Walk away?
Maybe this is yet another conversation I need to have with Colton. So much is happening so fast, and it’s becoming almost too much to deal with at one time. My feet urge me to the front door but taking off without explaining isn’t the mature way to handle things. That’s done with talking and uncomfortable discussions.
I fire off a text to Izzy, wondering what happened after I left the clubhouse. It doesn’t take long for her to respond that her dad is livid.
Izzy: When I told him I was pregnant, I thought he was going to blow a gasket.
Me: He’ll come around.
Izzy: Maybe, I’m not so sure. He left last night pissed off and hasn’t come home.
Me: Maybe he’s helping with the Drew situation?
I don’t believe it as I type it. Whatever is going on with Drew would be handled with closed ranks, and as much as Hound is part of the Cerberus group, he’s not in the core circle which includes my dad, Uncle Diego, Rob, Jaxon and Morrison, and Dustin–Landon’s dad.
Izzy: Did you hear what happened?
Me: I haven’t.
Is it selfish of me for spending time with Colton rather than sticking around to get the latest news on Drew? Suddenly, I feel like an irresponsible jerk.
Izzy: I only know what I read online because no one is talking, but from what I saw, Drew went apeshit on some guy at a scene and killed him.
I can sympathize with Drew because there have been times while I was working with Colton that I wanted to bloody my knuckles on someone who had no respect for human life.
Me: Wow.
Izzy: Yeah.
Me: Did you ever meet him?
I’ve only ever seen Drew two or three times in the last couple years, and one of those times was during his short stay with Jaxon and Rob before his paternal grandparents came for him. They moved him to New England and I think he’s only been back once since.
Izzy: Nope.
I drop my phone when the bedroom door opens, and the look in Colton’s eyes tell me that he’s no longer in the mood for breakfast.
I don’t feel that way either. There’s too much going on, too many things between us that we need to hash out. The sex has been great, amazing even, but if we want this to work between us, we need to sit down and talk it all out.
“I—can I just hold you?”
I nod my agreement, needing his touch as much as it seems he needs mine.
Chapter 27
Colton
The entire day since Sophia left has been insanely weird.
She didn’t talk much after Landon left, and I can’t help but wonder if he said something that made her change her mind. She let me hold her in the bed but despite our physical closeness, I could feel her pulling away.
Does people knowing about us make her uneasy?
I want to call Dominic and tell him everything, but that seems like an incredibly selfish thing to do considering everything that family is going through right now. I know Sophia isn’t related by blood to Lawson and his brother, but the MC is as close as I’ve ever seen a biological family.
Me: Missing you already.
She left mere hours ago but the time and miles of distance seems like an eternity and worlds apart.
Maybe it’s the unknown that’s making me question everything that’s happened. My body doesn’t regret a thing. The time we spent, the ways we came together could never be a mistake, but that isn’t keeping my head from jumbling everything up.
“I thought you had plans,” I tell Rick as he walks into the room, collapsing beside me on the sofa.
“Canceled,” he huffs, eyes straight ahead on the news playing on television.
“I thought it would take a catastrophe to cancel a teenager’s plans.”
“Or someone being charged with murder.”
That makes me pause.
“We stayed at Aaron’s house last night. Landon just found out what was going on with one of the guys linked to the club.”
“I see.” How do I talk to my son about this?
As a detective, I’m inclined to lean toward commending the arresting officers for being strong enough to arrest one of their own, but my experience tells me that nothing is as black-and-white as most want to believe. There are always extenuating circumstances with every case.
“Do you have any details?”
“I was hoping you’d have some.”
“I don’t know much. Drew O’Neil works for the state police. He responded to a call and someone ended up dead. The state police are keeping things close to