Page 56 of Full Throttle 2

“Yeah, this asshole is the reason.”

Mark shook his head. They weren’t going to blame this mess on him. “I’m not going to be too many more assholes. It’s my job to make sure her image is on point. I’ve done that. So, if I have to push her a little, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“No,safetymatters, Mark.” Lila’s voice rose, drawing a few curious glances from the nurses behind the desk. “She passed out behind the wheel. She’s lying in a hospital bed right now because of your so-called ‘advice.’”

Brian walked into the waiting room just as Mark started to get a little too close and aggressive with Lila. “Dude, I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but I need you to back the fuck up.”

Mark ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “I didn’t tell her to push herself to this point. I just...I wanted her to stay competitive. The expectations for women in sports are different, Lila, you know that.”

Lila shook her head, eyes blazing. “Do you think I don’t get that? I know what Colby goes through every day, fighting to be taken seriously. But you’re supposed to have her back. Instead, you shoved her into a box, one that nearly killed her today.”

Mark went silent in the face of Lila’s anger.

“She trusted you with her career,”—Lila’s voice dropped, low and firm—“not her life.”

Mark continued to shake his head. “This is not my fault. We don’t even know what’s wrong with Colby or why she passed out.” He would not take responsibility for this.

Lila took a deep breath, trying to keep herself from throat punching Mark. “Maybe it’s time you stopped worrying about what the world wants Colby to be and started focusing on who sheis.Because right now, she’s a human being who’s hurt.”

Brian needed to diffuse this situation, or he was going to end up in jail for beating the shit out of Mark for upsetting Lila. Brian could feel the tension radiating off her shoulders as he gently massaged them. “How are you going to handle the media?” He turned to Mark. “They can’t get wind of this.”

“The official line that I’ve been telling the press,” Lila said, “is that Colby has the flu and just needs some fluids. She’s been admitted for overnight observation. I hope that’s true. I hope she’ll wake up and walk out of here tomorrow.”

Mark’s jaw tightened. His voice was clipped. “I guess that’s the story we’ll have to go with since you put it out there.”

“Ifyouhad been here and doing your job,” Lila spat, “I wouldn’t have had to come up with a story at all.”

Mark worked to suppress his anger and released a slow, exasperated breath. “I’ll handle it from here.” The irritation in his eyes was unmistakable. Mark wasn’t used to being questioned.

Brian was skeptical. “Are you sure you’re on top of it? Because I don’t know how you can manage this crisis and still be standing here.”

Mark started to say something smart, then changed his mind. Instead, he turned to no one in particular. “Keep meposted about Colby.” With those parting words, he walked out of the waiting room.

Brian wrapped his arms around Lila, and she buried her face into his chest. He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “Colby’s tough. She’s going to be fine.”

Lila’s voice was muffled as tears stung her eyes. “If I had done what Colby asked, she wouldn’t be lying in a hospital bed, unable to wake up.”

“This is not your fault. It was an accident.” Brian stopped and tipped Lila’s face toward his. “What did she ask you to do?”

“She wanted me to replace him.”

“Why didn’t you?” Brian asked.

Lila sighed, happily surprised that there was no judgment in Brian’s voice. “My own insecurities. I know now that was a mistake, and as soon as she wakes up, if she still wants me to take over, I will.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive.”

Brian cracked a mischievous smile. “That’s going to be one hell of a combo.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Colby was losing her mind. She had been home from the hospital for less than twenty-four hours, and everyone from her family to her Lockwood team was hovering. However, as irritating as all the attention had been, she did get a kick out of watching Liam maneuver around her father’s tiny three-bedroom house.

It didn’t seem to matter that his bedroom at his place was at least two or three times bigger than hers. Matter-of-fact, Colby could drop her father’s entire house into Liam’s living room several times and still have room. Still, Liam didn’t complain. Nor did he get irritated about the low water pressure when he took a shower. Colby was impressed that he seemed to be taking everything in stride and that he’d barely left her side since arriving.

In spite of everything, Colby was happy they were together. Lately, between both their schedules, they hadn’t been able to spend much time together, and while it sucked that the accident was the reason they were in the same room, Colby was grateful. Truthfully, her heart felt lighter, knowing that Liam was making her a priority. So, instead of musing about missing him, she could take this opportunity to bask in his attention.

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