Page 254 of Redeemed

“We’ll make the trip down as often as we can,” I tell Xander quietly. “You won’t be abandoning them.”

“Just tell me it doesn’t make me a bad person.” Tears fall into his lap. “Tell me I’m not a bad person for going back to college.”

“You’re not.” I take his hands. “I promise you, Xan.”

He looks at me like he wants to believe me but can’t. His shoulders shake, and his face scrunches up.

“Hey, hey. C’mere.”

When I wrap my arms around him, he lets me pull him to the floor. He’s half in front of me and half in my lap, barely able to take a full breath.

“Luc,” he sobs.

“I’ve got you.” I hold him to me as my heart breaks for him. “No matter what happens, Xan, I’ve got you.”

Haven

XanderandLucashavebeen gone for three long, excruciating days. Colt and I were both relieved when Luc called and told us that Phil woke up yesterday. He’s still not doing great, but the doctors are confident he’ll continue to get better.

Still, I can’t help but be worried, and I know Colton is, too. When he’s not working on his laptop or making hushed phone calls in his room, he’s pacing and checking for a new text every two minutes. I’m not doing much better.

Currently, we’re both in the loft. We need to study, but neither of us can bring ourselves to do it. I’m petting Star instead, trying to derive some type of comfort from her presence. I don’t think it’s working.

“What if they don’t make it home in time for finals?” I ask nervously.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“And if they make it home but don’t pass?”

“I’ll take care of it,” he repeats. His hand comes to rest on my thigh. “They’re graduating. I need them by my side for what’s to come.”

“And me?”

His eyes lock on mine, and I’ve never seen him look so serious as he says, “I don’t think there’s been a single day since I met you that Ididn’tneed you, angel.”

My heart squeezes. “Colt—”

His phone vibrates, and he grabs at it, only for his shoulders to sag in disappointment. “It’s not them. But… goddammit.” He types back a reply and stands. “One of the Rooks I need to sway onto my side wants to meet with me. He says it’s urgent. I have to run to the Grand Hotel.”

“You won’t—you won’t be in danger, will you?”

“No.” Colton drops a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I stand as he rushes for the stairs. “Just promise me you’ll be safe?”

“Always,” he says, turning to face me. “I’m coming home to you, Haven. I promise.”

With that, he disappears, and I hear the garage door slamming a minute later. I lower myself back onto the couch with a shaky breath. There’s still a lot I don’t know about the Rooks, but I know it has to be dangerous. Colton keeps multiple guns throughout the house, and he knows how to use them. Lucas and Xander are the same way. It has to be for a reason.

I’m not sure how long I sit in my worried state before the doorbell rings. I hop up and practically run down the stairs, hoping for a distraction. Athelia knows how worried I am about Xander’s family. Maybe she came to surprise—

I freeze when I open the door to find a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair staring at me. Afamiliarman.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Mark says. “Is Colton here?”

He gives me a smile, but something feels off about it. After his reaction to Colton and I getting married, I don’t think it would be smart to let him in.

“I don’t think he’d like to speak to you,” I reply.

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