Page 77 of My Addiction
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate conversation to have with a baby,” I say. “Besides, I had it handled.”
Moses finally goes limp in my arms. I let him drop. He hits the concrete hard. The second I let go of him, the pain in my side comes crashing back full force. The adrenaline is still enough to keep me standing, but barely. It feels like fire spreading through my ribs, hot and wet and wrong. I look down. There’s a lot more blood than I want there to be.
“Sure you did,” Liam says dryly. “That’s why you’re bleeding out.”
He pulls out his phone and makes a call while I lean back against the side of my car. I shrug out of my jacket as quickly as I can and ball it up, pressing it hard against my side. It’s difficult to tell exactly where the bullet hit. Everything burns. Everything feels wet. Blood is soaking through my shirt and sticking to my skin, and every breath drags sharp pain through my ribs. I force myself to take slower breaths. Stay upright. Stay conscious. Because the second Colton hears about this, he’s going to panic.
“Come on, let’s get you to the doctor. We’ll meet him at the compound.” Liam turns as a SUV pulls to a stop. Conor and Finn get out and walk over to us.
“Fuck Ronan. Mom’s going to be pissed.” Conor says, coming over to look at my wound.
“Why the fuck would she be pissed? I got shot, and Moses is done.”
“You left without telling anyone. You’re shot because you were a dumb ass.” Finn adds unhelpfully as he places zip ties on Moses’ wrists. “Now we have to try to keep this piece of shit alive until you get better. Waste of resources if you ask me.”
“No,” I say, pushing myself off the car. “Take him to the compound and get whatever information we need from him. Then kill him.”
“It’s your kill, though,” Liam says, looking genuinely confused.
He’s right. It is mine. Under normal circumstances, I would stay to finish it myself. But I learned something from Colton when we dealt with the others. Sometimes it’s enough to know it’s being handled. Colton doesn’t need revenge or blood or vengeanceright now. He needs to feel normal. He needs routine. He needs to know I’m coming back to him.
If I stay here, if I drag this out any longer than I have to, that’s more time before I can get back to him. More time for him to worry. More time before he gets what he needs, Colton matters more to me than the right of the kill.
“You take it. Just get me back to the house before I pass the fuck out.”
Chapter 43
Colton
Ollie is finally asleep. Bath time, pajamas, story time, through all of it, the only word he said was “Pa.” Over and over again. At first, every time he said it, something warm and possessive twisted inside me. Then it turned into something softer. I remember how jealous I felt when the entire Murphy family had his attention, how strange it was to realize I wasn’t enough for him anymore, at least not all by myself.
But this is different. Because Ollie isn’t just attached to Ronan. He’s claiming him. The same way Ronan claimed us. And somehow, instead of making me feel threatened, it makes my stomach flutter. Because Ollie wants him and needs him. And the terrifying thing is, I do too.
There’s a soft knock on the door. I glance back at Ollie sleeping peacefully in his crib before I cross the room and pull it open. Kieran is standing there.
“I need to speak to Ronan.”
“He went to get our things from the apartment,” I say. “He left about thirty minutes ago.”
The second the words leave my mouth, something cold settles in my stomach. Because up until now, I hadn’t been worried.Ronan always feels untouchable somehow, strong and capable. Like nothing bad could happen to him.
“Do you know if he took anyone with him?” Kieran asks as he pulls his phone from his pocket.
“I don’t know.” My mouth feels dry. “I had Ollie in the bath when he left. He didn’t say anything.”
The pit in my stomach deepens. Moses wouldn’t be stupid enough to go after Ronan. Would he?
Kieran calls him. I hear Ronan’s voicemail pick up. Something in Kieran’s expression changes. He becomes focused on what to do. While I am starting to panic inside. He hangs up and immediately dials another number.
“Liam, get to Ronan’s apartment building now. I’m calling Conor and Finn.”
He disconnects and dials again. My heart is beating so hard it hurts. Because suddenly all I can think is that Ronan left to get our things. And now he’s not answering his phone.
Kieran turns to leave, and panic makes me reach for him before I can stop myself. My fingers close around his arm. He looks back at me, and I drop my hand immediately.
“Sorry,” I say, my voice shaking. “What can I do?”
It’s a stupid question. I know it is, but I have to do something.
