Page 92 of Free to Breathe
“Only because he’s a pain in the ass and can’t wait until you’re out of surgery to meet you.” Colby shakes his head. “I might be able to put him off for one more night, but longer than that and he’ll be on our doorstep.”
“Who, Colby?”
“We’ll talk more about it privately but…” Colby takes both my hands in his before completely blowing my mind. “It’s my grandfather. Senator Zachary Hunt.”
48
Colby
Night Five before surgery
Inever expected Cori to do what she did tonight. She let go of her shield, openly exposed who she is. With each moment that passed, she didn’t shatter; she soared. Tonight cemented in my mind what I’ve somehow known on a molecular level since I first saw her. She’s it for me. If the worst happens and we only have these few days, I’ll live off the memories for the rest of my life. There will be no other who could replace her.
We’ve had more than most will ever experience in their lifetime. A love so brilliant, it pumps blood into the hardest of hearts. A love so self-sacrificing, she would have let herself drown before bringing others her pain. A love so forgiving, she accepted the apology, the truth, me, without reservation. Her heart is so fucking loyal to the people she loves, and she has this inherent need to make the people she loves happy.
Unfortunately, the envy and hatred of those who just can’t understand that kind of beauty has left her open to a predator. But not for much longer.
Which is where my grandfather comes in.
I never expected him to be a part of my life again, not after I left. I didn’t understand then, but I completely understand now.
“Are you okay, my love?” Corinna comes up behind me. We’re back at her home. Lost in my thoughts, I’ve been staring out the long set of windows as the sun starts to come down over the wildflower meadow, saying nothing.
Turning, I see a new Corinna: peaceful, stronger, self-confident. She looks like she can take on the world, but it’s my job to make sure she’s protected from it. Holding out an arm, she curls beneath it. “Beyond being captivated by you, what you did tonight has me in awe. I love you, Corinna. I’m proud of who you are. You know that, right?”
She blushes. “It was just hair, Colby.”
I shake my head. “It was more than that. It was a gift of strength you infused in those who so desperately needed it. You did that. You always do that.” I brush my lips against hers for what was intended to be a brief kiss. Moments later, I pull away, and her eyes flutter open slowly. “You gave me that tonight, Cori.”
Her shy smile never fails to kick me in the gut. Each time it’s like the first time all over again. Every goddamned time.
I stroke the side of her cheek and take a deep breath. “I’ve never told you about my grandfather.”
Shaking her head slowly, she merely says, “I knew you would when you were ready.”
Pulling her close, I breathe her in. “My grandfather is a royal pain in the ass to everyone, friends and enemies alike.”
Corinna’s wry expression doesn’t surprise me. “So, you’re saying it’s a family trait?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Brat. And then after everything with my father, he was just gone. Gone, Cori. How could he take my father’s side after I’d been hurt?” Mentally berating myself, I hiss out, “Damn, that was insensitive.”
“Now I want to FaceTime him just so I can verbally kick his ass.”
My lips kick up in a small smile. I can’t help it. “He’s a curmudgeon. He’s lost even the smallest shred of decency. Even Keene’s called him a sanctimonious prick more than once.”
“Are you’re saying I’ll have a punching bag for all my frustrations? Excellent.”
I can’t control the laughter that wells up inside of me. Only Corinna can find that one pinprick of light and explode it into a starburst. I pull her head down on my chest. I need to purge myself of this burden.
“After I disowned my father, I never intended for it to include the rest of my family. Since I never heard from any of them ever again, I assumed they were more interested in money than anything else.” I take a ragged breath. “None of them, not one, ever came to find me. Not even after I was shot.”
Corinna’s arms tighten around me. “Let it go.” She’s encouraging me to lay my burdens on her, but how much more can she take?
How selfish am I that I need this?
“I can’t even tell you where I was, only to say it was unexpected.” I take in a gulp of air. “When it was reported it the media, it wasn’t even close to the truth.”
In the silence that cloaks us, I explain the horror of the secretary of defense screaming under me as I covered her body with my own, crying in my ear after I took a hit meant for her. We were never supposed to be on the special op we were assisting with. Yet, when the accusations started flying, it was my chain of command undermining my decisions. I describe the bitterness in my soul as I sat in a hospital in Germany wondering about my future. Then the profuse apologies later as the traitor among us was revealed. Finally, my shock when Ali reached out and told me to come home.
