Detective Ben Huxley was arrested yesterday and is being held on multiple counts—including attempting to murder me, killing Colton’s father, extortion, and myriad other offenses the prosecutor listed. It turns out Nelson was bluffing when he told me he’d frame Colton for his death, but Nelson’s bluff was Huxley’s grand plan. He needed to get rid of anyone he thought might know what he’d done for Nelson, including the man himself.
I spent most of yesterday being interviewed at the police station, and when they finally let me go, I drove back to Dyer to see my mom. She wasn’t happy about letting me leave this morning, but she understands that I’m safe now and I need to go on with my life.
I walk quietly into Colton’s hospital room and my emotions go haywire, each trying to trample the others to take the spot front and center in my mind. I love this man, but I couldn’t protect him from his father or from addiction. We never should have tried to do either alone.
“Ellie,” Colton whispers, barely opening his eyes. He’s dehydrated and malnourished after weeks of hiding from the police. After all, he knew the evidence he had and that Detective Huxley was working with his father, and he didn’t trust anyone enough to turn over the evidence he found. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all month.”
I sit on the edge of his bed and take his hand in mine, careful not to move his IV. “I’ve been so worried about you,” I whisper, tracing his cracked cuticles with my fingertips.
“You almost died. I thought I could take Huxley down on my own, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything if they locked me up for hurting you.” He cups the side of my face. “You didn’t really believe I could have done that, did you?”
I shake my head. “Once I remembered you, I knew you wouldn’t have hurt me.”
He takes a lock of my hair and rubs it between his fingers. “I still want to marry you.”
My throat is so thick that it’s painful to swallow. Tears run in hot streaks down my face. “Colton . . .”
He shakes his head slowly, scanning my face like he’s trying to memorize it. “I already know. I even knew while you were wearing my ring.”
“You thought you could fight Nelson alone, and I thought we could save you from your addictions alone.” I draw in a ragged breath that sounds a little like a sob. “We were both wrong.”
“Nelson’s gone now.”
“But you will always be an addict.” The words hurt to say. I don’t think either of us was ever willing to believe that painful truth. “And I hope you’ll choose to be a sober addict, but it’s time to stop hiding it. If you want to get and stay sober, your family needs to know. No more secret rehab. No more pretending you’re fine when you need help.”
He leans back against his pillow and closes his eyes. “Is that why I lost you? The drugs?”
I squeeze his fingers. “I think we both know that question is too complicated for a yes or no answer. The drugs were a problem, but they weren’t our only problem.”
“You and Levi?”
I shrug, my emotions jumbled. “Maybe.”
“But no more you and me.” He pulls his hand to mine and drops it to the bed.
I meet his eyes and press my fist to the guilty ache in my chest. “Not in the way we used to be, but we’ll always be friends. I thought I had to stay with you to save you from the pills.” I swallow. “But I can’t save you, and I don’t have to marry you to be by your side as you take your life back.”
He searches my face, resignation written all over his. “When did I lose you?”
I shake my head. “Maybe you didn’t. Maybe I lost you. I should have seen the signs when you started spiraling, but I was so scared I was going to end up alone with a baby that I didn’t see anything but my biggest fears.” He goes blurry for a beat before I feel the hot roll of fresh tears down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“Nah, baby. You don’t owe me any apologies. I took my eyes off the prize.”
I laugh. “And what was that?”
“You. Us. I was looking for my father, blind in my rage, and I was too busy trying to deal with other people’s problems when Huxley hurt you. I should have been there. Instead, you were trying to protect me, and you almost died.”
“You can’t take on that guilt. Huxley is responsible for what he stole from us. No one else.” Would Huxley have spared me if I’d told him about
the storage unit that night? Would he have spared my baby? I don’t believe he would have. The thing about digital information is that just because you have a copy of it, doesn’t mean you have control of it. Colton had digitized everything he had against his father and all the men in this town who’d helped him over the years. Including Detective Huxley, who’d covered up plenty along the way. Having the hard drive wouldn’t have been enough for Huxley.
Colton closes his eyes and gives a faint nod. “I love you.”
Standing, I kiss his forehead. “I love you too.”
“Levi’s a good one,” he says, eyes still closed. “You could do worse.”
I turn and see Levi standing in the doorway to Colton’s room. He’s dressed in jeans and a cotton motocross tee, and he looks exhausted and like the only person I’d trust to hold me up. “How long have you been there?” I ask.