Page 70 of Rise By Sin

“I never should have pushed you away though,” I said tearfully as I turned my head against Jack’s chest and looked to my brother. “I was stupid and selfish. I’m so sorry Colt.”

“It’s never going to happen again. I don’t care how old you are, I’m never going to allow you to push me away like that again. I spent the last week thinking I was going to die. I spent so much time looking back and regretting so many things I’ve done in my life, but one of the best things I did was taking you in. You made me who I am – who I was always meant to be. You pulled me out of the depression my father spent my entire life drowning me in and pulled me up into the light. I love you, so fucking much and I refuse to see you hurting anymore. You’ve been through enough. Do you understand me? No more torturing yourself.”

I couldn’t speak, my throat too tight with emotion as I swiped angrily at the tears running down my face again. Instead I reached out to grab his hand and instantly I was pulled to his side. He moved over and before I could pretest Jack was helping to lift me until I lay on the bed beside Colt, my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me and held me, as I draped my own very gently around his waist. I knew the stab wounds he sustained where lower, but I wasn’t sure about other injuries and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.

“I love you too Colt,” I whispered tiredly after a few moments of gathering myself. “Thank you for so much – for protecting methose times my mom was screaming some hotel down for cash from our dad, for taking me in when she left me, for not getting rid of me when I was a nightmare teen, and most of all for not dying. I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life.”

“You’re never going to find out. I’m not going anywhere,” he promised as he kissed my temple. I just cuddled as tightly as I dare against him and reveled in having him back. Nothing and no one was ever taking him from me again.

CHAPTER 21

AVA

Morning sweetie. Can I get you some breakfast? I have pancakes keep warm in the oven, or I’m just making bacon and eggs?” Kylan offered in his upbeat tone that was way too upbeat for me first thing.

It had been a week since I moved back home with Colt. He demanded I get my stuff over there the day he was released form the hospital, and I was happy to agree, wanting to be there to help him in his recovery.

Colt had been kept at the hospital for three days before he was released with anti-biotics, pain meds, and advice not to lift anything heavy or push himself too hard for the next few weeks.

Kylan had been staying there too, unable, or unwilling to leave Colt’s side after everything that had gone on. He was still paying a small team of security to protect his fiancé, and we always had a guy stationed outside of the apartment, 24/7.

To say it had been a strange week was an understatement. We were like this odd family, especially with Kyan constantly in the kitchen cooking up some gourmet treat for us.

Colt was definitely in over protective mode when it came to me, and was constantly checking on me and asking about my injury, determined to learn everything he could about my struggles andthe drugs I took for the symptoms so he could help me, and he was determined. I had fought with him till I was blue in the face that he should be laid down and resting, but he was having none of that. I would have pushed him harder on the matter, but I suspected why he was so determined to keep busy. He was struggling mentally with what happened. I had heard him crying out from nightmares during the night. I left Ky to soothe him, not wanting to intrude, but I knew the psychological effects of what had been done to him were really getting to him if he had too much time to just sit and think.

When I had asked him about the nightmares he had been pretty tight lipped, just reassuring me that he already had an appointment with a trauma counsellor Kylan had convinced him to speak with. I was so relieved he was willing to do that, and that Ky had thought to talk him into it. If Colt didn’t want to talk to me about what he had endured I got it, but he needed to talk to someone.

“Just coffee for now thanks,” I answered Ky as I all but collapsed into a seat at the counter opposite where Ky stood cooking.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he studied me. I knew I looked like shit. I was still in the oversized t-shirt I stole from Jack’s place and the sleep shorts I collapsed into bed in the night before. My hair was wild around my face and I had no doubt I looked as exhausted as I felt.

“Just tired. I had a rough night,” I told him with a weak smile.

“I’ll get you some coffee.” I watched as he turned to make me a coffee with the fancy pod machine he and Colt seemed to love. Maybe it was because I was so used to the crappy coffee we’d had at my office in Chicago, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the pimped up coffee that fancy ass machine spat out. I liked my coffee strongand black. I could do without the foam and the other bullshit, especially first thing on a morning.

I looked up as Colt walked into he kitchen and was taken aback to see him in tailored navy slacks and a white and light blue pinstriped shirt tucked into them. He was obviously dressed for work, his hair styled neatly and his shoes on already. It was quite a contrast to the sweats and hoody he’d sported all week.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded as I stared him down.

“I need to check on my businesses. I’ve been gone for too long and there are some major fires I need to put out,” He explained as he finished fastening his shiny silver cufflinks, then pushed his arms out in front of him to adjust his cuffs, before dropping his hands back to his side.

“It’s too soon. The doctor said you needed to rest,” I argued worriedly.

“Don’t waste your breath, Ava. I spent all yesterday evening arguing with him, but the stubborn asshole is determined. I did manage to persuade him he needs to have security with him everywhere he goes though,” Ky spoke up.

“I’ll be fine. It’s been almost two weeks and I’m just about healed up. I haven’t even taken any of the pain pills for three days. It’s time to get back to normal,” Colt shrugged. He walked over, grabbed a cup, and started making himself a coffee.

“I don’t like it, Colt. That monster is still out there somewhere and we have no idea who tried to break into Jack’s place before. Someone is still after you,” I reminded him. The FBI had taken over the hunt for the fucker who hurt Colt and I after seeing the evidence of the brand on my body, the girl who worked atTemple and was killed – Helen, and now on Colt too. Mason gave them all of the disappearances Colt had found, the police now pretty sure of them could be victims of this serial killer. I’d made an official statement about what had happened t me all those years before, and my scars had been photographed for evidence. Colt had been through the same process and now it was up to the FBI to track down the killer and stop him.

The attempted break in at Jack’s apartment had gotten us nowhere, since forensics found no prints and the footprints in the snow had been heavily trodden over by the time they got to the scene, so we still had no idea who was behind that either.

“I don’t either. At least listen to your sister if you won’t listen to me. She’s an ex-cop. She knows what she’s talking about,” Ky pleaded as he moved up behind Colt and wrapped his arms around his waist. I loved seeing them that way. Seeing the peace and contentment in Colt’s eyes whenever he and Ky touched was everything after years of him being alone. I wanted him to be happy, and he was with Kylan, even in the midst of everything happening around them.

“Guys! You’re both overreacting,” Colt said as he turned in Ky’s arms and kissed him chastely. “I’ll have security following me, not to mention I’m going into the city in the middle of the day. I’ll be safe. I can’t hide away any more. I have to get back to my usual routine.”

“I’m coming with you then,” I told him, sending him a look that dared him to argue.

“You’ll be bored. I have meetings most of the day,” he sighed.

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