With the Colonel’s Help: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Otto leaned on me as I carefully guided him up the interior steps toward the main floor. I knew he was claiming to be fine, but he was bleeding pretty badly, and I could tell he was putting more weight on me than he probably wanted to.

Dread churned in my guts, and my spirit wept as my thoughts spun through a million scenarios. Terrified of who might have been out there and what they wanted.

I nearly scoffed out loud at myself. What they wanted? Whoever it was had freaking shot Otto, which meant they were after very, very bad things.

“Can feel you getting spun up over there, darlin’,” Otto grumbled as I maneuvered to turn the knob to the interior door while continuing to balance him. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

I rolled my eyes. “Newsflash, Otto. I have a whole ton to worry about considering I’m dragging you inside with a gunshot wound. You act like this is a normal occurrence.”noveldrama

I led him across the living area to the powder room on the far side of the living room just on the other side of the television.

I flicked on the light.

Otto lumbered forward, and he grunted in pain as he plopped down on the lidded toilet.

Though because it was him, he tossed one of those smirks my way like this wasn’t a big deal. I wondered if he knew there was no chance that he could conceal the fact his face was contorted in hostility. I could almost see the fury blistering beneath his flesh.

No question, he was trying to keep the severity of the situation contained.

Like I wouldn’t see.

Like I wouldn’t know.

“And you’re actin’ like I’ve never been shot before.” His grin grew, but I saw it for what it was.

A cover.

“And you say that like that should make all of this okay,” I tossed back as I grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and ran it under water. I didn’t realize how badly my hands were shaking until I tried to squeeze it out.

I fumbled to get down onto my knees so I could press it to the wound. Nausea churned my stomach when I saw the butchered skin on the left side of his thigh. I gulped as I held the compress against it, barely able to get it together enough to look at him.

I wasn’t quite sure what was in my features but understanding dawned on his as he gazed down at me. He reached out and ran his fingertips down my cheek. “Don’t want to put you in a bad spot, Raven. Don’t want you to get in the middle of my mess.”

Confusion bound. He kept saying that. Implying that he was outside of what I knew. My family who I’d long accepted and had been in the middle of for basically my entire life.

“Anything you’re involved in is my mess, too,” I muttered.

He blanched, and my spirit shivered. God, what was going on in his head?

“Do you have any idea who was out there?” Why I was whispering, I didn’t know.

His expression turned grim. “No. Couldn’t get close enough and the video camera was fuzzy. Only thing I could tell was it was a man. Gangly fucker who I’m gonna tear limb from limb once I get ahold of him.”

Disquiet billowed, and my gaze dropped for a beat before I looked back up at him. “Is there…anyone you suspect? Has there been any issues in Sanctum that I don’t know about?”

Again, something flashed through his expression. His jaw clenched tight before he forced it lax and he mumbled, “As far as I’m aware, Sanctum has been in the clear. But that doesn’t mean someone didn’t catch up to us.”

Blowing out the strain, I stood and went to the sink and rinsed the cloth, then I returned, dabbing at it again, though this time I inspected the wound closer, trying to discern how bad it actually was.

“You’re still bleeding. I’m going to need to call the doctor so he can stitch it.”

Sovereign Sanctum had a doctor they worked with. Someone who was in the know. He often examined the women and children who came to Sanctum and administered any medical care they might need.

He’d also saved Charleigh’s life at the beginning of the summer when her ex had caught up to her.

He was one of the best, both with his skill and the care he took with those in dire need.

Frustration heaved from Otto’s lungs, and he roughed his fingers through the short crop of his brown hair. “Know it. And I’m going to need to let the crew in on what went down. See if we can catch a hint of who might have been sniffing around.”

He seemed reticent to get them involved.

My insides quivered, and a tendril of awareness floated in my periphery. A wall I was butting against but somehow could see through.

Gaze downturned, I quietly asked, “Are you in trouble, Otto?”

Cagey hesitation radiated from him, and I tried to keep the fear out of my being as I looked up at him. At this man who had always meant everything to me. The one I’d had to pretend I didn’t love the way I did. The one who likely had no clue the depths of how deep that love went.

The one who’d touched me just hours ago and had ensured that I would never be the same.

Because for the first time in my life—I believed.

I believed I could grow beyond the traumas I’d suffered. Believed I could find the strength within myself to seek my desires and wants and needs. Believed I could finally spread these wings and soar.

Believed that even though the fear might always remain, I could face it.

I just wondered if he would be brave enough to face them with me.

Wistfulness pulled through his harsh features, this gentleness that he’d always encompassed for me seeping out. “I’m going to be just fine, Raven. I promise you.”

A wave of intensity rushed.

Tension binding the tiny room in bows of greed.

Shockwaves of energy banged against the walls and slammed into me on all sides.

His thumb traced the little freckle on the side of my lip, and those bottomless eyes dipped to the spot where he was touching me before they flicked back to meet my stare.

My heart jackhammered.

Kiss me.

Kiss me.

I wanted to beg it, but the words were lost somewhere in the landslide of rocks that rolled around in my throat. Were locked in the maze of obstacles that would always stand between us.

I could smell him. That patchouli and apple mixed with nothing but man. Dirt and the faintest vestiges of my arousal.

A shiver raced, and that anticipation sent butterflies scattering through my body.

But I guessed Otto must have run straight into one of those obstacles because he suddenly cleared his throat. “Gonna give everyone the word and get them over here.”

A blunder of disappointment and confusion left me on a breath, and I forced myself to nod, to stand, to go back to the sink and rinse out the cloth like this man wasn’t destroying me.

I stared at the blood-tinged water that circled the drain before it disappeared, and a stupid freaking tear got loose from my eye.

God, he was going to think I was needy and pathetic.

View me the same way as he always had.

A little girl he needed to protect.

He’d believe I couldn’t handle what’d happened between us. That I couldn’t move on from it like an adult.

But how was I supposed to actually do that?

Move on from it?

I didn’t look up when Otto slowly stood, and I remained hunched over the counter as he edged up behind me.

A giant in the tiny room.

His presence overwhelmed.

A shudder ripped down my spine when he leaned in and murmured against the sensitive flesh at the nape of my neck. “Fuck, Raven. I wish you understood. Wish you understood I would give anything to be right for you.”