Colton’s hand flinches on my waist but with Nic’s gun pressing against my temple and my betrayal thick in the air, he doesn’t dare make a move despite wanting nothing more than to kill him with his bare fucking hands.
Nic leans into me and I feel his lips against my skin as my heart races with fear, silently begging for him to spare me. He pauses and I feel his breath rush past my ear before his deadly whisper finally hits me. “You’re fucking dead to me, Oceania Munroe. You better watch your back because I will not forget this.”
His gun flinches at my temple and my world freezes but not a second later, the gun is gone and Nic’s back is to me, walking out of my life for the very last time.
Chapter 34
On the drive back to the Carrington mansion, we sit in silence, both of us completely lost in our thoughts as our hands rest on my thigh, linked just as they were always supposed to be.
My hands shake and I’m thankful that Colton doesn’t mention it despite the fact that I know he feels it. He always feels it. He’s so in tune with my body, it’s insane. Instead, he just squeezes my hand, letting me know that he’s here and giving me everything I need.
My mind spins as I try to come to terms with what the fuck just happened.
It’s really over between me and Nic and not just the romantic stuff but the whole relationship. My crew no longer exists. It's just me with a few guy friends who may or may not have my back from time to time. I wonder what they will say when they find out what’s been going down.
They’d want to take my side but their vow to the Widows prevents that and I don’t want to see any of them getting hurt from turning their back on Nic.
I still can’t believe he did it. I haven’t really had a chance to process everything since first finding out. It’s been one thing after another but here in the silence of Colton’s Veneno, it’s all beginning to sink in.
Nic hates me and considers me a traitor now. I honestly don’t know how to feel about that. For so long, Nic and the boys were all I knew. Had I still been living in Breakers Flats and didn’t have the family of friends that I have now, I would have crumbled. That news would have broken me. I don’t know how I would have gone on, but as I turn to look at Colton, I realize that there’s still something that I need to come clean about—even if telling him this might just see him walk away too.
“Are you okay?” he questions, quickly glancing at me as he feels my stare on his stoic face.
I let out a soft breath and drop my eyes to our hands, unable to meet his hazel eyes. “I fucked up,” I whisper, feeling the words struggle to come out.
“I know,” he says, giving my hands a gentle squeeze. “We both did. I shouldn’t have hidden that part of my life from you. I don't want secrets between us, but we’re moving past it. You’ll see, it was a learning curve. We’ll come out the other end stronger. Unbreakable.”
“No,” I say, softly shaking my head. “That's not what I’m talking about, but you're right. There shouldn't be any secrets between us but I’ve been keeping one from you and it’s been making me sick.”
His brows dip and he cuts his sharp gaze away from the road for just a second, just enough time to take in the nerves radiating out of me. “What’s going on, Jade?”
Fear rattles me like never before. It’s one thing risking Nic walking away from me, but to lose Colton? I couldn't handle that. “Please don’t hate me.”
“Babe, you’re really starting to make me worry.”
I suck in a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the worst while knowing that for us to truly move forward, we need to do so with a clean slate. “You know the cameras that Nic had Kairo install in your house?”
I pause and watch as he swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. “What about them?”
Shame takes over me as I realize just how badly I fucked up. I didn’t come clean to Colton about this because I was loyal to Nic. I always had his back despite the many wrongs he’d made against me, but I should have told Colton about this. I should have told him the full story instead of the many half-truths that came out of my mouth.
Had I told him, maybe Colton would have taken the fight to Nic, and maybe I would have saved him from taking Marco’s life despite how much the bastard deserved it. Maybe Colton would have still killed him anyway. After all, Marco wasn’t told to terrorize the staff and he sure as hell wasn’t asked to shove his gun under Maryne’s chin and pull the trigger.
“Do you remember the day I went to Nic’s place to clear the air, the day I found out about the cameras?”
“Yes.”
“There was more to the story. More that I didn’t come clean to you about when I should have.”
“What are you talking about, Jade?” he questions, his voice a little more demanding now that I’m dancing around the topic.
I take a calming breath and will myself the strength to possibly destroy the one good thing I have going for myself. “That day I found out that Nic had seen you and me together for the first time in your room,” I drop my gaze while trying to figure out the best way to continue. “It had made him angry and he wanted to make us hurt like he was,” I say, unsure why I’m still trying to defend him during all of this. I should just spit it out and tell him what's going on. He deserves to know. Rip it off like a bandaid. “Nic was the one who called Vincent and had his sons show up at your house.”
Colton swerves off the side of the road, slamming his foot down on the brakes. His car skids, the back tires flying out to the side and forcing Colton to hastily correct himself. “The fuck did you just say?” he demands, whipping his gaze to me the second the Veneno comes to a complete stop.
My heart breaks at my betrayal. He deserved so much better than that. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I should have told you the second that I found out but you would have retaliated and I couldn’t have you in a war against the Widows. I just … I couldn't. He would have tried to kill you and I couldn’t have that. I couldn’t be the reason that he came after you.”
