If Colton wasn’t behind me, I’d be backing up right now but his presence makes me braver which in all honestly is pretty fucking stupid. Here’s an idea, let’s play a game of provoking the crazy man with a gun.
“Do the boys know you’re here?”
“I’m their fucking leader. They don’t need to know shit about where I am.”
Colton’s hand tightens on my waist, preparing to pull me out of the way if need be. My hand hovers over his, needing his touch more than anything, needing his comfort and support. “Why don’t you give them a call? Let them know what you’re doing right now.”
Nic laughs. “Ahh, baby. You know that ain’t ever going to happen.”
“Nic,” I say, a little more forceful. “This is ridiculous. Put your fucking gun away and go home. No matter what you say or do, I’m not leaving with you, not after what you did. I’m with Colton and he’s taking me home so I can sort shit out with my mom. You need to forget about me, Nic. I’m not coming back.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head, the hurt blazing out of his eyes. “I’m not giving up on this. You belong with us. You belong back home, not with this rich prick.”
“Listen to yourself. You fucking proposed to me after I told you that I was in love with another man,” I cry, listening as Colton grunts in surprise from behind me, his answering scoff more than enough response to gather his thoughts on the topic. “You don’t love me, Nic. You just don’t want anyone else to have me. Can’t you see how wrong that is? You’re fucking sick. You need help, like professional help.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
Colton steps out from behind me, having heard more than enough. “Give it up, man. She’s done. She told you to fucking leave now go before—”
“Before what?” Nic demands, throwing his arm up and pointing the barrel of his gun right between Colton’s eyes.
A loud gasp comes tearing out of me and I throw myself in front of Colton as Nic rushes forward, knowing that one tiny little word from Colton’s mouth right now would have him buried ten feet under. Killing a guy like Colton isn’t something that’s going to get swept under a rug, especially if I have something to do with it. “Shoot him and I swear to you Nic, you will never see me again and that’s a fucking promise.”
Nic tightens his jaw. “Step out of the fucking way, Oceania.”
“Nic,” I spit. “Put your fucking gun down right the fuck now.”
“You and I both know where your loyalties lie. Step aside so I can end this.”
I laugh, pressing my back against Colton’s chest. “You know, that’s funny. Had you said that to me yesterday, I would have questioned myself, but after finding out what you did, you’re right, I now know exactly where my loyalties lie.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
I nudge myself back against Colton while keeping my eyes locked on Nic, proving once and for all that there's no going back. Knowing that once these words come out of my mouth, that’s it for me and Nic. He will never trust me again and after this, I’ll be a loose end that needs to be sorted out. I just hope my boys will still have my back even though I no longer have their leader’s.
“You know what I found last night,” I say to Colton, keeping my gaze trained heavily on Nic.
His eyes widen just a fraction, realizing just how damn serious I am. “Don’t do it,” he warns me, stepping forward and pressing the gun right against my temple, testing me.
“What did you find?” Colton questions, his voice low and careful.
I stare into Nic’s eyes, watching as the betrayal registers in his mind and I play the most dangerous game I’ll ever play in my life; I call his bluff. “I found a silver dagger, the exact one from your safe in your office, strapped to the back of his bedside table like a trophy because Nic killed my father ... and then he killed yours.”
Colton’s hand flinches on my waist but with Nic’s gun pressing against my temple and my betrayal thick in the air, he doesn’t dare make a move despite wanting nothing more than to kill him with his bare fucking hands.
Nic leans into me and I feel his lips against my skin as my heart races with fear, silently begging for him to spare me. He pauses and I feel his breath rush past my ear before his deadly whisper finally hits me. “You’re fucking dead to me, Oceania Munroe. You better watch your back because I will not forget this.”
His gun flinches at my temple and my world freezes but not a second later, the gun is gone and Nic’s back is to me, walking out of my life for the very last time.
Chapter 34
On the drive back to the Carrington mansion, we sit in silence, both of us completely lost in our thoughts as our hands rest on my thigh, linked just as they were always supposed to be.
My hands shake and I’m thankful that Colton doesn’t mention it despite the fact that I know he feels it. He always feels it. He’s so in tune with my body, it’s insane. Instead, he just squeezes my hand, letting me know that he’s here and giving me everything I need.
My mind spins as I try to come to terms with what the fuck just happened.
It’s really over between me and Nic and not just the romantic stuff but the whole relationship. My crew no longer exists. It's just me with
