All the Missing Pieces

by Catherine Cowles

“Law Man,” Ridley greeted. “Chaos,” I returned. Those eyes sparked. “Chaos?” “Can’t say you don’t bring that in your wake.”

As if Ridley had a radar for my emotions, her gaze cut to me. “Law Man,” she started cautiously. “You okay?” “Who. The. Hell. Did. This. To. You?”

I hadn’t been prepared for the sight of her wearing something that was mine. The way my chest tightened and some sort of demented male pride surged. It was fucked, the way it felt right.

“Sleep, Chaos. No one’s going to hurt you here.”

it would be as easy as breathing to give in to Ridley. To let that energy swirling around her pull me in and never let go.

“Be safe, Chaos. It’s going to piss me the hell off if you end up dead.” She grinned up at me. “You say the sweetest things, Law Man.”

“It’s a bad idea,” I rasped. “We’d be playing with fire.” Those ocean eyes sparked. “Then let’s watch it burn.”

He chuckled, and the action sent warmth spreading through me, the kind of heat that was only his. “Love that sound,” I said softly. Colt glanced over at me in question. “My laugh?” I nodded. “Something about it. It’s gritty and imperfect but more real somehow.” He turned onto Emerson’s road, his fingers tightening on the wheel. “Feel the same way about your smile. It twists more to one side than the other, but it just makes me want to memorize the shape.” Pain speared through me. Somewhere along the line, I’d messed up. Because this thing between Colt and me wasn’t just fun and games. It was that, but it was so much more. He saw things in me that no one had ever taken the time to recognize. He understood the colors I painted my world with because he spoke the language of my pain.

And now I couldn’t imagine walking away from him.

I brushed the blond strands away from her face. “Maybe you just need a little help.” Her brow furrowed in confusion. “A little help to get out of that quicksand, to get beyond the shallows. But you have to take the hand that’s reaching out.” A fresh wave of tears filled Ridley’s eyes. “I’m scared.” “I know,” I whispered. “But I’m right here waiting.”

I’d made countless promises to Avery that I would live. And no one made me feel more alive than Colter Brooks.