Page 93 of Free to Breathe
Corinna sits quietly while I talk about Keene’s jaw tightening to the point it was ready to snap, and Caleb quietly getting up and punching a hole in the wall when I revealed everything during my interview at Hudson. After all, it’s not good for the Army when a traitor is found to be having an illicit affair with the secretary of defense and then sells her out for an incomprehensible amount of money while leaving his brothers-in-arms to die.
I might have come home to heal my body and my mind, but in truth, it was my heart that needed saving. And it’s the woman I’m holding close who did that.
Now, my past is threatening the peace of mind I’d finally attained. My family, my father, Jack.
Hudson Investigations has dug deep into Jack in the last few weeks without opening up the wounds I’ve been slowly closing regarding the events overseas. Unfortunately, it required opening up my connection to my family. I had to call my grandfather to use his influence to find out the truth.
After all, keeping this under wraps is as critical to him as it is to me.
As I’m relaying this to Corinna in a flat, controlled voice, her arms continue to get tighter and tighter around me. I’m sure pretty soon I’ll have no air.
“I’m going to say this once, and I need you to believe it before I lose my shit.” Corinna’s voice is suppressed fury.
“Okay.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“How can you say that? Jack was my—” I start to protest.
“Colby,” she interrupts me. “Yes, he was your ‘best friend’”—she air quotes—“but he preyed upon you. You didn’t know the one person you trusted implicitly was setting you up to such an extent. As for your grandfather, it sounds like he’s the one who needs to grovel. I’m pretty certain he knew how to get a hold of you before now. Did you ever think about that?”
My mind blanks. “No,” I whisper. She’s right. The man has connections he could have used to contact me at any time.
She runs her hands up my chest to cup my face. I don’t even realize I’m crying until I feel her wiping away my tears. “I don’t know his motives, but I know you. Listen to me.” She pulls my head around to make sure my eyes are locked on hers. “I know you, down to the bottom of my soul. You weren’t wrong, not with your family. Not with the secretary. And damn sure not with the decisions you made to live. Do I love every one of them? No. I do not, but that’s because some of these decisions would never have happened if the betrayals of your so-called brother hadn’t been done to us. As for your grandfather, maybe he’s getting old and realizes his mistakes. I just don’t know.”
“I’m going out on a limb to say there are probably only two things he loves enough to wade into this—his job and his reputation,” I say bitterly.
Brushing her lips against my chin, she shakes me to my core. “Maybe so. But I’m going to say no, based on the amount of texts he’s sending to you in the middle of the night.”
I’m floored. “You knew?”
Smiling, she pulls me close. “I don’t sleep much lately. I don’t want to miss a minute with my eyes closed when I have you near me.”
Dropping my head into her neck, I let loose the emotions that have been tangled up inside of me for the last few weeks. Harsh sobs come out until I sound like a wounded animal. Corinna holds me through it all. “Get it out, babe. I’ve got you.”
But when doyoulet it out?I wonder. How is Corinna holding all of this together so beautifully? Before I can pursue that train of thought, my cell rings.
“Is that him?” Corinna dabs at her eyes. “How do I look?” She gives me a dazzling smile that’s full of determined pride. And love. So much damned love.
I tug at her hand to lead her to the sofa, even as I connect FaceTime. “Grandfather. You just couldn’t hold off for me to call, could you?”
“My grandson casually mentions he’s fallen in love and you think I’m waiting to meet her? Not a chance. Hand her the phone.”
I scrub my face with my spare hand.
Corinna arches her eyebrow, the light of battle firmly in her eyes. “Give me the phone, Colby.”
“Suddenly, I’m not so sure about this,” I mutter.
“Now,” she demands. I reluctantly hand over my phone.
“Senator Hunt.” Corinna greets my grandfather coolly in her beautiful Southern drawl. “Let me just lay all my cards out on the table. When I started things up with your grandson officially a few weeks ago, I never thought there would be a member of his family I’d want to meet, considering I figured they’d all look down on me for being a piece of white trash with a family of assholes that tried to sell ne into slavery.” Corinna shrugs.
Watching my grandfather’s face over her shoulder, he is openly gaping at my girlfriend. Corinna continues on blithely. “Now, it’s my understanding you didn’t give a shit after he was beaten by his father. That alone could make me hate you. Frankly, I could give two rats’ behinds whether or not you like me, let alone accept me. Are we clear enough on where you stand?”
My grandfather’s face is jerking on the other end of the line. He keeps opening and closing his mouth like a fish. I’m almost afraid of what’s going to come out. Corinna just keeps on going, seemingly not paying any attention.
“I have to have this little thing done to my head this week. Whatever. We’ll deal with it.” She gives him a menacing glare. Her chest begins heaving. “Your job is to deal with Jack. The lack of support in your family disgusts me.”
