Page 49 of Colton

“The mere fact that you’re here is dangerous, Dahlia,” I sigh, taking her by her wrist gently, and removing her from the eyes of the crowd. “This is not the place I’d ever want you to be at.”

Dahlia scoffs, the same shade of my eyes staring back at me. I’m well aware that she’s a grown woman, who’s capable of making her own decisions and who’s able to live her own life — the way she sees fit— but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry.

“Are these people dangerous? Yeah,” Dahlia steps closer. “But don’t think for a moment that your hands are clean, Colton. I’m not a child anymore, I see things — I know things. You may not be pulling the trigger, and your hands may not be coated in blood, but they’re not clean, either. You — our family — have billions. No billionaire is ethical.”

“You didn’t seem to mind the wealth while you were using it to party all across the world, or when the private jet was at your disposal, or when you were taking your friends to our private islands. You can’t pick and choose when this lifestyle works for you, Dahlia. It makes you a hypocrite.”

Her mouth parts, then closes. This is the first time ever I lost my temper with her, and this is still rather mild in comparison to what my true rage looks like. Dahlia is taken aback, and she blinks because she knows I’m not lying.

“Well, then, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” I interrupt her, lifting a brow. “Disown me, and the family, just because you got caught in your own hypocrisy? How about you take a breather, and we get back to this topic at a later date? Now, tell me exactly what your plan for tonight is.”

Dahlia takes a deep breath, though she relents. She knows this is a fight she is not going to win, not today, at least. She takes a step toward me, her eyes softening a fraction. She was never able to stay upset with me for too long.

“I was going to drug Maxwell, then take him somewhere private, where Clyde would be waiting. Clyde would then tie him up, and interrogate him until we got the answers we needed.”

All I’m able to do is stare at her. Shock spreads through me, and my eyes are as wide as saucers, the glass nearly slipping from my hands. She’s looking at me, as if she’s talking about the weather, and not committing a crime.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” I yell, and a couple of people glance our way. Dahlia, to her credit, looks completely relaxed, and unperturbed by the sudden rise of my worry. “You’re doing no such thing!”

“Look, I’ll do whatever it takes to get answers out of him.”

“And drugging him is the answer?”

“He won’t talk otherwise,” she shrugs. “It’s the best option.”

“You and I have different definitions of the word best,” I release a deep breath, trying to steel my nerves. “Where is Clyde? I can’t believe he’s running with this terrible idea.”

“Clyde is bored,” she points out. “This is the best idea he’s heard in a while.”

“Both of you are morons. Go home, Dahlia.”

“Nope,” she beams, then quite literally skips back into the crowded venue. Artemis is looking at me from across the room, raising a brow, silently questioning me as to why the hell is Dahlia so content with herself.

Somehow, I get the feeling that my lifespan has just shortened tenfold. I can’t run after Dahlia, because it will gain us more attention than either of us wants. Even if I can afford not to care, she’s already out of my sight, and I can’t spot Elsher, either.

All I can do is hope the idiot doesn’t get my sister hurt, or I might use my gun on him.

18

Having Dahlia has completely changed my life. The fact that our father and her mother had no issue giving up custody when she was barely a toddler, turned out to be for the best. Raising her was hard, but it was rewarding. I like to joke that she is my practice child.

It wasn’t always easy, we’ve had our ups and downs. When she was a child, she’d often ask why she didn’t have parents who were present like her friends did, and it was difficult to explain in terms she’d understand.

As she grew older, and in some aspects wiser, she came to understand just how terrible they are. She has some contact with them, but it’s very superficial, and the two don’t know a singular important thing about her.

For example, how she was top of her class from first grade, till the time she graduated from the Academy. They have no idea that she’s grown into this brilliant, charming, and kind woman, whose smile is enough to light up even the darkest of places.

Dahlia’s always been my pride and joy. I love her more than I love myself, and it began from that day I first held her in the hospital when she was born. Her small hands clutched around my finger, and that’s when she became the most important person in my life.

So, if that is the person I love the most, the one I’m so immensely proud of, that I’d give my entire life for… who the hell is this person next to me, almost giddy that she managed to pull this off?

I’m momentarily frozen. I don’t think I’m breathing for what seems to be eternity, and I’m not blinking. There is movement around me, though I’m not present enough to pay attention to anything except the sight in front of me.

“What the actual fuck am I looking at?”

I utter the words, still baffled by this entire scene. In front of me, in this small room above the venue, with flickering lights, a small bed that doesn’t seem big enough to support a singular person, and enough dust for days.