“Are you sure?” I know you two like to have your privacy?” Anna asks quietly.
“One night won’t kill us. Plus, I’ll feel much happier knowing you’re comfortable.”
“I don’t want to intrude on you two—”
“Shut up and take the room, woman,” Johnny exclaims, and we all chuckle in response.
“Okay, thank you, guys. I really appreciate it,” she says with a tremble.
“We both do,” Johnny relays as he leans down and picks her tiny body up in his arms.
“This is our room. You guys stay in here, okay? Don’t let any of the others talk you into letting them have this room. It’s the best one, although the bathroom smells like puke. Sorry,” Johnny apologizes with a slight smirk, and Anna moans.
“Get her to bed, Johnny. If she gets worse, call a doctor,” I tell him.
“Yes, Mum,” he replies before he walks out the door.
Colt closes the door behind Johnny, and we’re alone in our new room for the night.
“That was nice of you,” Colt says, walking across to me.
“You would’ve done the same thing.”
“Should we go out and enjoy the night with the others for a little longer?”
“Sure, why not?” I reply, and he leads me back out to the living room of the penthouse suite.
By this time, the after-party is in full swing, and the penthouse is crowded.
I look up at Colt, who is smirking at me.
Confused, I glance around the room.
There are half-naked women everywhere, and I can’t help but wonder if Colt gets turned on by them waltzing around in their underwear. He takes my hand and leads me to a spare spot on the couch. Unfortunately, it’s right next to Jared and Hux, who are laughing and setting up more lines of cocaine.
“Hux, man, seriously, why are you doing that shit again? You know what happened last time you were using.” Colt’s voiceleaves no room for misunderstanding how he feels about what’s happening.
Hux rolls his eyes at Colt while Jared laughs. “Don’t worry about me. I have this sorted. It won’t get like last time. I know what I’m doing,” Hux replies as he snorts a line off the coffee table.
I look at Colt, who’s frowning, and his brows furrow. He then pulls me into his lap and holds me securely.
“Sorry, you gotta see this,” Colt says, then nibbles on my earlobe.
“Colt, you wanna line? It’srealgood shit,” Jared asks.
“No,” he says with finality.
“Oh, c’mon man, live a little. You used to love to party?”
“I said…no, Coslecki. Don’t ask me again,” Colt replies with a stern voice.
“Geez, chill out, man. How ’bout you, Dee? You wanna go, baby?” Jared asks.
“Don’t go there. In no way will Dee ever touch that shit, and if you ask her again, I’ll make sure when I hit you, this time I actually break your nose,” Colt berates, clenching his fists.
This defensiveness has me concerned. I know Colt’s had dealings with drugs and partying in his past, but the way he’s reacting makes me think there’s more to this story.
“And as for you, little brother, when you end up back in rehab, don’t think I’ll be the one to come and help you through it again. You know how quickly you get sucked into this world and where it leads. You’re turning out just like Dad.”
