“Yes. Since I was being taken to the mine every day, it was my job to look.”
“Two should be able to get in and grab Reed if he’s alive. If he’s not, leave him. We will send the police in the morning.” Priest’s words are firm. He jerks his chin at Colton. “If you can’t do it, you can stay with Ashley.”
“I’m going.” His eyes burn with fury. Reed had played their relationship as casual, but that’s not what I see.
“Hargrave?”
He takes a little longer to respond as though thinking it through. “I speak the language, and Colton’s got medical training, so we should go.” He checks his watch. “If we aren’t back by daybreak, start without us.”
“What do you mean, start?”
“There’s a hike back to the vehicle.” Priest says. “A few hours. We have additional men there. We’ll head back to camp, raise the alarm, and send out another vehicle to collect you.”
Hargrave nods.
It seems like a simple plan, but no one is saying what happens if they don’t come back. I glance at each of them. “You’ll be back though? With Reed?”
Colton shrugs. “Hopefully. They won’t be able to bring in reinforcements. But neither can we. Nor can we fly anyone out for medical treatment.”
Hargrave gives a grim smile. “There ain’t no bird coming in with firepower. This isn’t a sanctioned op. It’s a rescue, and from firsthand experience they aren’t clean.”
Priest snorts. “Once the guns come out, is anything ever clean?”
His arms are still around me, and even though we are both slick from the rain, his body is warm against my back.
Colton gives a half laugh. “See you for breakfast. Don’t let the bacon get cold.”
He turns to leave with Hargrave.
“Wait, Reed gave me a message for you.”
Colton turns sharply.
Priest lets me go and gives me a small nudge toward him. Hargrave takes a few steps into the night until he almost vanishes. They are giving us the illusion of privacy, as if they both are both aware.
Colton leans right in, one hand around my waist, following Priest’s lead as if they expect me to collapse at any moment. I rest my hand on his chest, not knowing how to say it.
“Just tell me, Ashley. You know, they know. It’s no secret anymore.”
I close my eyes. I fucked the man he loves. What if that pisses him off? No, Reed said to tell him, and he knows Colton. Trusts him with his life, if not his heart. “He said that you owe me one. And that he hopes to be there for it.”
Those weren’t his exact words. Colton owed me if Reed didn’t make it. Though why he thought I’d hook up with Colton without him, I don’t know.
“What does that mean? What else did he say?”
I swallow, sure I can feel bits of food choking me. “It means you were supposed to be there…we, um…I slept with him.”
I’m whispering in his ear, but I feel as though I’m shouting it for everyone to hear. I brace, expecting Colton to lose his shit and to shake me or push me away in disgust.
“Huh. I’m not surprised.” He draws back enough to look me in the eye. “And how do you feel about me owing you one?”
“You’re not mad?”
“No. I love him, more than he loves me. But that he was thinking of me, while with you…I like that.” He nods as though that’s it. Settled.
I grab the front of his shirt before he can turn away. “He loves you.”
Even though he never said it. Colton should know in case…
