Read Online Cowboy Boots and Unadulterated Pleasures [Cowboy Boots 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Natalie Acres - Free Book Online Page B

gasped for air as she accepted the rage, realizing she’d always feared he’d respond this way. She’d always assumed Colt would take her induction into the Underground Unit the very hardest. “Last year. Dad didn’t want me to tell you. He didn’t want any of you to know.”
    Colt squeezed his eyes shut. Tears gathered in the corners, but none fell to his face, which further shattered her heart, not to mention her control. Her hand trembled like a fragile vine whipping freely in a violent wind as she reached for him, wanting to comfort him but coming to terms with the fact she was the source behind his pain.
    He grabbed her forearm and glared at her. His nostrils flared and his face was aglow with fury. He was hurt, destroyed. His heartache fell to her shoulders.
    She caused this. She was to blame.
    “Colt, you understand how this works,” she said, explaining her position but keeping her head down and her voice low. She didn’t need casino security picking up on their conversation. “The only women in the Underground Unit are those who have a father in the business. Our division needed—”
    “Give me a minute, Kelly.”
    “I—”
    “Only a minute,” he whispered. His forehead met hers, and for a split second, she thought he might kiss her. She found herself awaiting the kiss, wanting his lips to savagely take and claim hers. She needed his body, wanted him more than she’d ever longed for another.
    “Colt, it was the only way.” Already fearful casino security may have picked up on too much of the conversation, she cupped his nape and drew him closer. Whispering in his ear, she said, “Lorenzo Molinelli and his family have used government grants from our country to open hotels, restaurants, and now casinos. His organization has strong ties in several countries. Dad thinks he has connections to the most violent criminals in the world.”
    Colt snatched her wrist and pulled her hand away from his neck. “And Daniel put you inside?” A forced chuckle fell from his lips. “You would think any normal man wouldn’t want his daughter involved in something like this.”
    She took a deep breath and raked her fingernails over her forehead. “I don’t think he had a choice.”
    Colt’s left eye twitched, which was never a good sign. “Oh, he had a choice all right. He chose wrong!”
    “Colt…I…I was already involved with Lorenzo. At one time, I thought I cared deeply…for him. I even thought if I could ever get over you and Crue, get beyond what I needed from the others, that maybe I could fall in love with him.”
    She slapped her hand against her mouth, willing herself to silence. She witnessed the deep-rooted pain she’d inflicted. The rage in Colt’s eyes disintegrated as the sadness replaced the anger.
    Her eyes fogged over. She couldn’t see for the tears. She wept in front of him, detecting the impact and the toll her confession took on the one man who knew her better than anyone. Because he understood her so well, Colt would realize she was telling him the truth. He could read whatever he wanted into the rest, most of what would likely be accurate assumptions.
    Colt glared at her now as if he’d never cared for her at all. He glanced down at her left hand and focused on her third finger. When he looked up, total disgust lingered in his eyes. “I want that damn ring off your hand by tomorrow morning, and I don’t mean maybe. How you end it with Lorenzo doesn’t matter. Just do it.”
    After making his demands, he stomped down the hallway, slinging his arms back and forth as he marched to his suite. Kelly eased back inside the gym, covering her mouth with one hand in an attempt to muffle her cries. Right before she closed the door, she heard elevated voices.
    There wasn’t a doubt in her mind. Colt had met Lorenzo in the hallway.
    Peering around the corner, she spotted them. Colt sternly shook his forefinger at Lorenzo and screamed, “Lay another hand on her, you twisted son of a bitch,