Colton: Rogue Beginnings (A Rogue Enforcers Novel)

by Grace Brennan

  His thighs and legs were just as muscled as the rest of him, and his ass in those boxer briefs… It was taught and round, and she was dying to touch. Swallowing hard as her mouth suddenly flooded with moisture, she forced herself to look away.

  She perched on the edge of the bed, watching as he put his shoes on and walked back to the door. He looked out and then turned with a small smile that finally reached his eyes, and the hard knot in her gut slowly unraveled as he walked back over.

  “They left.”

  Her spine slumped with relief for a moment, and she shook her head in bewilderment. “I don’t understand why they were knocking. Did they really think we’d just let them in?”

  He shrugged as he sat on the opposite bed, facing her with their legs nearly touching. “Maybe they weren’t totally sure this was our room, or they thought we wouldn’t recognize them with the hats and glasses.”

  “I don’t know how they even found us to begin with. I didn’t think anyone saw me leave with you.”

  “They must have, though, and then they followed us here.”

  She frowned unhappily. “I honestly wasn’t completely convinced they’d even come after me, but I guess this confirms it. I wonder how we’re gonna get free of them now that they know I’m with you and what you drive.”

  He opened his mouth to reply but then he froze, his head jerking toward the door. Standing, he walked toward it, his nose wrinkling as he got closer. Pausing, he looked over at her before he even got there, and she cocked her head as she studied his expression. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out the emotions she found there, but she knew she didn’t like them.

  “Don’t panic, okay? Try to stay calm.”

  She shot to her feet, dread welling up inside her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I smell smoke, and it’s getting stronger. We need to get out of here, now.”

  Colton was crazy if he thought she wasn’t going to flip out, and that was exactly what she did. “What? Why the hell are we still standing here? We need to get our stuff and get out!”

  She snatched up her backpack and slung it on as she grabbed her bag. Starting to walk over to him, she stopped as he held out his hand and shook his head.

  “We can’t go out of the door. I’d bet everything I own that they started the fire as a way to flush us out and are waiting for us to leave.”

  Disbelief washed over her as she stared at him incredulously. “And what the hell are we going to do, then? Stay in here and burn to death?”

  The fire alarms started going off and she jumped, cursing as the sprinklers in the room came on. It was an idiotic thing to worry about considering the circumstances, but she was going to be so pissed if her sketchbook got ruined.

  He walked over next to her and grabbed his bag, raising his voice to be heard over the alarm. “We’re not staying in here. We’re going out the window.”

  Mouth popping open, she automatically followed him to the window even as she shook her head vehemently, rejecting his plan. “Are you freakin’ crazy? We’re on the second floor. We’ll both break our necks, so the end result is the same as if we left by the door. Besides, these windows are one solid pane. You can’t open them.”

  “We won’t break our necks. I’ll jump first and then I’ll catch you. As for the window… stand back.”

  Still shaking her head, she did as he asked, knowing there was no way he could break the window, so it wasn’t like they’d be jumping, anyway. Setting his bag down, he picked up a heavy chair, his muscles bulging from the weight, and her jaw dropped as she watched him. She knew he was strong, but how the hell did he manage to pick that up? And so damned effortlessly, like it was a piece of paper and not a solid wooden chair.

  A few moments later, he proved she knew nothing about anything as he threw the chair so hard, it shattered both window and chair. Turning around like what he did wasn’t a big deal at all, he took her bag and picked his up, tossing them both out of the window.

  “I’ll go first. Once I’m down and ready, follow me, okay?”

  Moving forward, she risked a glance out of the window, swallowing hard at the distance to the ground. “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “Hey,” he said softly, moving in close and framing her face with his hands. “I promise I’ll catch you. I’ll never let anything happen to you, Katia.”

  She felt like everything inside her stilled at his touch, and she searched his eyes, finding nothing but promise and resolve. Somehow, she found herself nodding in agreement even as she cursed inside, asking herself what the hell she thought she was doing.

  Colton winked at her, stealing her breath, and turned, knocking the glass off the bottom of the window frame. Without pausing, he jumped out, and she rushed to the window just as he landed. How in the ever-loving hell did he land so gracefully? He made it look like it was nothing at all to jump from a two-story window and land easily on his feet.

  He turned and beckoned to her, but she couldn’t make herself move. The smell of smoke was a lot stronger now, and she thought she could even hear the crackling of the fire, but still, she couldn’t get up the courage.

  “Come on,” Colton called from below. Turning back to the window, she saw him beckoning to her. “I promise I’ll catch you. You can do this, sweetheart.”

  Despite the terror she felt at the thought of jumping, and the urgency washing over her as the fire neared, she still swooned a little inside when he called her sweetheart. And of all the things he’d said, it was weirdly the one word that motivated her to swing her legs over the windowsill.

  It let her know he actually believed she could do this, and it made her think he cared enough that he wouldn’t let her die.

  Nerves welled up inside her as she stared at the distance between herself and the ground, so she closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. Not letting herself think about it anymore, she pushed herself off the ledge as the wind flew past her and the ground rushed up to meet her.

