“I’m not sure, baby. Maybe he’s sleeping in this morning.” God knows I want to be, but from the day she was born, Mia’s internal clock has been reliable. Up with the sun, every day, without fail.
“Mama, we wake Horsey.” She’s already heading to the door, and I don’t stop her this time. Because I want to know where he is too.
Yesterday was the start of something new…at least I hoped it was. But Colt didn’t come this morning. We’ve seen him every morning for the last month, no matter what, and I’m spooked. I was being a little fucking forward at dinner, but nothing crazy. Nothing that would make him run. At least I hope.
So, I follow my three-year-old out the door. This elevator is secure, and I honestly don’t think my palmprint will give me access to Colton’s floor, but it does. The doors open, and Mia heads to the right and bangs on the door. How does she know that’s his place? I rush to stop her, holding her hand and looking for a bell instead. We ring, then ring again. No answer.
My worry is morphing into panic. This is not like Colt. He loves Mia and he would never disappoint her like this. I knock a few more times, then step back and study his door. He has a palm print scanner too, and something comes over me. I press my hand to the scanner, then jump back when I hear the snick of the lock disengaging.
My hand unlocks his door. That can’t be an accident. I carefully poke my head inside. “Colt. Are you here?”
Mia pulls her hand away and runs through the apartment, searching for him. I really shouldn’t be in here, but I can’t leave without knowing he’s ok. I know that he could have company, and I could walk in on something I really don’t want to see.
I vaguely register piles of stuff on the dining table, and on the floor in corners, but I’m too worried to focus on them. I dash after Mia as she bolts into the main bedroom. The layout of Colt’s apartment is identical to Micah’s and Kade’s, so she knows exactly where the bedrooms are. I hurry after her, sprinting when her blood-curdling scream hits me.
Careening into the room, I see Mia sobbing next to the bed, and Colt’s colossal body on top. He’s laying on his back, white t-shirt covered in blood, face battered. My heart stops for a moment as I take in the damage, but his groan pierces through my panic. Moving to Mia, I scoop her up and press her head to my shoulder. “Mama Horsey hurt.” She repeats it over and over, sobs coating her words.
I reach out, nudging Colt, and he shoots up in bed, scaring the hell out of me. His eyes are wild. “Evie…what?” he mumbles, looking around blearily.
“Oh, fuck.”
I turn at Declan’s words, finding him in the bedroom’s doorway. His tank top is plastered to his chest, the smell of his sweat reaching my nose. I shift my eyes back to Colt. Oh, fuck is right.
Pressing a still-wailing Mia tighter against me, I move out of the room, forcing Declan back. “He’s breathing, he’s speaking. It looks like his head took a lot of damage. He should go to the ER. Now.” The nurse in me wants to take care of him, but I’m a mother, with a hysterical child. She needs me right now. I put my hand on Declan’s arm, stopping him from entering the room. “He fought last night, didn’t he?”
Declan groans, rubbing the top of his head. “Probably.”
“And you’ve seen him look like this before?”
“He doesn’t usually look this bad.” He admits, mouth twisted.
I look back at Colt on the bed. He’s still sitting up, looking confused. “He needs to go to the ER,” I repeat. “Do not skip it. Promise me.”
Declan’s lips firm. “I promise. I’ll get reinforcements and drag him there if I have to.”
I nod, satisfied, and leave the apartment. I reassure my daughter the entire way back to our apartment that Colt will be ok.
I just wished I believed it.
I’m layingon the floor in Mia’s room, running toy cars over the racetrack when a frantic knocking starts. Mia hops up, running to the door, swinging it open to reveal Colt, and behind him Declan and Ransom. Colt’s glassy eyes lock on Mia, his throat swallowing repeatedly.
“Baby, it’s not safe to answer the door by yourself. You need to wait for me.” I scold her gently.
Ransom’s eyes tighten. “This floor is secure, Evie. No one but us has access to them.”
I give him a tight smile. “We won’t always live here, Ransom.”
Colt’s eyes rise at that, searching my face, mouth twisting.
Mia tugs on my hand, voice teary. “Horsey hurt.”
I swing her up into my arms and turn her to face the men in the doorway. Colt looks shattered. “I’m ok baby girl. I promise.” His voice is hoarse, thick with emotion.
“You no ok Horsey.” She states plainly, seeing what we’re all seeing. There’s bruising all over Colt’s face. Butterfly bandages holding together cuts along his eyebrows and cheekbones. The stark black threads of stitches mar his lower lip. He is not ok.
He exhales heavily, looking at me with pleading eyes. Does he actually expect me to smooth over his fuckup with my daughter?
“Concussion?” I ask him.