Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(67)

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could— “What do you want, Morse?” Talon asked, not overly nicely.

Colin cowered slightly. He tried to hide it, but his discomfort in Talon’s presence was apparent. Talon had pummeled him once, and since then, Colin had been through torture and rape at the hands of Bryce’s father.

“Tal…” I pleaded with my gaze. Talon, of all people, knew what had befallen Colin.

“I just want to make sure Jade is okay,” Colin said, not meeting Talon’s gaze.

“It’s late.”

“I know, but she and I were supposed to talk today. I was worried.”

“She’s fine, as I’m sure my sister told you. She’ll reschedule your meeting.”

“Come in, Colin,” Jade said from behind me. “We can talk now.”

Talon’s facial muscles tensed. “It’s late, blue eyes.”

“I know, but I’m feeling okay for once, and I’d like to get the talk with Colin over with, honestly.”

Colin stepped inside tentatively.

“Fine,” Talon said. “I’ll be joining you.”

“We agreed that Marj and I would talk to him,” Jade said.

“Because I was otherwise engaged,” he said. “I happen to be free as a bird at the moment.”

“Maybe another time,” Colin said, his lips trembling slightly. “You’re right. It’s late.”

“You’ve interrupted us already,” Talon said. “If Jade wants to talk to you, you’ll talk to her.”

“With Marj,” Jade emphasized. “Aren’t you still talking to your brothers?”

“Yeah, we’re working on things.” He touched Jade’s cheek lovingly. “All right. But Sis, don’t leave them alone for a microsecond.”

“I won’t.”

My brother had no idea how truthful I was being. I was every bit as interested as Jade to hear what Colin had to say, and I had plenty of questions for him.

Melanie and Ruby were in the family room, so I led Colin to the formal living room, which we hardly ever used. However, it was quiet and secluded and no way would anyone overhear us from Talon’s office or the family room. Not that I cared. I’d tell them all everything eventually. But Colin needed to feel secure if I was going to get the truth out of him.

He walked in tentatively, looking a little scared to sit down on the gold silk brocade sofa. When Jade took a seat, he sat next to her at the opposite end of the couch.

“Do you need anything?” I asked Jade.

“Maybe some peppermint tea,” she said.

“You want some?” I asked Colin.

“No. Just some water.”

“Okay. No talking until I get back.”

I quickly prepared Jade’s tea and returned with the cup and a glass of water for Colin. He sat stiffly on the couch, quiet. Apparently they’d taken me seriously when I said no talking, though I hadn’t meant small talk.

I sat in the chair closest to Jade. I was tempted to take the couch between her and Colin, but that felt…strange. I wanted to protect Jade, but I felt I could do it better next to her, where we could both look at Colin. Make it two against one.

I waited a few seconds for one of them to say something, but neither did.

“So why are you here, Colin?” I asked to break the ice.

“I told you. I was worried about Jade.”

Again, I waited for Jade to reply. When she didn’t, I said, “We’re looking for the real reason.”

“That is the real—”

“Colin, we weren’t born yesterday.” I met his gaze sternly. “You don’t come over to your ex’s home—where she lives with her muscled husband—at nine at night to see if she’s okay.”

Colin opened his mouth, but no words came out. His face had returned to normalcy, handsome and high cheekboned, no longer gaunt from being starved and tortured by Tom Simpson. The only remnants were a few scars on his brow and one on his jawline, which would fade given more time.

Clothes hid the rest of the scars. Joe had told us in detail how he’d found Colin—naked and shaved, skin and bones with bruises and lacerations. He was wearing long sleeves, which made sense in February, but we were having a mild winter. I’d been wearing T-shirts and tanks around the house.

Jade bit her bottom lip, a gesture we had in common. Then she reached toward Colin and laid her hand on his. I stifled the surprised jerk that threatened me.

“I understand what you’ve been through, and I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t blame you,” Colin said.

His tone was…ambivalent. Was he lying? I couldn’t tell.

“Your father does,” I said, not in the nicest way. “Even though my brother was the one who rescued you.”

Colin reddened…and again said nothing, just fidgeted with the left sleeve of his shirt.

“You need to call him off,” I continued. “We’re dealing with enough crap right now.”

“Marj…” Jade began.

“I’m right, and you know it,” I said. “You’re pregnant. Melanie’s pregnant. You guys don’t need more crap coming your way. None of us do. We’re all victims here in our own way, and none of us are responsible for what happened to you, Colin.”