Page 69 of No Apologies
“Maybe. But it’s also mine.”
She blew out a rough breath, “So you’re pushing me away again.”
“For your own good, Sky.”
“It’s always been for my own good though right? That’s what you tell yourself. But what if what’s good for me is being with you? I told you I love you and I meant it. You can’t expect me to just walk away.”
He was silent because he’d known that this wasn’t going to be easy for either of them. He’d known that it was going to be a fight. But hearing her say that she loved him again hit him hard. He loved her too and loving her meant that he had to keep her safe.
Skylar finally met his eyes again after a long minute, “You said you needed more time. How much? How long do you expect me to sit on the sidelines and wait for you?”
“I don’t know.” He winced when she rolled her eyes, “I know that’s not fair but it’s true. I don’t know.”
“You don’t know how long it’ll be until you’ll feel safe being with me? Or you don’t know how long it’ll be until this threat is handled? Or is it bigger than that, Colt? Is it because you don’t know how long it’ll be until you can get out from under whatever it is Lincoln holds over your head that keeps you tied to your family?”
All of the air hardened in his lungs. He searched her face but there wasn’t a shred of doubt there. She hadn’t been guessing. She hadn’t gotten a lucky strike off a wild statement. She knew. He didn’t know how or when she’d figured it out, didn’t know the extent of what she’d put together but she knew the secret he kept from everyone, including Cash.
“What do you know about me and Lincoln?”
She snorted, “That’s what you’re worried about? We’re talking about us, finally, and you want to get sidetracked with the same old family bullshit that always drags you down. That figures.”
“Sky.” He growled a warning and she threw her hands up.
“You work for Lincoln. I don’t know how or where or why but you do.”
“Who told you that?”
“Nobody told me that.” She pursed her lips, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out you two have business together. You’re always huddled up talking and you stop whenever anyone else comes around.”
“I don’t work for Lincoln.”
He didn’t. Not technically. But fuck, that felt like a lie and it burned his throat.
“Fine. Maybe you workwithhim. The fact is, he comes around and then you get all snarly. Shortly after that you usually disappear for a few hours. Most of the time you come back bloody and bruised. I figure you fight for him in that gambling ring your cousin Abel runs but since you’re a tight-lipped bunch I’ve never been able to discern exactly where or when those go down to prove it.”
Colt was having trouble breathing. All of the air had been sucked out of the room. Not only had Skylar put together that he was involved in the family business because of something Lincoln was holding over his head, she’d also figured out that he fought for him as well. And Jesus, he felt sick to his stomach thinking about Skylar digging around, trying to find out more about those fights, and who she would have gone to for information.
“Have you run any of this by Cash?”
Skylar’s eyes softened and he realized that she’d been expecting some kind of denial. She’d wanted him to tell her she was wrong. She’d been hoping for it actually but his question proved everything she had said right.
“No. He doesn’t seem to know what sort of trouble you’re into so I kept my hunch to myself.”
“Thank you.” He blew out a relieved breath.
Cash didn’t know. Thank God. It was a small blessing though because he had a feeling if Skylar had figured it out that Jemma wasn’t far behind. The feisty redhead was smart and as soon as she got over the distraction of her happily ever after she’d start poking at his life and trying to figure him out just like she had his brother. It was only a matter of time.
“Don’t thank me. I haven’t told him. Yet. But in exchange, I want you to tell me exactly what’s going on.” She shook her head when he started to cut her off, “I need to know how deep you’re in with Lincoln’s crew. And I want to know what your exit strategy is because I know you and you’re not a bad man so I know you’re not doing this, whatever this is, because you want to. You’re better than your last name. You always have been. So tell me the truth and maybe I can help.”
“You can’t help.”
Just the thought of Skylar anywhere near Lincoln made every hair on his body stand on end. He was still trying to come to terms with her digging around for information. Surely she hadn’t gone to Lincoln directly. His cousin would have told him, would have gotten a sick kick out of it. But if she’d talked to any of the other guys, why hadn’t they told him?
“Colt. Start talking.”
He groaned. Right. She wanted answers. He scrubbed a hand over his face and decided if he was really going to do this, tell her his secrets, then he might as well start at the beginning. Get it all off his chest. Everything that he’d never told anyone. If he told her all of it and she still stuck around, well maybe he really could trust her and love her the way he wanted to.
“When you said Lincoln and I have business together, you were right.” He felt the words stick in his throat, “Lincoln owns Fine Lines.”
