Colt shifts toward me, his body seeking warmth, comfort, anything to grab onto. “Hold me,” he mumbles.
My heart clenches as I pull him closer, aligning our bodies, my arm draping over him. He buries his face in my chest, and I hold on like I’m trying to keep him from slipping away. This is the closest I’ve been to Colt in months. But it doesn’t feel like lovers reconnecting. It feels like a mother comforting her broken child.
His shaking worsens, his breathing ragged and uneven.
He’s struggling.
He’s suffering.
And there’snothingI can do.
I hold him tighter, feeling every tremor, every sharp inhale, every broken piece of him that I can’t fix. The frustration is overwhelming. The helplessness is suffocating.
A lump rises in my throat, and I try to swallow it down, but the tears come anyway, hot and heavy. I knew this would be bad, but I didn’t know it would bethis bad. Didn’t know it would make me want to scream from pure frustration.
A few tears slip down my cheeks, dampening his hair.
But I don’t pull away.
Eventually, Anna and Johnny step inside.
“Hey, Dee. Do you want a break? I can watch him while you recharge and have something to eat and drink?” Johnny asks, and I shake my head.
Anna frowns, looking concerned as I swipe the tears from my face. “I can’t leave him,” I reply.
Colt’s still shaking violently, and I don’t want him to think for one second that I’ve given up on him. He tightens his hold around my waist, almost like he can hear what I’m saying, although I’m quite sure he’s so far out of it right now it’s only a coincidence.
“Dee, you need to eat something,” Anna pleads.
“I’ll eat when we land and Colt’s checked in and settled.”
“Dee, that’s a couple of hours away.”
“Anna… leave it,” Johnny says, taking Anna’s hand and pulling her away.
We’ve been in the air for what feels like a long time, which means we should be getting close to London. When the door opens again, I don’t bother looking up to see who it is.
“Um… Dee.” I close my eyes tight when I hear Huxley’s voice, then exhale loudly so he knows just how annoyed I am with him.
“Look… I know I stuffed up. I know I’m mostly to blame for how Colt is right now, and trust me, Ineverwanted this to happen.” If my eyes were open, I’d fucking roll them. “I just want you to know that I am grateful you came back. I know how much this means to my brother. Also, I’ve made sure that Dragon’s Lair isneverto tour with us again. So, you no longer have to worry about Coslecki bringing drugs around.”
I release a shaky breath, the relief so intense it almost hurts.Finally,I don’t have to worry about Jared anymore.
“I’ve also made sure that Jessi is removed from our entourage list, and even if she tries to come back after Colt ensured she left, she won’t be able to.”
That little nugget almost makes me grin. I had no idea Colt was the one who gave her the boot, and damn, that makes me proud. Guess my rock god’s finally learning how to handle a bitch when he sees one.
“One last thing before I leave you alone. When you check Colt into the Priory, I’m going to check myself in as well. I called ahead, and they have an opening, so I took it. I want you to know that I am truly sorry…” he sighs, “… for everything. I know I’ve been a complete arsehat, and I know I’ve let everyone down, especiallyyou, and I really want to make it up to you. You’re important to Colt, so you’re important to me. And well, I guess I just wanted you to know that,” he admits.
I don’t know if I’m in shock or awe, but either way, it feels amazing that Hux wants to turn his life around as well. My eyes flick open, and sincerity is shining back at me, so I say, “Thank you.”
Hux exhales, and with a short chin dip, he spins and walks out of the room.
I nuzzle back into Colt, and maybe now Icansee a light at the end of this dark and tumultuous tunnel.
Tamara steps in a little later and tells me we’re landing soon. I’ll be glad to be off this damn jet. My flying nerves, mixed with the emotion of taking care of Colt, are overwhelming.
When the jetfinallytouches down, Colt stirs in my arms.
