All the Missing Pieces

by Catherine Cowles

“Tell me again.” “You, Colt. I need you.”

I wanted to always carry a piece of him with me, to always remember what it was like to be his.

Loss and hurt could turn you bitter, or it could make you appreciate love and life that much more. “Eyes on me,” he ground out, his hand gripping mine tighter. “Let me in, Chaos.”

Of course it wasn’t good enough for Colt to simply have my body. He wanted all of me. My heart. My mind. My goddamned soul. All those pieces I kept hidden from the rest of the world.

But he should’ve known he already had them. And finally,...

“Colt,” I rasped as I let the walls down. Every shield I’d reinforced with steel to keep fr...

it was useless in the face of all ...

“There she is,” he ...

“Never felt anything like this.”

“Me either,” I croaked. “Scares the hell out of you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right here for as long as you’ll have me.”

“And he always keeps his promises.”

“I don’t know what it says about my dedication to the

feminist cause that I like when you manhandle me,” she grumbled.

“I wouldn’t. He’s gonna say something he doesn’t mean, and he’ll hate himself for it later.” “Maybe,” I agreed. “But I’m not going to leave him alone in his pain. Even when he hated me, he never did that.”

“I love you, Colt.” His body jerked. “Chaos.”

“I love you.”

“Think I loved you from the moment you told me the cat had fucking AC in that van.”

“Is it fitting that I’m laughing and crying when I’ve told you I love you?”

“Baby, you’re chaos. Of cou...

“Best gift I’ve ever received, meeting you.”

“Me too,” I whispered.

Because that thing between Colt and me, that love, would always be worth fighting for.

“I should’ve known you weren’t special like your sister. Just a whore like all the rest of them.”

But that was life. There couldn’t be true happiness without grief, no pleasure without pain. Each one made us recognize the other in equal measure.

“I need you to believe in me.”

A burn lit somewhere deep. Of course Ridley had made friends with a motorcycle club that lived a less-than-legal lifestyle. And of course they were riding out for her. Because that was the sort of person she was. Made every single soul that crossed her path fall in love with her.

“I taught a clinic to your boyfriend’s pathetic team. You and Avery came to watch at the end. Both so beautiful. But I knew right away that she was the special one. Shy. Reserved. Perfect.”

“That’s the best part about it, Rids. You’re a living, breathing reminder of possibly my favorite kill. Hell, I know it is, and that’s thanks to you.”

Because every time you speak, it’s like she’s still here. It’s really too bad I have to kill you and lose that. But maybe killing you is going to be the best of all. Because it’ll be like killing her all over again.”

Thirty-four that you should’ve found.

“I have to give it to you. Finding those early women, the ones before I discovered who I really was meant to be, was something.”

“Love you, Law Man.”

He dipped his head, pressing his lips to our joined fingers. And I knew, after years of searching, I’d found my home.

A place that had become ours. A place that I’d decided to stay because it was home—thanks to Colt and the people I’d found here.

“Have I ever told you that you have great shoulders, Law Man?” “Ridley,” he growled. “I do not have time to fuck you before this ceremony.” A laugh bubbled out of me. “Fair enough.”

“Never seen a more beautiful sight. Not once. I’m the luckiest bastard alive.”

“She’s with us. Had a talk with her this morning. Thanked her for bringing you to me. For giving me back a life with light and joy and belief in the good.”

“Colt, you helped me find all the missing pieces. Even the ones I didn’t realize I needed.”