Page 60 of Rise By Sin

“I know it’s weird, but I have to ask you about Jack and Mason too. I’ve loved them for so many years, and now that I feel like I might have a chance to get my life back on track, I want them to be a part of it, just like I want you to be too. God, I sound like a greedy bitch,” I groaned as I covered my face.

“I’ve spoken to the guys, and I know how much they mean to you. I understand that you love them, and more than that I think you need them too. I’m just hoping there’s space for you to love and need me too if this thing between us goes as I hope it will.”

“Me too,” I admitted. It was quite the turnaround. I had gone from pushing everyone away when I arrived back in New York, telling myself constantly there could never be anything for me and any man, especially not Jack and Mason. Now I was clingingto them tight and falling for a third guy.What the fuck was I doing?

My thoughts were abandoned and I was instantly on my feet when I saw Colt move the hand Kylan was clutching. I ignored the pain that shot up my back at the fast movement and hurried to Colt’s side.

“Colt?” He stirred and I saw his eyelids twitching. “Colt, open your damned eyes and look at me, please!” I begged in a hushed whisper.

“It m-must be bad if you’re s-saying pl-please,” he rasped, then he smiled, wincing right after because the movement obviously hurt his face.

“Oh God, Colt! Don’t you ever scare me like that again!” I scolded him tearfully as I clutched his hand and leaned in closer to his face just as he opened his eyes.

“Bam,” he whispered as he looked at me and tried to smile again.

“I’m here. Kylan too. You scared the shit out of all of us.”

“Ky?” Colt turned his head and I saw tears fill his eyes when they landed on his exhausted fiancé fast asleep, clutching his hand.

“You guys met?” he looked back to me warily and I glared at him.

“You’re such an idiot, Colt! Why would you feel like you need to hide who you are from me? I love you, no matter what. Don’t you know that?”

“Yes. I know it. I am an idiot,” he rasped as he looked behind me to where Deak had risen to his feet. “Deak?”

“Hey man,” Deak said as he gave Colt a chin lift.

“Deak’s been helping Jack, Mason, and me try to find you. I’m so sorry I didn’t answer your calls when you needed me,” I squeaked as my tears escaped and slid down my cheeks.

“Don’t you dare do that, Ava. Do not start blaming yourself for a thing that happened. It was all on me. I should have gone to Mace with what I found out. I’m guessing you found my file?”

“Yeah. I won’t call you an idiot again, but just know I thought it when I found what you’d been up to,” I sniffled as I swiped at my tears with my sleeve.

“Is Mason looking for that bastard? I gave the cops what I could when I was brought in, but I was a mess.”

“They found where they think you were held. Mace is there now,” I assured him. I winced as pain shit through my back at just the small movement of my arm and I knew I needed pain meds.

“What’s wrong?” Colt demanded instantly.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” I lied, but it wouldn’t hold long with the way Colt was now taking me in, scrutinizing every detail about me. Then he must have seen the wheelchair in the corner.

“Ava. I knew something was going on when you kept dodging my visits. Tell me,” Colt growled.

“I will, but not now, okay? You just woke up and you need to speak to Kylan because he’s not sleeping or eating he’s so worried. I’m okay and I have the guys to help me. We can talk later.” I was almost pleading as I looked into his eyes and urged him to just drop it. The last thing I wanted to do was burden him with all of my crap right then.

“We’ve got her Colt. Just concentrate on getting better and getting out of here, okay?” Deacon backed me up and I was grateful.

“For now,” Colt nodded as he locked his eyes with mine. “But you will tell me everything when I get out of here. No more pushing me away.”

“Never again,” I agreed. “I thought I’d lost you.” The tearful words were barely out before Colt was pulling me into his side and wrapping his free arm around me. He kissed the top of my head and let out a deep sigh. “You should wake Ky. He needs to see you.”

“Do you like him?” Colt asked a little nervously.

“I love him. I think he’s perfect for you Colt. Hurry up and marry him as soon as you can,” I told him honestly.

The angle I was being pulled at to hug him was really straining my back so I kissed his cheek then pulled back grabbing the bed to steady myself when I wobbled too much. Deacon stepped up behind me too and wrapped his hand around my hip supportively.

“Ava…” Colt began as he looked to me with way too much worry. I wasn’t the one he needed to worry about. He was the one in a hospital bed.

---