“I’m not with you,” I say as he reaches for it.
“It’s Lucian.” He slides the button across the screen to answer the call. “Hello?” I can’t hear what’s being said on the other line, but he continues the conversation, pausing a moment to listen between everything he says. “Yeah, she’s okay. Home. No, I don’t think so. Are you sure? That would be great. Okay, thanks.”
He ends the call, putting his phone down, and to me, says, “Tommy is going to give Lucian a ride here, but before they do, he will stop at Grizz’s to get things for you and the baby. Is there anything you need specifically?”
“Clothes for both of us. Comfortable stuff. My toothbrush. Dorothea’s teddy bear. It’s in her crib. Oh, and her travel crib. It’s in the closet.”
He types something out, and I assume it’s to Lucian to relay the message.
“Did he say…” I stop, not sure I even want to know the answer.
“He didn’t say what happened.”
I nod absently, staring out the window still. “Can we go inside?”
“Of course.”
Kolton helps me out of the truck and to get Dorothea out of the back. Snow is piled up on the steps and the deck, so he goes first, using his boot to kick it aside.
“Please, be careful. I’ve been staying with Lucian, so I haven’t been here to shovel.”
I make it up the porch without falling. The house is warm once we get inside, and he locks the door behind us.
“Is the same room okay?” he asks.
“The couch will be fine,” I say, suddenly very tired.
“Nonsense. The room is yours. I just have to change the sheets.”
“I can help y—”
“No, I’m fine to do it myself.” He puts the carrier by the couch. “Relax. Put on the TV. I’ll let you know when I’m finished.” He heads up the stairs without saying another word. I open my mouth to tell him thank you, but he’s already gone.
Dorothea is sleeping, so I don’t bother her. I drop onto the couch and close my eyes. A million thoughts run through my head, but I’m all cried out now. I feel nothing but disappointment—and hurt.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Grizz
It’s Shark who finally gets me off Rhino, but not after I break his nose and bust his brow open. He’s lucky I don’t split his face in two.
“What the fuck!” Shark shouts in my face when he gets me to the other end of the room. My vision is blurry and I can’t hear out of my right ear. Well, nothing but a high-pitched ringing that better fucking go away. I’m sweating like crazy, and my hand is aching.
“He fucking started it!” I shout back, gesturing toward Rhino who is talking with Spam and Zero.
My heart is pounding. My head is pounding.
“By doing what?” Shark demands, sounding like he doesn’t believe me.
“By telling my girl I’m a fucking liar.”
He jerks his head back, eyes wide. “He what?”
“You fucking heard me.” I shove past him.
“Grizz!” Shark bellows.
I hold up my middle finger as I head over to the fridge to get a bottle of water. I down the entire thing. It’s then I notice the room is empty. Maybe they went into one of the offices or across the way to the bar, but it’s quiet in here, and a fucking mess. The table and chairs are all knocked over. Plates and food on the floor. Blood too—splattered all over the back of the couch that’s just past where the table was.
