Page 110 of The Best of Us

He nodded. “Change of plans.”

Colin, still dazed, lifted his head. “There’s blood on your sister’s shirt. I’m sorry.”

Constantine glanced back at me, his voice softening in contrast to how he’d spoken on the phone. “It’ll come out.”

But I wasn’t so sure anything from today would wash away.

Colin lifted his head, dragging a shaky hand down his face before meeting my gaze with watery eyes. “You could’ve died because of me. I’m so sorry, Mom.” He blinked back more tears and turned to his father. “And you could have, too. I’d have lost you all over again.”

Like that, my mind fell into that dark place where Colin could spend the rest of his life without his father because of Constantine’s “this is what I do” life.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Constantine said firmly, adjusting the rearview mirror to catch his eyes. “I promise you’re not losing either of us.”

How can you make that promise?

Colin exhaled. “I never really thought anything I did was all that dangerous. You know, hanging out with Jamie and those guys. Even after what I saw you do at the rave and everything you warned me about yesterday . . . it never sunk in. Not until now.”

I pulled him closer, pressing his head to my chest, trying to steady him.

“I didn’t know you were my dad at the rave, so it just, well, hit differently compared to what went down in the garage.”

“You’re both okay. That’s all that matters.” At a red light, he turned in his seat, eyes locked on our son. “You had my back. You helped me handle that guy.Youkept your mother safe.Mesafe, too.” His nostrils flared, conviction thick in his voice. “Hey, look at me.”

Colin hesitated, then did as he asked. My heart could only handle so much.

“You’re my son, you got that?” His voice was raw that time. No longer measured and calm but full of emotion. “We made a good team back there. Not that Ieverwant you fighting alongside me again, but I’m damn proud of you.” He reached back, cupping his chin. “And your mom was ready to go after those men to protect you.” His eyes flicked to mine, something deep and unshakeable passing between us before he turned back to Colin. “You’re the best of us.”

The weight of his words hit, breaking something loose inside me. That dark place faded, replaced by one thought, one feeling:family.

“We’re stronger together than apart,” I murmured.

Colin shuddered against me, probably as choked up as I was.

Constantine nodded, facing forward as the light turned green.

“Dad?” Colin’s voice was soft, almost broken.

Constantine startled slightly. “Yeah?”

“Thank you. For not letting them take me. For knowing they weren’t real police when I didn’t. And most of all . . . for keeping Mom safe.”

Oh Colin.

“You never need to thank me for protecting either of you.” He’d said practically the same thing to me yesterday about Colin. “I’ll always keep you both safe. You have my word.”

Chapter34

Juliette

“Canyou give me a few minutes alone?” Colin zipped his bag and tossed it onto his bed. “I need to call Lennon. She texted that she was fine and had no clue why those guys came after us, but I need to hear her voice.”

“Are you sure you want to be alone after what happened?” My shoulders sagged. “You don’t want to talk about it?”

“Why would I?” He blew out his cheeks. “What’s done is done. I don’t want to relive it. I can handle myself being in danger, but not you. So, if we keep talking about it, I’ll just keep beating myself up. Unless that’s what you want?”

“You are just like your father.” My inner thought bubble burst, and now I was glad it did when I saw Colin’s smirk.

“We did make a pretty good team back there, didn’t we?” He mimicked one of Constantine’s movements from the garage, then threw in a martial arts maneuver, finishing with his palm meeting his fist in a dramatic closeout.

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