Page 263 of Redeemed

“Then trust me on this.” I clasp his shoulder, my grip firm. “You have my protection. Both of you.”

Slowly, Gerard’s gaze slides from me to my unconscious father. I can almost hear the gears turning in his head. He’s weighing his options. I’m powerful, but Mark ismorepowerful. That’s something I can’t deny, but I need Gerard to put together the rest of the pieces without me having to say it out loud.

No one can know yet.

“Trust me,” I say lowly.

They both exchange a glance before Gerard sighs. “All right, fine, we’ll keep him locked up overnight.” His eyes flit to what I’m assuming is a bruise forming on my cheek. “You’re okay?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Brandon steps forward, shaking his head. “Uh uh, no. That shit isn’t gonna fly anymore if you’re implying what I think you are. When things look bad, people always worry about their leader. They need to know he’s okay. Unless…” He nudges my father with the toe of his boot. “Unless said people have a reason to distrust their leader.”

“Fair enough. I’m a little bruised, but that’s all.”

“Good. Take care of yourself, Colton.”

“You as well.”

They haul Mark outside, and I watch them until he’s locked in the back seat of their cruiser. Only then do I let myself relax.

That advice is the closest Brandon can safely get to a pledge of loyalty without further jeopardizing himself, and I’m taking it with the weight it deserves. If I’m going to take Mark’s place, he’s right. Things can’t stay the same. I’ll owe everyone a level of transparency that my father withheld.

I’ll be different than he is. I have to be.

“Haven?” I call out as I make my way back into the house.

We both enter the kitchen at the same time. The moment I see her, I freeze. From a distance, it’s obvious how shaken she still is. The relieved sound she makes upon seeing me isn’t even the first clue. She’s a mess, and her body is still rigid with fear.

God, I’m a fucking ass.I never should’ve forced her to leave my side when Mark could’ve woken up at any moment.

Holding my arm out to her, I mutter, “C’mere.”

She stumbles into me, and I can’t help my grunt of pain when her body collides with mine. Mark didn’t do much damage, but I’ll be sore for a few days.

“Colton,” Haven breathes out in relief.

“You’re okay. He can’t hurt you now.” I hold her to me, gently rocking her back and forth. My mind hasn’t caught up with everything that just happened. I still feel like I’m racing home, praying that Haven is still alive. It still feels like she could slip through my grasp at any second.

Haven reaches up to touch my face, her brows furrowing as she does. “Your cheek,” she whispers, her fingers feathering over the spot where my dad managed to land a punch.

“No, fuck that, I’m fine.” I swat her hand away, inspecting her for any injuries. “What did he do to you? What—” The rest of the words get stuck in my throat, the panic refusing to subside.

Haven places a hand on my chest, right over my heart. She’s warm. Moving. Her cheeks are pink, and she’s alive. She’s safe. I got to her in time.

Barely.

We could’ve lost her.

We almost lost her.

The thought of never hearing her laugh again, of never listening to her call me out on my shit, of never feeling her against me… It crashes over me with the force of a tsunami.

“Haven. God, angel.”

Confusion fills her features at the emotion in my voice, but I only see it for a split second before I crush her body to mine. I bury my face in her hair and inhale deeply, letting my hands travel up her back.

“I’m okay,” she reassures me, but her voice is still shaking.She’sshaking.

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