Page 140 of Hawk
I touched her shoulder and smiled. “I’ll never leave you behind.” She stood up, and I repeated, “Never.”
James cleared his throat and said, “I can set up a video link for you to speak this afternoon, but I’ll need for you to come back to the office. Would that be okay?”
“Yes, please.” She smiled deeply as she softly said, “Thank you.”
“It’s always our goal to help,” Devlin remarked as he and James stood from their seats. “Let’s get you to Pierce Bluff, so you and your father can talk.”
She looked unsure as her eyes jumped from mine to Colton’s. My wonderful old man stood and walked to Astor. “I know you’re nervous, but you remember what I told you?”
She nodded and repeated, “Facing our fears makes us stronger.”
“Exactly. Be brave, Astor, and find the strength we all know you have.”
She hugged herself to Colton before turning to my two brothers, “I’m ready when you are.”
I stood, and we followed them into the living room. Part of me was sad Astor may be leaving, but part of me was happy for her. She has a family that loves her, but I’ll miss having her around. Whatever she decided, I wouldn’t let distance or time get between us.
“I’ll bring her back before dinner,” Devlin said as he and James escorted Astor to the front door. “Elise wants to have a cookout this weekend if you’re available. Lucian will be back in a few days, and she wanted to get everyone together.”
“Tell her to call me, so I know what to bring,” I remarked as Astor and James walked out the front door, leaving Colton, Devlin, and me standing in the living room.
“I’m having the whole thing catered by one of Hayden’s new chefs, so all she needs to know is what you want.”
“Sometimes I forget how much money you have,” I admitted and he lifted one eyebrow at me.
Hugging himself to me, he whispered, “I know what’s in your bank account, so I should be asking you for a loan.”
I looked him in the eyes but didn’t give him a reply one way or another. Colton stepped up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist with his back to my front. We waved to Astor before she climbed into the front seat of Devlin’s SUV. James got into the back, and Devlin offered me a knowing smile as he got behind the wheel, cranked the car, and backed out of the driveway.
“How does he seem to know everything?” Colton asked as we stepped back and closed the door behind us.
“I guess there are no secrets with him around,” I remarked with a shrug.
I thought Colton was the only person who would ever know my secret. The one that would put people on my ass, looking for what I’d taken when we left Adrik’s and never looked back. That day, all those years ago, when Colton told me to get ready to leave, I did something that could’ve gotten me killed on the spot. Something that, in the eyes of the family, was worse than murdering the eldest son.
During Adrik’s nights of drunken frenzies, he would take from me what he wanted then insist on holding me, like we were a real couple. He would tell me secrets about the family that no one should’ve known. The biggest one being there was a large stash of uncut diamonds in the safe in his office. After Hailey was born, he’d changed the combination to her birthdate, and even though he made me leave her behind, he never changed the number.
I snuck into the office and opened the safe, taking a large fortune in diamonds. When Colton and I walked out the front door, they were neatly tucked into the lining of the small bag he’d shoved into his pants pocket. Rhys helped me convert them into cash, ensuring I had enough money to last ten lifetimes.
That was the biggest reason I feared Adrik’s family finding Hailey. They could’ve taken my betrayal out on her, and I wouldn’t have survived if my actions had caused her one more bit of pain.
I failed her when she’d needed me the most, resulting in both of us spending years in a hell we hadn’t created. When Colton took it upon himself to save me, he saved her too, and for that, I would love him forever. Our start may have been forged in blood and pain, but a decade later, we found ourselves on the edge of a new beginning. One where our children thrived, our families were united, and we shared a love so profound, it felt like it was destiny. I never would’ve thought the man who risked his own life to save mine would be the one who filled my heart with love.
Sometimes, the start of something amazing was the end of something else. And sometimes, the fingers of fate guided us to the one we were meant to be with all along. It didn’t mean that it would be smooth sailing, but it did mean that if they said they had your back, they really did.
And you had to open your heart past the pain, betrayal, and humiliation to find the love you deserved.
It may’ve taken years, but your one was out there, looking for you too.
