Page 47 of Savage Truth

When she released me, something in her expression caused me to brace for whatever was next.

“Cole carried you off the mountain. Cole and not your uncle.” She paused, and we both let the significance sink in. It said something that Uncle Ronan had allowed it. “You were cradled in Cole’s arms, surrounded by Ronan, Damon, and their cousins. I…” She tried to blink back tears, but they rolled down her cheeks. With a swipe of her hand, she brushed them away then took a deep breath, getting her emotions under control. “The expression on his face… I know how he feels about you. I would have been blind not to see it.”

This is the big talk. Mom and I had been strangers, given how little we’d seen of each other while living in the Savage house—manor, mansion, whatever. But I was ready. There was no going back. Cole had defended me against Nick, almost at the cost of his own life. “I think we’re dating.”

She grabbed my hands. “I should have known there was something between you two by the sparks that flew every time you were in the same room.”

“We also kind of hated each other, so I can see how you missed the signals.” I grinned then stifled a yawn.

“This is weird because we have such a different relationship than most mothers and daughters.”

I wanted to head it off fast. “We do. And I love how we are, so don’t try to change it.”

Her shoulders went down about two inches, the tension visibly draining from her. “Okay. I can see how tired you are, so I’ll let you sleep after this suggestion. Please take things slow. You’ve had an unconventional upbringing and never got to be a kid like most. Go to college. Have fun. Date other people if you want. Don’t lock yourself into a serious relationship with the first guy you fall for.”

If only it were that simple. “I’ll do most of those things, Mom, but Cole’s… different.”

She worried her lower lip with her teeth for a moment, and I let her see how sincere I was about my feelings. I meant it. No one had ever made me feel the way he did, and I couldn’t imagine anyone ever coming close.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

COLE

I’d never been so glad for a concussion. It enabled me to stay home from school and practice. Nothing could keep me from Riley, and my head injury made staying with her easier. No one questioned me.

We’d found her Monday morning, and it was already Wednesday. She’d stayed overnight at the hospital due to doctors having to address her injuries—her own concussion, multiple deep lacerations on her feet, stitches on her head, a reset and splinted thumb, and IV fluids for extreme dehydration. Raelyn and Dad had brought her home on Tuesday. I’d stayed at the hospital, too, but it wasn’t the same in the waiting room.

Raelyn hovered, and I had to give them space. But at night, she returned to Dad’s room, and that was when I slipped into bed with Riley. Exhausted, she barely stirred when I took her in my arms.

Leaving before first light was the hardest thing I had to do. I didn’t think she knew I’d been in there because she was on heavy painkillers. I’d overheard her telling Raelyn she only wanted them last night and to flush the rest, another show of strength that awed me.

Still in recovery mode but not for much longer, I skipped running and did a light lifting session in the home gym. When I came into the kitchen to get some more water, I found Riley at the island, eating yogurt with one foot propped on the stool next to her. She was pale and had dark half-moons hanging beneath her eyes but looked more beautiful than ever.

“Hey.” I carefully lifted her foot, sat on the stool next to her, and lowered it onto my lap. “How are you feeling?”

“Like a truck ran me over.” She swallowed another spoonful before setting her yogurt aside. “Thank you for searching for me.”

“You never have to thank me for coming for you. I’ll always be there, no matter what trouble you get yourself into.” I winked, trying to lighten the mood a little. She started to smile, but it fell in the next second.

“Did you hear about him?”

I nodded. “Nick’s in a coma—”

“From a gunshot wound to the head.” She leveled me with a look that said she knew there was more to it. “And they said there isn’t any brain activity. He’s not going to wake up.”

We didn’t say who shot him because it had obviously been her uncle. He hadn’t come right away—Nick had ambushed him. Once he managed to get a bead on Nick at the motel, he’d shot him and the thugs with him, somehow making it look like an internal shootout. There was no recording at the motel. It’d mysteriously disappeared. No one questioned it because of who Nick was.

Cops were crawling all over the scene, and it took time to learn that they hadn’t recovered Riley. Then the search was on, and we all participated.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk.” I needed to know what had happened—all of it.

“Yeah. But can we go somewhere more comfortable?”

I stood, picked her up, then carried her to the couch. I kept her cradled in my arms, unwilling to sever the connection. Once comfortable, she told me everything: how Nick had hit her over the head from behind, and she’d woken two days later in the motel. How she’d escaped and where she’d hidden. I was so damn proud of her.

“When I hid on the mountain, unsure if I would make it out alive, I promised myself something.”

I cupped the back of her neck and traced the curve of her face with my thumb. “What’s that?” I dropped my gaze to her lips, needing to kiss her.

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