  Please God let him catch me.

  Colton watched Katia as he helped her into the truck. Her black curls were in disarray around her face, and her sky-blue eyes were still wide and shell shocked. She hadn’t said anything except thank God since he caught her, and he felt worry well up inside him as he shut the door and walked to his side.

  He couldn’t blame her for being freaked out, though. He thought he would be too, if he was a human. Hell, he had been freaked out, worried she’d slip through his grip or he wouldn’t catch her.

  Being a shifter, he’d known he could easily jump out of the window and land with no problems, and he’d been confident that he could catch her—mostly. Doubt had tried to creep in, and he thought it was because he couldn’t handle the thought of her getting hurt.

  He was already more attached to her than he’d ever imagined he would be, especially this soon. But there was no denying that he was, for good or for bad. It was why the thought of taking her back to Atlanta and using her as bait had made him feel simultaneously violent and ill.

  Jumping out of the window had been a risk he hated, but it was a necessary one. His gut said the bastards who had Justin started the fire, and they were waiting for them to come out of their room—by way of the door.

  Even now, he hated the fact that they had to be out in the open briefly to get away, and he cringed as he started the truck and it came to life with a loud growl. Quickly putting it in gear, he pulled out as fast as he could without attracting attention, the flashing lights of the firetrucks and police cars lighting up the road behind them.

  Using it to make sure no one was following them, he got on the ramp for the interstate, thankful the hotel was close to it. Once they were on the way, he glanced over at Katia, wishing he could read her mind and tell whether she was okay.

  “You doing okay over there?”

  She glanced over at him and his eyebrows rose as he saw the slight smile on her face. “Yeah. It was scary as hell, but that was the most exhilarating experienc
e of my life. I actually ended up enjoying it.”

  Relief washed over him, and he felt his lips curl up in a smile at the shock and enthusiasm in her voice. “It was a rush, right?”

  “It definitely was.” Biting her lip, she went quiet for a moment. “So what now? They know who both of us are and what we’re driving. I’m even more for going back to Atlanta now and drawing them out so we can end this before one or both of us gets hurt.”

  Exhaling, he tightened his hands on the steering wheel as he shook his head. “I still don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  It’s definitely not a good idea, his dragon hissed, not liking that plan any more than he did.

  I know. I don’t know what to do next, though. I can’t look for Justin and keep her fully protected at the same time. It’s clear that they want to silence her for being able to identify them.

  His dragon went quiet inside him, and when he spoke again, his voice was dripping with reluctance. Maybe she has a point.

  What? About going back to Atlanta? She’d be in danger, he retorted, scowling. He couldn’t believe his animal would even suggest it.

  Like she’s not now? At least this way, we can get Justin away from the bastards and make sure she stays safe. We can end this.

  Fuck. Why was he even starting to think his dragon had a point?

  “I do think it’s a good idea,” Katia replied, bringing him back to the conversation. “And we don’t have to do this alone. My uncle knows what’s going on. He can help. I might not believe he or any of my family are in the mob, but he has some terrifying, badass friends, there’s no denying that.”

  Cocking an eyebrow, he glanced over at her. “He let you be around terrifying men?”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “They were never anything but nice to me. I wouldn’t want to be a stranger and meet them in a dark alley, though.”

  He shook his head as he checked the rearview mirror, relieved that the road was as dark and empty as it had been when they first got on the interstate. “You have an interesting life.”

  Her eyebrows rose and she laughed as she looked at him. “No, not at all. My life is beyond boring. I just know some interesting people, is all.”

  Exhaling, he considered her words about her uncle, but he honestly didn’t know what the hell to do. He wasn’t used to not knowing exactly what to do next, and he hated it. The indecision literally grated on his nerves.

  The thought of having help eased some of his fear for Katia’s safety, but he still had no clue who the bastards after her were. Or rather, what they were. If they were humans, her uncle’s friends would come in handy. If they were shifters… everyone could end up dead at the end of it.

  No, they won’t, his dragon said resolutely inside him. Remember, you have me, and we’re almost indestructible in my form. We won’t let anyone die and we’ll kill those fuckers for daring to mess with Katia and Justin.

  Did you forget that we have to hide what we are? If I have to shift—and in the middle of Atlanta, of all places—it not only lets humans know shifters exist, but it puts a big target on our backs. Humans and hunters alike will be hunting us and trying to kill us.

  Would that stop you from shifting to defend Katia or Justin? his dragon asked quietly.

  He didn’t answer because there was no point in it. He and his dragon both knew he wouldn’t hesitate. If it came down to a choice between saving them and exposing what he was, or keeping the secret and letting them die, he’d choose them in a heartbeat.

  “I’ve been watching, and we weren’t followed this time. Let’s get another room for the night and we can decide then what we’ll do tomorrow.”

  A glance over at her showed her narrowing her eyes on him, and he knew she didn’t believe he’d give in about going back. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but dammit all, he was actually contemplating it. It was a risk, but if it meant keeping her safe and getting Justin back, it would be worth it.

  If he could do those things.