Colton slams his hand down on the steering wheel so damn hard that I expect the airbag to come bursting out into his chest. His hands curl around the steering wheel, turning his knuckles a bright white. “Nic sent the DeCarlo brothers to my home?” he confirms. “Nic is responsible for all of that shit?”
I nod. “He is. However, he just told them to come and scare us a bit. He told me that he watched the whole thing and when he saw what they were doing, he tried to call it off but they wouldn’t respond. They were determined to cause as much hell as they possibly could.”
“And you believe a fucking word that bastard says? He killed both of our fucking dads and had the nerve to stand in front of us as though he didn’t do a goddamn thing. He came into my home, he stood by your side for months, every day lying to you, betraying your trust. I’m fucking sorry, Jade, but I won’t let him get away with this. Dominic Fucking Garcia is going down and I don’t care if I have to stand against every fucking Black Widow to make it happen.”
“Colton,” I breathe. “You can’t. You don’t know what you’re getting into. These guys … they’re not just kids who grew up in a bad neighborhood, they’re killers. They love it and they won’t stop until you’re gone. You can’t declare war against them. It won’t end pretty.”
“I won’t be declaring shit,” he tells me, clearly pissed off with me but the fact that he hasn’t thrown me out speaks volumes. Maybe he really is serious about making this work. Maybe he is prepared to look over my shortcomings and take me as I am—flaws and all. “I’m going to hit him where it fucking hurts and he’ll never see me coming.”
My hand flinches in his, the thought of Nic getting hurt still tearing at my soul but it’s a feeling that I’m going to have to get used to because I won’t try to stop him. I trust Colton and if this is how he wants to deal with this, then I’m standing by his side through thick and thin. Nic has wronged me one too many times.
“What about the others?” he asks. “Were they in o
n this?”
I shake my head. “No. They found out only after the fact and handled Nic themselves.”
“I don’t give a shit if they handled Nic. No one takes my revenge from me.”
I nod, understanding his pain as clear as day. There’s something a person just has to do themselves, something that a stand-in just won’t cut it for. “You haven’t thrown me out of your car yet,” I note, biting down on my bottom lip as I look up and meet his eyes.
“Don’t get me wrong, Jade. I’m fucking furious with you. You should have told me the second you found out, but I understand why you didn’t and I can’t fault you for that, but if you ever keep something like that from me again, you and I are going to have problems.”
“I won’t,” I whisper. “You have my word.”
Colton nods, reaching across the car and taking my hand. He pulls it up to his lips and brushes a gentle kiss over my hand. “I only just got you back, Jade, and watching you walk away isn’t something I’m willing to see again. I wasn’t kidding before, I fucking love you and I’m all in. You and me until the end, even if it means we have to tear each other to shreds just to get there.”
My lips pull into a twisted grin, watching as the change of topic has the anger slowly fading out of him. “Just for the record,” I tell him. “If it came to tearing each other to shreds, I’d definitely win.”
“Are you really sure about that?” he questions, checking his mirrors and pulling back out onto the road to take us home. “I’m pretty fucking certain that I’d let you win just so I could see that proud grin on your face when you think you’ve finally outdone me.”
“No one ever lets me win.”
“Really?” he laughs. “All those times I would walk away at the beginning, do you really think that was because I couldn’t handle you or because I wanted you to fall in love with the idea of being able to beat me.”
My brows pinch. “And why the hell would you do that?”
“Because when you think you already have a win in the bag, you let your guard down, and then taking it out from under you is so much more satisfying.”
My mouth drops as a shocked gasp sails out of me. “No, you wouldn't do that.”
He looks across at me, his eyes sparkling with laughter. “Wouldn’t I?”
My mouth drops, realizing that he one hundred percent would. “You little bitch. Fuck you. I was so proud of myself for being able to take down the egotistical bastard making my life a living hell.”
He laughs. “I know. Watching the little house kitten thinking she could take on a fucking lion was pretty entertaining so thank you for that.”
I roll my eyes and glare out my side window. “Word of warning, Carrington. Those who underestimate the little house kitten usually end up with scars.”
“In that case,” he murmurs, keeping his eyes on the road. “Let’s hope that Dominic Garcia underestimates you.”
We return to the Carrington mansion and I can’t help but feel happy to be here. I feel a million times lighter despite the hell that’s going on in my life. Milo is having a shit time but I know he’s going to be alright. I still have absolutely no idea how this bullshit is going to go down with Nic and the Widows, but I know it’s going to be bad.
Despite all of that, I’m happy. I feel as though I’ve removed all the toxicity from my life. Questions finally have answers and while there’s still so much to work through, I can finally start to discover who I really am.
Jude is gone and no longer someone that I have to fear. Nic is on his way out and the fuckers who burned their mark on the back of my neck will be handled when the time comes. As for now, I have Colton, a shitload of new friends—who wouldn’t dream of stabbing me in my back—and as always, I have my mom.
Speaking of …
Colton brings his car to a stop out front of his flawless mansion and I don’t waste a second opening the door and running around to the stairs. I just spent the last few minutes of the car ride home explaining exactly what had gone down between me and Mom and now that I’m home, I can’t possibly go another second without making this right.
