Page 3 of Entwined
“Colson, please,” I whispered, my voice barely holding back the panic I felt. “You don’t have to do this. Let Vaughn handle the meeting.”
He shot me a look, one that silenced any further protest. “I need to do this, Joey,” he said, his voice firm but strained. “This deal with Svensen—it’s too important to let slip through my fingers.”
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. “But you’re not well enough…”
“I’ve got Vaughn with me,” he interrupted, his tone softer now. “He’ll handle things if… if anything goes wrong.”
The thought of Vaughn going with him was the only thing that kept me from breaking down completely. Vaughn had been Colson’s right hand for years, the one person who knew how to navigate the treacherous waters of business as well as Colson did. If anything happened, Vaughn would take care of it. He’d make sure Colson got back to the hospital safely.
I helped him with his tie, my fingers brushing against his skin as I tightened the knot. He was warm, but there was a chill beneath it, like the warmth of a fire slowly dying out. “I’ll be waiting at home,” I said quietly, hoping he would see the desperation in my eyes, hoping it would be enough to make him reconsider.
Colson cupped my cheek with one hand, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped. “I’ll be back before you know it,” he promised, but even he couldn’t hide the uncertainty in his voice.
I nodded, unable to speak. Vaughn appeared in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but I knew he understood. He was the only one who truly knew how fragile Colson was, how precarious this entire situation had become.
“Let’s go,” Vaughn said, his voice calm, almost reassuring. “The car’s ready.”
Colson straightened his jacket and gave me one last look before he followed Vaughn out of the room. I watched them leave, feeling like my heart was being ripped out of my chest with every step they took. The door clicked shut behind them, and I was left alone with my fear.
Outside the hospital, I knew the reporters were swarming. They’d been camped out for days, speculating on what could be wrong with Colson Ashworth, the man who had built an empire. They didn’t know, of course, but it wouldn’t be long before they pieced it together. Colson’s pale complexion, his unsteady gait—it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.
The drive back to the Ashworth mansion felt like a blur, my thoughts consumed with worry. I didn’t even notice the reporters lining the road until I was almost home. Their cameras flashed as I drove by. I thank God the windows were tintedso they couldn’t see inside. They were vultures, waiting for the slightest hint of weakness.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, I was a wreck. The weight of everything—the pregnancy, Colson’s illness, the future that seemed so uncertain—crashed down on me all at once. I barely made it inside before the tears started to fall, hot and uncontrollable. I leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath, but the sobs kept coming, tearing through me like a storm.
I was so lost in my grief that I didn’t hear Logan until he was almost past me, heading toward the guest house. I caught sight of him through my tears, his tall frame moving with purpose, and suddenly, I needed him. I needed my brother, the one person who had always been there for me, even when everything else was falling apart.
“Logan!” I called out, my voice choked with emotion.
He stopped, turning to look at me, his expression shifting from surprise to concern in an instant. “Joey?” He hurried back to me, his arm around my waist as he guided me inside. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “It’s Colson,” I cried, burying my face in my hands. “I don’t know if he’s going to make it and I’m pregnant, and I’m so scared I’ll have to do this alone.”
Logan’s arms were around me in a heartbeat, holding me close as I sobbed into his chest. “You’re not alone,” he whispered, his voice strong and comforting. “You’ll never be alone, Joey.”
I clung to him, letting his words wash over me, a balm to my shattered heart. I knew he meant every word, but the fear, the uncertainty—it was all still there, lurking in the shadows, waitingto consume me. But for now, in Logan’s arms, I found a small measure of peace.
Chapter 2
After Logan had calmed me, I dragged myself upstairs, feeling as if every ounce of energy had been drained from my body. I collapsed onto the bed, the familiar scent of the sheets a bitter reminder of how long it had been since I’d actually slept here. The door was ajar, and just as I kicked off my shoes, I heard the soft creak of it opening wider.
Easton stepped inside, his presence both unexpected and grounding. “Joey, where is Dad?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.
I sighed, too exhausted to do anything more than mumble, “He went to a dinner.”
Easton’s weight caused the mattress to dip as he sat beside me. “A dinner? He’s fucking sick,” he said, disbelief coloring his words.
I buried my face in the pillow, muffling the sound of my frustration. “I tried to tell him that. Vaughn went with him,” I muttered, knowing it was a weak reassurance at best.
“Christ,” Easton groaned, rubbing his face with both hands. “He is the worst fucking patient.”
I turned over to face him, the raw truth bubbling up inside me. “Easton, he’s dying.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and unchangeable. Easton lowered his head, his shoulders slumping under the weight of our shared grief. “I know,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I never expected to be an orphan at this age.”
The vulnerability in his voice hit me like a punch to the gut. We had always been the strong ones, the ones who didn’t show weakness. But here, in the quiet of my room, with the truth laid bare between us, there was no point in pretending anymore.
I swallowed hard, feeling the confession rise in my throat like bile. “I love him, Easton,” I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I fell in love with him.”