  “Okay. But don’t think I’m just gonna give up on trying to convince you to go back.”

  His lips curled as he huffed a laugh. “I never imagined for a moment that you would.”

  “What do you do for a living? I don’t think you ever mentioned it,” she said after a short silence.

  “I have a small ranch in Montana. Actually, it’s mine and Justin’s. His parents left it to us about seven years ago when they moved to Maine.”

  “They left it to both of you?” she asked, surprise in her voice.

  He shrugged, slowing down to take the next exit off the interstate. “Yeah. My parents died when I was five and I went to live with them. They said I’d become as much their son as Justin, and they know we’re close, so they left it to both of us.”

  She was quiet for a moment before speaking again. “I’m so sorry about your parents.”

  “It’s okay. I missed them something fierce at first, but it was twenty-five years ago. I hardly remember them now.”

  “Still, it sucks. So, you and Justin are probably closer than just cousins, then, if you literally grew up together.”

  “Yeah. We’re more like brothers, and he’s my best friend.”

  “All the more reason to go with my plan.”

  Shaking his head, he didn’t reply as he parked at the new hotel. He was so torn about what their next move should be. Yeah, going back to Atlanta would get him Justin back and finally end this.

  But she could get hurt, and he’d rather die himself than lose her.

  Dramatic, maybe, but it was precisely how he felt. And it just confirmed what he already suspected.

  He was falling for her hard, and there was no slowing it down or stopping it. He didn’t even want to.

  Chapter Six

  Katia glanced over, taking in the grim set to Colton’s mouth. She couldn’t see his eyes since they were fixed on the road, but she was sure the hazel depths were just as worried as they’d been when they left the hotel.

  He’d been extremely reluctant, but he finally gave in and agreed to her plan, so they were back on the road to Atlanta. She couldn’t deny that she was pretty scared to go back and willingly put herself in the Bad Guys sights again, but she also knew it was the best option they had, to both end this and for Colton to get his cousin back.

  She snuck a glance over at him and her heart immediately jumped in response. It was clear as day to her that she was falling for him—but she couldn’t help wondering if it was real or just a product of the fantasy she’d had in the beginning.

  Really, she hadn’t thought of that romantic movie scenario since the beginning, but still, it made her wonder. He’d become the hero in that moment, so were the feelings she was developing strictly because of that?

  Honestly, she didn’t think so. They felt as real and tangible as anything in her life ever had, but that made her nervous, too. Because even if he felt things for her too, where did that leave them? They lived in completely different parts of her country, her in Georgia and him in Montana, and they’d both created lives for themselves.

  Granted, hers wasn’t much of one, but she still had her schooling to think about. She’d worked too long and too hard to throw it all away.

  She rolled her eyes at her thoughts, exasperated with herself. She didn’t even know if he had feelings for her at all yet, and even if he did, what made her think he’d want to continue seeing her once this was all over?

  And that thought made her feel sad as hell.

  Lord, her emotions were all over the place today.

  “Remember,” Colton rumbled, his deep voice filling the truck cab and sending a shiver of heat down her spine. “You stay in my eyesight at all times. I appreciate your uncle’s friends being willing to help catch the bastards, but I still don’t trust anyone else when it comes to your safety.”

  Her heart warmed and she couldn’t keep a smile from spreading across her face. Other than her uncle, she never had anyone in her life who cared enough to be that c
oncerned for her safety. Maybe it didn’t really mean anything, but it made her feel special, like she was someone important—at least to someone.

  “I promise.”

  Giving her a half-smile, he reached over and squeezed her hand before putting it back on the steering wheel. Her belly filled with butterflies as heat licked up her spine, just from that simple touch. Swallowing hard, she blew out a quiet breath, trying to get ahold of her emotions.

  She shouldn’t feel so much just from the touch of his hand on hers—it was insane to, right? But that, at least, had been real and in no way her imagination, and it reassured her just a little that she wasn’t making up the attraction that arched between them.

  Her blood was humming in her veins as she watched his big hands lightly gripping the wheel, and she pulled out her sketchbook, deciding she wanted to draw them. She’d always loved men’s hands, and his were perfect to her—big and strong, with veins on the front, slightly calloused on the palms.

  She couldn’t capture the way they made her feel in a sketch, but she could capture the way they looked. On rainy days, once this was over, she could pull out her sketches of him and remember the adventure she went on and the crazy strong attraction she felt for him.

  Sadness washed over her at the thought of it ending, and she pushed it away, burying it deep as she concentrated. When she finally looked up, the sketch was done and Colton was taking the exit her hotel was located off of.

  Nerves and fear welled up inside her, but she tried not to let it show as she put her things away. Coming back here had been her idea, after all, and she still thought it was a good one. And she didn’t want to do anything that gave him second thoughts or made him take her away again.

  He was reluctant enough as it was. No need to add to it.

  When they pulled up at the hotel, the first thing she saw was her uncle, standing by the entrance with four of his friends. They were all standing with their arms crossed and dark scowls on their faces, and they looked menacing enough that they were going to scare all potential customers away.