“Thank you.”

Before I let myself get too wrapped up in Avalon, I hang up the phone and look over at Blaine. “Let’s do this, Brother.”

Blaine grips my shoulder and turns back to the road.

Now all there is to do is wait . . .

I FEEL COMPLTELY SICK TO my stomach as I gather my belongings in a hurry.

I have no clue what is going on or why Royal asked me to leave with Jax when he gets here, but my gut is telling me to listen to him and hope that nothing is going to happen to him.

“Ellie, I need you to close up for me tonight. I’m suddenly not feeling well. Can you do that?”

She looks away from her customer and nods her head at me. “Yeah, I can take care of it tonight. Go home and get some rest.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

I open the door when I see a set of headlights outside, thinking that maybe Jax drives a car that I don’t know about.

Slowly walking closer, I finally see that it’s Colton’s car.

“What the hell?”

Gripping my purse, I walk up to the driver’s side window and lean my arm over the top of the glass. “What do you want, Colton?”

His eyes look pained as he looks my face over, stopping when his eyes land on my lips. “I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you so damn much, babe.”

“Now is not the time for this,” I say softly. “Please don’t do this right now.”

He reaches out the window and grabs my hand. “Will you give me two minutes? Please. I just need to talk to you and find some kind of closure. That’s all I’m asking.”

Sucking in a frustrated breath, I look around me to see if Jax is anywhere. The small parking lot is empty besides who’s inside the building. “Fine, Colton. You get two minutes.”

I hear the sound of his doors unlocking as I walk around to the passenger side and jump inside.

He smiles weakly and places his hand over mine. “You look beautiful.”

“Let’s just talk about what you came here to talk about. Got it?” I yank my hand away. “Okay?”

“Yeah, alright.”

He shifts the car into drive and slowly starts driving through the parking lot.

“Colton,” I warn him. “I didn’t say I would go anywhere with you. I said we could talk.”

“It’s fine,” he says, while pulling out into traffic. “We’re just going around the block. Sitting here is making me nervous. The last thing I need is for Royal to show up.”

“Dammit, Colton. Just hurry so you can drop me off.”

“Don’t you miss us?” He questions, while glancing over at me. “Do you think about us and what he had at all?”

I shake my head and answer him honestly. I won’t lie to make him feel better. That’s not me. “No. I don’t think about you, Colton. We didn’t belong together. I don’t understand why you think we do.”

“We were good together,” he snaps. “I gave you six fucking months and you just walk away for my brother.” He punches the steering wheel, before fighting to catch his cool. “Sorry.”

“Colton. Pull back into my work now,” I demand. “I don’t like this.” I reach for the door handle when he goes right past the entrance of the parking lot. “Let me the fuck out.”

“Not yet, Marie.” He grips my hand and holds it away from the door, while swerving through traffic. “We’re not done talking. Just give me time.”

“Yes the fuck we are!” I yell, while trying to break my hands free. “Now stop the fucking car. Stop right now. Stop!”

“I said no. Fuck! Please just look at me. You have no idea how messed up this is for me. It’s keeping me up at night.”

My hearts starts racing and I begin screaming at the top of my lungs, and trying to roll down the window, when I hear the sound of a motorcycle close by.

Colton quickly locks the window, making my stomach knot up with anxiety. “Stop screaming. Shit, woman.”

“Jax!” I take my free hand and slap at the window. “Jax!” I turn back toward Colton when I realize I’m getting nowhere with my pointless screaming and that the man on the motorcycle isn’t even him. “Pull the fuck over and let me out. Now!”

My head slams into the side window as Colton quickly makes a right turn when the car in front of him suddenly slows down. He knows damn well that if I get the chance I will jump the fuck out of this moving car. He’s smarter than to slow down.

Cussing, I push and punch at his side as he continues to speed up and ignore me.

“Sit the fuck still. What is your problem? You’re scared of me now? Huh?” He grabs my arm and pushes me away. “You’re not afraid of a fucking murderer, but you’re afraid of me. How the fuck does that makes any sense to you? It doesn’t! Open your pretty little eyes.”

“Fuck you!” In a panic, I grab at the steering wheel. “Don’t you fucking talk about him like that. I love him, asshole. Not you. Fucking him! Now stop the car!”

“Let go!” He reaches his hand out and slaps me hard across the face, sending me flying back into my seat. “Oh shit. Fuck! Look what you made me do,” he yells as I cover my face and back away from him as far as I can.

“Asshole!”

Colton reaches out and grabs at my face once he realizes that my lip is bleeding, but I push his hand away, not wanting him anywhere near me. “Stop the car,” I demand. “I don’t want to be with you. I love your brother and I don’t care what you say or think. I’m in love with him. Hit me all you want, but that won’t change. I promise you that.”

Colton grips the steering wheel and slams his head into the back of his seat. “Shit! What the fuck am I doing?”

He turns to me, and attempts to grab my face again. “I didn’t mean to hit you. Avalon, I’m sorry.”

“Just watch the road,” I yell. “Get me back to my work. Now. I’ll get Jax on the phone so fucking fast–”

Colton suddenly slams on the brakes, sending me flying forward, hitting my head so hard on the window that tears instantly sting my eyes as I reach out and cradle my head in my shaking hands.

I lean back and look out the window to see a silver truck blocking us.

Before I know it, my door is ripped open and Jax is reaching inside to pull me out to my feet. “Shit! Are you okay?” He quickly looks me over, before running his thumb over the bump on my forehead. “Get in my truck and lock the door. I’ll be right there.”