Page 148 of Ricochet

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

After the last few weeks Colin had had, he didn’t want to get shot again—but he sure as fuck wasn’t going to stand around. His elbow dropped back, catching Cullen in the gut and he spun. The choreographing couldn’t have been better as the old man doubled over enough for Colin to catch his throat.

“I do not care about Mayhem.” He squeezed, disarming Cullen with his otherhand. “All the jail-yard tricks and bullying bullshit don’t have shit on training, so fuck with me again, and I will rip your throat out.”

He released Cullen and left him sputtering as Hawke laughed.

“You know he was shot,” Hawke said, slapping leather cut like they were a comedy act. “Fucking hell, Cullen. Put that away. You might have special prison privileges, but the rest of us don’t wantto go to jail.”

“Fuck you.”

Hawke pulled out his cell phone as Colin turned. “Hey, you three have Adelia? Yeah. I’m in the lobby.”

Colin paused, not sure what to believe until she saw her pushing away from the men and coming through the door. Hotel security stepped into the space separating them, and erected a rope line, and the line of reporters rushed like a sea of people in front of theirgroup. Colin couldn’t see Adelia anymore. Shit.

A security team stepped down the escalators, followed by what appeared to be Astor’s press team, prepping the journalists and reporters, and failing to control the scene.

Brock appeared at the top of the escalators, sweeping the crowd, then started down the escalators followed by Javier. Odd to watch the team at work without him.

Then Gloriaappeared at the top of the escalator, alone, chin defiantly up and a challenging glower to the crowd of reporters.

Nothing about Gloria Astor looked any different than how Colin had seen her years ago or on magazine covers over the years, yet everything had changed. The woman still knew how to glide instead of walk onto the escalator as she patiently waited to reach the lobby before glancingabout as if she had just notified the chaos.

Her entourage and security quickly filed down the behind her, and she waved to reporters, taking a moment to touch her neck, shake out her hand, then turn for the cameras again.

Cameras captured her face faltering. Her flawless smile tilted, and her hands held out, unsteadily before she regained her composure. It was fake, but still the same flawlessstyle she’d arrived with.

Then Adelia stepped from the crowd of cameras, and Gloria’s hand dropped. A hush ran fell over the lobby, and the reporters’ questions stopped as the cameras continued to roll.

The two women faced each other, standing a dozen feet apart. One was dripped in gold, and the other had survived hell from the day she was born. Colin wouldn’t blame Adelia for whatever mighthappen next—

“I thought I’d survived because I had a purpose. To help others or to shine a light on you, but I was wrong.”

“You haven’t done anything but told tales,” Gloria snapped.

She shrugged. “I’m strong because I won’t let go. The future will be better. I will be part of that fire, and eventually, if your words don’t burn you to the ground.” She pointed at the reporters. “Your pride willdestroy you. You need them more than they need you.”

Gloria pulled a glittering hand to her chest and shook the other, scooting her away, but Adelia was already walking Colin’s way. He’d never been so worried and proud before and rushed forward as the reporters’ questions overpowered the lobby again.

“Baby.” He pulled Adelia into his arms.

Her lips parted as she trembled. “Oh my, goodness,you’re here. Thank you.”

Colin promised everything would be okay as best he could, he curled around her body, swallowing a grunt of pain in his side. “It’s over now. With Mayhem, Astor. All—”

“Mayhem,” she asked.

“Adelia?” Deacon’s powerful whisper whipped through Colin’s senses.

Javier and Brock closed in from the other side. No one had weapons drawn, but Colin couldn’t blame Javier or Brockfor looking like they were a split second from making a quick move.

Adelia backed against him, and he realized that after Gloria’s big arrival, Colin still didn’t know what the breaking news was.

“Nice to see you.” Colin moved Adelia behind him. “Thought I lost you a couple blocks ago.”

“What? You think I’m going to shoot her in the middle of the lobby?” Deacon smirked. “I don’t do messy.”

“You don’t do traffic jams. You don’t do messy,” Colin said. “What is it that you do?”

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