how much pressure he was under to take Dad’s place as Prez one day. It was no wonder he acted the dick sometimes, though getting your ex-girlfriend pregnant without her knowing wasn’t the brightest idea, even though his son, Wilder, was doted on in spite of the circumstances he was born into.

We entered a room resembling a diner. Going to the counter, we ordered coffees before taking them to an empty table and sitting.

“You’re a good man, Xander,” I murmured. “You just have to teach Wilder it’s okay to have emotions.”

He barked a laugh. “He’ll be okay. His mom shows enough emotion for the whole club.”

“How is she?” I asked.

“Amazin,” He replied quietly, studying me closely. “How’s things with you and Colt?”

My skin prickled uneasily.

“What do you mean?” I rasped, my throat suddenly dry.

He grinned. “I may be an asshole, but I’m not stupid, Sis.”

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