Page 271 of Redeemed

“You, too.”

Maybe it’s my sleep-muddled brain not understanding, but worry pricks at me as Colton places his phone beside him.

“Will anyone try to challenge you?” I mumble as I rub my temples.

Why does my head hurt so bad?

“There are a few who might,” Colton says as he gets up. “They won’t get very far, though. Not with our plan. And, well, it’s written in the bylaws that leadership is transferred from parent to eldest child, so it’s automatically mine.”

“And… no one should listen to Mark because…?”

“Because I’m protecting some people.” He grabs a fresh shirt from his dresser. “And you.”

“Mmm.”

When Colton turns around to face me, he’s frowning. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just have a headache.”

With his shirt halfway on, Colton freezes. His face goes pale, an expression of horror filling his features.

My heart clenches painfully. It must be setting in, what he did. That he finally fucked me, and it was caring and sweet and the opposite of everything he normally is with me.

Please don’t regret it. I need you to not regret it.

“Haven, how hard did you hit your head?”

“W… what?”

When I move to sit up, pain shoots through my side, and I wince at the discomfort. Dizziness hits a moment later, and the ache in my skull turns from dull to stabbing.

Oh.Maybe the way I felt earlier wasn’t because of how good Colton felt.

“Shit.” Colton is by my side in a split second, catching me before I crash to the floor.

I didn’t even realize I was falling.

No.No.I’m fine. I’ve handled worse than what Mark did to me dozens of times. Although… Isaiah was always careful not to go for my head. He knew a concussion would be a dead giveaway to what he was doing to me.

“Did I hurt you? God, I shouldn’t have been so rough.” Colton’s gentle hands travel over my body, and the panic in his voice scares me.

But I can’t be that hurt, can I? Not after everything we just did. I was fine. A little pain here and there, but nothing I couldn’t handle.

“I’m sure I’m fine. I probably just need some water or—or some food. That was… I don’t think I’ve ever come that many times in a row before.”

But he’s still staring at me like he broke me. “Angel, I’m so sorry. I—”

“You didn’t hurt me, Colton.” With both hands on his shoulders, I take a hesitant, shallow breath. “See? There. I’m fine.”

I knew it.Colton is just babying me, that’s all.

He frowns. “Breathe deeper.”

“Wha—”

“Do it.”

Carefully, I inhale, taking a full breath. An ache spreads across the entirety of my left side, and I grimace, my grip on Colton’s shoulder tightening.

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