Page 87 of Redeemed

“He cornered me! I was—”

“And what did I tell you to do if he did that?”

With a grimace, she whispers, “Call you.”

“So why didn’t you? Did he hurt you? Threaten you? Blackmail you?”

At the desperation in Colton’s voice, Lucas and I exchange a pained glance. He wants that to be the case—wants there to be a way for her to be blameless in all this. Colton would never put Haven in harm’s way to further his plans. If Markdidthreaten her physical safety, that would be enough.

He could let it slide.

We all could.

But Haven shakes her head, even though she knows it’s her damnation.

“Thenwhy?Why the fuck would you do this, Haven?” Lucas asks angrily.

“I didn’t know who to believe,” she sobs. “I was scared that Mark was right. Colt, he—he said you were in over your head, and I didn’t… I didn’t want to risk losing you.”

“So you chose not to trust my judgment,” Colton says flatly. “Not to trustus.And in doing so, you gave us up to the one man I asked you not to talk to.”

Haven’s eyes land on me before moving to Lucas. Her hand flies to her mouth, and I realize it hadn’t crossed her mind that she’d lose me and Luc by doing this, too. When she stifles another sob, it tugs on my heart, but I don’t move.

She doesn’t get to cry on my shoulder.

Not anymore.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

Colton releases a short, angry breath. “You think that’s all you have to do? Shed a couple tears and say you’re sorry, and all will be forgiven?”

“Please.” She reaches for him, but he steps back. “Colt, please, I’ll do anything.”

He stares at her for long enough that I begin to wonder if he’s trying to come up with a way she can redeem herself, but then he shakes his head. “The only thing you’ll be doing is getting the fuck out of my sight. I never want to see you again. Never want to hear your voice again.”

The look on Haven’s face is one of utter heartbreak. Shaking her head, she reaches for him again, but he grabs her wrist and drags her toward the door. She stumbles and falls to her knees.

I jump to my feet.“Colt.”

“Get up,” Colton snaps as he yanks the door open.

“I only wanted to keep you safe,” she insists. “Why can’t you see that?”

“Oh, I see it. But whatyoucan’t see is that I don’t care. I either have your trust or I don’t. I either have yourloyaltyor I don’t. And today, you proved where you stand.”

“But we’re friends,” she protests weakly.

“Friends don’t pull shit like this.” He hooks his arms under hers and roughly lifts her to her feet. “Besides, I only befriended you because Julie asked me to so you wouldn’t be lonely.”

Haven jerks back like Colton just slapped her across the face. “W-what?”

“And we only kept you around because we knew you were too pathetic to survive on your own. All it takes is someone looking at you wrong, and you fall into one of your panic attacks. God, you’re so stupid that you thought the stars weren’t real just because you couldn’t see them.”

As Colton keeps going, Haven’s cheeks turn pink, and tears silently fall down her face. Even I’m shocked by that first part about Julie. He never told me or Luc that. Everything else, while true enough, is framed in a way I know Colton has never seen Haven in before.

But it’s doing exactly what he wants it to.

A sob bursts free, and then Haven turns on her heel and runs out of the room. Colton doesn’t watch her go—just slams the door and leans against it, his eyes closed.

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