Page 84 of No Apologies
There was a college fund her parents had set up when she was born and she’d never touched it. When she’d decided not to go away to university, to instead try her hand at cosmetology, they’d told her it was hers to do with as she pleased. They’d wanted her to use it to open the salon but she’d refused. She’d wanted to do that on her own.
She’d never found anything she wanted badly enough to accept her parents money but she wanted this. She wanted Colt, happy and whole. She wanted them to have a future together. And she was only angry with herself that she hadn’t thought of using the funds to buy his freedom from his family earlier.
If she had, he wouldn’t be fighting for his life right now.
A hard voice with a strict no-nonsense lilt cut through the silence, “You gonna be okay?”
Skylar wiped at her cheeks, “Yeah.”
“Good, because I can deal with blood but I’m not so good with tears.” Nessa hadn’t turned to look at her as she bandaged Colt’s face, “You’re the girlfriend I take it?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, your boyfriend is gonna be okay. I gave him something to knock him out because he was fighting me when I first came in. I need to stich up a few of these lacerations and he’s gonna hurt for a while but he’s lucky. He’s young, strong and healthy. He’ll pull through.” Nessa turned to face her, her eyes serious and her face solemn, “But a word of advice from somebody that’s been in your position? Don’t let him see you cry. Don’t let any of them see you cry. They’ll never take you seriously if they do.”
Skylar opened her mouth and then closed it again. She nodded instead. She hadn’t asked for the advice but she would take it.
“You love him?”
“Yeah.” She answered easily, her gaze straying to the man in the bed.
“Then you need to harden yourself to this.” Nessa spoke again and Skylar’s eyes went back to her in time to see her hands shake just a little as she brushed Colt’s hair back from his damaged face, “Because this is who they are. The fighting and the danger, it’s a drug to them. They need it as much as they need oxygen. Can’t survive without it.”
“No, that’s not Colt.”
“It’s all of them. Don’t kid yourself thinking yours is any less damaged than the others. It’s who they are and this…” Nessa motioned at Colt’s unconscious body, “This isn’t the worst that can happen. Not by a longshot.”
Skylar bit her lip, unsure of what to say to that. What could she say? If there was anyone that knew the Bomars and their penchant for trouble, it was this woman. She’d loved one of them and she’d lost him to this dangerous life that they all lived. Skylar couldn’t say anything in that moment but luckily Nessa didn’t appear to want her to.
The older woman wiped her hands and then cleared her throat, “Would you mind telling Lincoln that I need that kit from the car? I only brought my small bag in but this… well it’s going to take a lot more needles and thread to put your boy back together.”
She winced at that but nodded, “Yeah, okay.”
Skylar let herself back out into the hallway, trying not to let Nessa’s advice get to her. Colt wasn’t like the rest of the Bomars. He wasn’t. He didn’t love the danger and the fighting. He wanted out. He did. And now that she’d bought him out, he would be happy. They would be happy.
But it was hard to ignore her doubts when she walked into the living room and found a whole group them all looking like they were gearing up for a fight. Skylar stopped in the doorway, her eyes going wide at the sight. Jesus, she’d left the room five minutes ago and it had just been Lincoln and Remy. Now there were multiple men, multiple Bomars, and her stomach twisted when she saw Cash standing in the middle of them.
He glanced up from where Remy had a firm grip on his shoulder as he spoke to him and their eyes met across the room. Shit. Sometimes he and Colt really did look so much alike it was disturbing. Despite the differences in their haircuts and the tattoos, those sharp blue eyes met hers and the pain and anger in them was so familiar she almost forgot how to breathe.
“Sky! What’s going on?”
She turned just as Jemma engulfed her in a hug and despite what she’d been telling herself about being strong, she felt tears well in her eyes again. She latched onto her best friend like a lifeline. Amid all of the commotion, she’d forgotten that Jemma and Cash were due home tonight.
“Oh, honey…” Jemma softened her tone and stroked her hair when she whimpered and clung to her, “It’s okay. He’s going to be okay. That’s what Remy said. Right?”
She nodded and wiped at her face, “Yeah. I think so.”
Jemma pulled back to look her in the eyes, “When we pulled up and saw all the cars and the guys, Cash just about lost his mind. Why didn’t you call?”
“I didn’t think. I’m sorry. It all happened so fast.”
“Okay. Okay. Let’s settle down and you can tell me what’s happening okay?”
“Yeah I…” Skylar’s gaze jerked up when she heard Lincoln’s voice across the room, “Hold on a sec.”
She forced herself to release Jemma. As much as she wanted to hold onto her friend and take the comfort of the familiar that she offered, she knew that she couldn’t. Not yet at least.
“Lincoln.” She grabbed his arm when he didn’t notice her amid some tense discussion with a man she didn’t recognize. “Lincoln!”
