Page 74 of Colton
“We weren’t always on the straight and narrow, I told you that. There are still some people in this city that would like to see us fucked over. Cara’s clearly ours, and she’s not shy about throwing our names around to make shit happen. It’s why she’s paid so fucking well, because it doesn’t matter what we ask her to do, she gets it done. I want to make sure that it doesn’t blow back on her.”
“I didn’t hear all of it, but it sounds like a pretty straightforward case of self defense. Would someone really come after her for that?”
“I wish I could say no. I really do.” I wish the world worked like that, but our world is so many fucking shades of gray I can’t even count them.
“God, that’s maddening. We see so many women who’ve been hurt by husbands and boyfriends. Sometimes he’s the one bringing them in. They always have a story about how she got hurt. The men acting all touchy-feely with them, putting on a show. I swear they must think we’re fucking idiots. Some days, I have to walk away before I attack someone with a bedpan.”
Her lips quirk on ‘bedpan,’ but the smile falls. Her frustration and anger roaring back. “Instead, we patch them up until the next time.”
My mind flashes to the bruised woman holding her daughter so tight. I haven’t been able to get her face out of my mind all night. “Like that woman…the one with her daughter?”
Evie’s eyes turn sad. “No, not like her. I’ve seen her a few times, but no one ever comes with her. She lets us treat her and thankfully, that little girl is always healthy.”
“So that’s all you can do? Fix her up and send her back out there to deal with whatever shitty situation she’s in?” It’s so fucking wrong.
“Unfortunately, yeah. There are programs to help, but they’re chronically underfunded. It’s not easy for women to get away from shitty situations.”
“But what about Holly? You’re the one who gave her the phone number for the people who helped her disappear.”
She sighs and leans back in her seat. “Yeah, I did. I was at that hospital for years Colt. I knew so many people and had seen so much. I knew what number to give her because I was deeply connected there. I don’t have the same network in Chicago. I’m starting over here, building trust. It takes time.”
“Time,” I mutter, wondering how much time a woman like the one we saw today has. “And she couldn’t just go to a shelter? I mean, I know that’s a shitty option, but it would be safer than staying with someone abusive.”
“Have you talked with Holly about her experience?”
“Honestly, no. She has Micah for that. It’s stupid, but I hadn’t really thought much about it until tonight. Now I feel like a fucking idiot for ignoring it.”
“It’s easy to ignore a lot of the bad things that happen in the world. When it touches you personally, you have no choice but to take your head out of the sand. Hey,” she says, squeezing my fingers. “That’s something you seem to do really well. You didn’t hesitate to help Sonja. I talked to her the other day. She and the kids are so happy in the new apartment. She went on and on about the school, and how great their new teachers are. So when it counts, you take action.”
She cups my cheek. “Why don’t we go home and have a nap? Mia’s happy as a clam with Holly. She’s ok keeping her for a few more hours.”
“I’m all over that. My dick would really like to change the plan from nap to fornication, but I’m too fucking tired. How do you do this Evie? Stay up all night, deal with everyone’s pain. Their sadness. It’s fucking exhausting.”
“Oh, honey, you just need to work on your endurance.” Well played lady, well played.
I swear,this has got to be what heaven feels like. Laying in a dark room, on cool sheets, with the woman I love laying on my chest. I’m so fucking tired, but can’t crash. I don’t want to miss this. It’s too good.
Evie’s soft breaths. Her hair covering my arm. The weight of her hand on my chest. I’m memorizing all of it. My dick’s not happy with me, and I’m pretty sure my eyeballs have sand in them, but fuck if I’m going to move an inch.
Evie groans, shifting her legs restlessly. “What time is it?” she mumbles, rubbing her cheek against my chest. I curl her in closer, savoring the weight of her against me. She’s rounded out, healthy, and I’m so fucking grateful.
I can’t resist her, but I hold myself back, kissing her on the top of her head instead of rolling her over like I want to do. “Almost eleven. Holly will bring Mia back soon.”
“Time to get up,” she says, not opening her eyes.
I run my hand up and down her back. “You sure about that, love? You don’t seem to be making any effort to actually wake up.”
She smiles, blinking those stunning brown eyes at me. I haven’t seen this version of Evie before. The warm sleepy one. I think I would trade everything to see it every day for the rest of my life. She tilts her head, meeting my eyes shyly. “You use that word with me a lot…love.”
We’re going there, are we? She’s a strategic genius. She waited until she had me pinned and under her spell, then boom, she hit me with it. “Yeah, I do.”
She wets those lush lips of hers. “You also said something at Ransom’s the other night…”
She trails off, making me chuckle. “Yeah, I did.”
Pinching my nipple, which I really fucking like, she snorts at me. “You said you loved me. Are you going to keep dodging the topic? I’ve wanted to talk to you about it for the last few days, but every time I was close to bringing it up, you’d vanish.”
“I didn’t vanish,” I scoff. “I just walked away really fast.”