Colton can hardly keep up with me as I race up the stairs and before I know it, I'm barging through the door, feeling a million times better knowing that there’s no chance in hell that I could run into Laurelle. I race through the mansion, aiming for the staff quarters when I hear the familiar sound of the vacuum coming from down the hallway.
I hurry after it, knowing damn well that there’s only one person in this mansion who would have the nerve to use the vacuum and make all that noise while the Carrington's are still in the house.
I step through to the private kitchen and find Mom in the sunken living room, vacuuming the most expensive rug that I’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking my toes into. As she turns around, she finds me flying toward her, only having the slightest chance to brace herself and throw her arms out.
I slam into her chest and her arms wrap around me, tears instantly forming in both of our eyes. “Oh, my sweet, sweet girl,” she cries into my shoulder as I do exactly the same to hers while she shuts off the vacuum with her foot. “I’m so sorry. I handled it wrong. I should have been there for you. I failed you. I want you to feel as though you can come to me about everything and the one time you need your mommy the most, you couldn't. I should never have made you feel that way. I swear to you, my sweet angel, I will never make you feel like that again.”
“No,” I say, wiping my tears against her shirt. “I should have been honest with you. I didn’t want to hurt you. You were so happy here and I didn’t want to be the reason that you started worrying. You'd already been through so much with losing Dad. I couldn’t bear the thought of adding to that pain. I know how you worry and I feared that you would regret the decision to come here when in reality, this is the best thing that has ever happened to us.”
“Oh, honey. When will you realize that I’m the parent in this relationship? You don’t need to always be strong for me. You went through something traumatic and I wasn’t there for you when you needed me and I will always bear that on my soul, but I promise you, you always have been and always will be my number one priority. I will be better. From now on, you will never feel that you can’t come to me. I just wish I’d have been there for you. I would have just sat there with you and we would have cried until the pain went away.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I hated keeping it from you. I was so ashamed. I felt like I had failed you with every single life lesson you’ve ever taught me. I allowed myself to be vulnerable and because of that, I got hurt.”
“No, no. You didn’t do anything wrong. That awful boy took advantage of you. He hurt you. You were victimized and attacked. You did nothing wrong but try to be comfortable in your home. You are not at fault. Do you understand me? You are the most beautiful, bravest, strongest, courageous, intelligent, and loving human being I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and don’t you ever forget that.” she tells me, holding me impossibly tighter.
My eyes close as I sink into her hold, taking every ounce of love she has on offer. “I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too my sweet baby girl.”
I pull back and meet her eyes that are so similar to mine. “We’re turning over a new leaf,” I tell her. “From now on, there are no secrets between us. Straight up honesty.”
“I agree,” she says, taking both of my hands.
“In that case,” I say, letting out a shaky breath. “Why don’t you sit down? There are a few things I’ve discovered over the past twenty-four hours, things that we really need to talk about.”
Chapter 35
Mom takes a seat on the couch just as Colton walks into the room. He takes one look at us and the grim look in my eyes and spins on his heel, only to stalk right back out again. I can’t blame him. This isn’t exactly a place I want to be either.
How am I supposed to tell my mother that the man I brought into our lives is responsible for killing her husband?
I take a shaky breath and mom reaches for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “What is it, honey? Do you need me to come down to the police station with you to give your statement?”
“Oh,” I say, slightly taken by surprise. “No, I uhh … well, actually yeah. That would be good, but that’s not what I needed to talk to you about.”
Her brow raises, knowing it must be something serious after I went to the added effort of asking her to sit down. “What else could there possibly be to talk to me about?”
“It’s about Dad,” I warn.
Her brows fly straight back up. “What about him?”
“More about who killed him.”
Mom’s body freezes and she stares at me with fear. “You know?” she questions, her hands beginning to shake. “You know who did it?”
A single tear falls from my eye and I try to find the strength to continue, knowing that she deserves the absolute truth. I can’t hide this from her. He was her husband and this isn’t just hiding little details from her, this is life and death.
I meet her eyes and feel the heartache creeping up my chest but I push it back down, intent to get this out. “It was Dominic, Mom. I found the dagger in his room last night. He killed Dad and then he killed Charles Carrington to keep it quiet.”
Mom pulls back, sucking in a gasp and staring at me as though I’m telling some sick, twisted joke. “Dominic?” she questions in horror. “No, Ocean. That’s not funny. Who told you to say that?”
“I really, really wish I was joking,” I tell her. “He betrayed us. He killed my dad and he’s not even sorry about it. He stood in our living room and promised me that he would find whoever did it, but he was lying. It was him.”
Tears begin to well in her eyes as it starts to sink in. “Nic did it? The boy I’ve always treated as a son? The boy who I welcomed into my home?”
I drop my gaze, too ashamed to meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. He told me last night because he was backed in a corner and couldn’t lie his way out. This is all my fault. I brought Nic into our lives and ...” A strangled cry cuts me off as the emotions come up with the force of a freight train, completely pulling me under until I'm drowning under its weight. “If I knew … if I’d have just …”
Barbie B*tch: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rejects Paradise Book 3) Page 32