Page 66 of Colt

I walked past reception, turning as a shout went up, ready to help. But as soon as I saw the patient, my muscles paralyzed.

Christian stumbled through the door, being helped by another guy in overalls.

I fixated on Christian's face, and my hand flew straight to my mouth.

His face was covered in blood.

I watched a nurse guide the men toward the ER with my heart in my mouth.

What the fuck was going on?

One word floated through my head, and my heart plummeted.

Incoming...

I rushed into the Emergency Room, eyes wide, probably from the shock bolting through my system. “What the hell happened?” I demanded, approaching Christian, who had been taken to a cubicle.

“He went for a smoke out back and got jumped,” his friend spluttered. “He didn’t know who did it, and the cameras are down.” He ran a hand over his head, staring at Christian. “It’s crazy. They were working this morning.”

I closed my eyes, willing my hands to stop shaking. This was one of those times my teachers told me about, where I had to compartmentalize.

But it wasn’t the fact Christian’s face was mangled that made my chest clench.

Pushing my unease down, I smiled at Christian’s colleague. “Thanks for bringing him in.” I motioned to a door. “The waiting room’s through there. I’ll keep you posted.”

Christian winced as the nurse gently examined his nose. “I’m in good hands, Dylan. Go back to work. It’s too busy for us both to be out. We have three big jobs and can’t get behind with them. It’s just a broken nose. I’ll get an Uber back when they’re done.”

Dylan’s eyes slid to me. “Will he be okay?”

I nodded reassuringly. “Facial injuries bleed more than average, so it always looks worse than it is. I’ll get Christian right and send him on his way. Don’t worry.”

His eyes darted between me and his friend, looking torn, before his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Okay. I’ll go back to work. I’ll call Jonesy to see if he can cover. When you’re done here, go straight home and rest. We’ll cope until tomorrow.” He rested a hand on Christian’s shoulder and gave me a nod before he turned and stalked out.

“Who did this to you?” I asked, watching the nurse clean his wound.

He watched as the nurse excused herself to get some sutures before turning to me. “I think we both know who did it, Freya.”

My throat burned with unshed tears. I knew what I had to say, but that didn’t make it easy. “I’m sorry. Do you want me to call the cops so you can report him?”

Christian heaved out a huge sigh. “No.”

I tamped down the nausea threatening to rise. “Why?”

Christian grimaced. “First, I don’t do cops. Had a shitty dad and ended up in juvie when I was fourteen. Second, I kinda deserved it. When your boyfriend came in to collect your car, he made it crystal clear where I stood in your life, and it made me jealous.”

My face fell. “It didn’t give him the right to hurt you, Christ—”

“Actually, it did,” he said, cutting me off. “I said things on purpose to rile him up. Told him you weren’t so averse to me when you gave me your number and that he shouldn’t worry ‘cause the second he left town, I’d take real good care of you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah,” Christian added. “I know, but I like you, Freya, and his attitude made me pissed.”

I kept my mouth shut.

I didn’t condone what had happened to him, but I understood it.

By society’s standards, Colt’s behavior was over the top. Normal men didn’t go around beating on each other for talking about their women.

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