Page 139 of Control's Undoing

For a man who’d nearly died, he strangely looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.While she, Eric, and Xavier were only just calming down, Colum was smiling behind the mask.

When he lowered it again, letting it rest around him like a necklace, he reached for their hands.She and Xavier each claimed one, the three of them holding on tight.

“I told her I loved her.”

Annie’s chest tightened, aware of who he was talking about.She didn’t have it in her to repeat the fact he was most likely hallucinating, not given the way he looked so…happy.

“What did she say?”Xavier asked softly.

Colum chuckled.“She called me an eejit, then told me she loved me too.”He looked over his shoulder at Eric.“She told me to look after you.”

Eric didn’t reply, though Annie saw the way he swallowed deeply.

“I love you,” Colum said, turning back to her and Xavier.“And I always will.I need ye to know that.”

Annie batted away a tear, her voice thick when she repeated the sentiment.Xavier, equally affected, pressed his forehead against Colum’s, his eyes closed tightly.“Je vous aime,” he whispered.When he pulled away, he pierced Colum with a serious look.“You’re never allowed to die.”

Colum chuckled, mistakenly thinking Xavier was joking, but Annie knew he wasn’t.More than that, she agreed with her beloved Frenchman.“Never,” she reiterated.

Eric slowly rose from the floor, he and Xavier gently helping Colum up, guiding him to the couch.Eric perched on the edge of the coffee table, studying Colum intently.“You’re okay?”

“Aye, brother.I am.”

Eric remained there for another full minute or two before he was able to leave Colum’s side.Glancing at her and Xavier, he managed a weak smile.“You’ll watch over him.”

Annie nodded, as Xavier said, “Of course.”

“Colum.”Eric placed his hand on Colum’s shoulder, squeezing it, a surfeit of emotions crossing his face, though he didn’t voice any of them.Apparently, he didn’t need to.

Colum placed his hand over his brother’s, patting it.“I know, Eric.I love you too.”

Now that the terror had passed, Annie was struggling to hold her other emotions in check.She sniffled, tears filling her eyes, as Eric nodded and left the room.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Colum: I just spoke with my sister’s ghost.

Franco: Pot brownie?

Colum: No, poison.

Franco: YOU WERE POISONED?

Franco: DID YOU POISON YOURSELF?

Franco: WHAT’S GOING ON!?

Franco: COLUM, PICK UP THE PHONE.

Annie stood in front of Eric’s desk, facing the fleet admiral, smiling brightly as he and Xavier stood next to her.Somehow, she’d managed to find a beautiful cream-colored sheath dress and she’d pinned her hair up in one of those fancy updo styles, where a few long pieces hung loose, curling around her face.She’d never looked more beautiful.

Xavier, as always, looked like he’d just come from a catwalk in Paris, a deceptively simple outfit of pants, button-down shirt, and waistcoat, all perfectly tailored and put together in a way that looked almost effortless.

Meanwhile, Colum was dressed in a white button-down shirt he’d borrowed from one of the Spartan Guards who was the same size as him, and a blue tie on loan from Eric, who’d choked up a little a few minutes earlier when Colum had put it on.

Neither he nor Eric had said anything as they got ready, his big brother merely adjusting the tie while fighting back the same strong emotions coursing through Colum.When Eric gripped the back of his neck in his large, calloused hand and smiled, Colum had returned it.

“I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, Colum.”

---