Mockingbird: a Songbird Sequel

Twenty-Seven: Colt

How I let her convince me to go with her, I'll never fucking know. I was dead set against this, all of it, especially because she decided to add Eden to the mix. But Lennie had her mind made up. She wanted answers and she was bound and determined to get them, and there was no way I was going to send her into the lion's den alone.

"I still think this is a terrible idea," I stated, one hand woven together with Lennie's while the other steered the truck in the direction of the studio, where we'd all agreed to meet.

"I know. You didn't have to come," Lennie responded, stroking her thumb over the top of my hand.

"Right. I was fine with you meeting Carter. Adding Eden to the mix is like throwing a firecracker into a barrel."

"Because you don't know what she's gonna say?"

"I don't care what she fuckin' says cuz it's all bullshit. It's more like I don't know what she's gonna do."

"I could probably take her," Lennie grinned.

I shook my head, but smiled. "Ain't taking any chances."

"You know this has nothing to do with me believing you, right?" Lennie asked, her grin slipping into a look of concern. "I just want them to explain themselves."

I lifted her hand to my lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "I know that, baby."

"Good. This isn't me digging for information I think you're hiding. I want answers and apologies."

I sighed. "Wish I could say I believed you'll get em, but..."

"I think I've got a good chance with Carter. Eden's a fucking snake and honestly, if all I get to do is unload on her, I'll take it."

"Now THAT I wanna see."

Lennie's grin was back as we pulled into the studio parking lot. Cora's car was already there, which meant she and Travis had decided to jump in on things. Or Cora had and Travis just went along with it. Honestly, then being there was probably a good thing. I was a whole lot less likely to lose my cool if I had other people there on my side.

"Let's get this over with," I sighed, throwing the truck into park and turning it off.

"Are you sure you wanna go in there?" Lennie asked. "I've got Cora and Travis. I'll be okay."

"Nah," I answered. "I want answers as much as you do, even if they won't make any difference at this point."

"No swinging on him."

I rolled my eyes. "He deserves it."

"I know. But violence doesn't solve anything."

"I don't know. I felt insanely better after knocking his block off."

"Yeah, until I had a panic attack because you two were taking it too far."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Okay. No swinging."

"I mean it, Colt."

"I know, baby. I'll be on my best behavior."

"I almost believe you," Lennie chuckled.

"I'll TRY to be on my best behavior."

Lennie smiled a bit mischievously and slid over until her leg was up against mine. "If you're good, maybe you'll get a treat after..."

I arched an eyebrow. "Like getting ice cream after a shot?"

"Oh I could definitely promise to lick something or other..."

I laughed loudly and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into me. "You tryna bribe me with blowjobs?"

"Is it working?"