Addicted{Brollins}

Chapter 18

Rebecca didn't know how many hours had passed, but it had to be morning. The sunrise was starting to peak through the room. During their consolation, Colby had ended up laying down with his head on Rebecca's lap. She ran her hand through his hair for a while, trying to sooth him.

She had lost her mother when she was five. She couldn't remember what it felt like to even have a mother. But she did know that mothers were supposed to be there for you when you needed them the most, but Colby's was across the world. He needed someone...

He cleared his throat startling her. "I wish he would've been healthy so you could've got to know him..." he whispered. "He was the best..."

Rebecca cleared her throat. "I wish I could have too...he seemed like a great man."

Colby smiled. "I remember him training me when I was younger. I was terrible when I first started but he acted like I was the best in the world." He laughed. "He would take me out for ice cream after every training session."

Rebecca smiled. "That's sweet. What's some more memories with your parents?"

Colby cleared his throat and looked into the distance. "I only have good memories with my dad...My step-mother was always the opposite. She treated me and him both like dog shit, and she was never there when I needed her."

Rebecca patted his shoulder, that was sticking up in the air since he was still taller than her, even with him laying his head down on her. "Wait..." She said furrowing her eyebrows. "Did you say, step-mother?"

Colby swallowed. "Yeah, why?"

Rebecca stopped rubbing him. "I thought Vanessa was your real mother..."

Colby chuckled. "No. My real mom got killed on a mission not long after she had me. Vanessa married my father not long after, for the business of course, but he thought she loved him. The woman acts all sweet and innocent around everyone else, but when I was younger...she was the devil."

Rebecca blinked, and took a moment to take it in. "What did she do, exactly?"

She felt Colby inhale, and he slowly removed himself from her lap. "I'm sorry! If you don't want to talk about it, I unders—" but her words were cut off when he removed his shirt.

Rebecca had seen his muscled chest before. She had saw the sweat dripping off of his abs during their training session a few weeks back, but she had never paid attention to his back. Her heart shattered at the sight of the scars. "Your back..."

Colby couldn't make eye contact with her. "I have 36 scars. They were my birthday presents every year. Every year, I got two cuts from her until I was 18. On my 18th birthday my father found out what she had been doing and they nearly killed each other over it."

Rebecca was at a loss of words. "Why did she do that?"

Colby wiped his face. "She hated me. The only reason my dad and her are still together is because of the business."

Rebecca shook her head. "Why didn't you tell on her sooner? That's...terrible, Colby."

Forget about mothers being comforting. Colby's was a bitch. He looked down at his feet and his lips curled upward. "She consoled me afterwards and told me that it was because she loved me so much...she then threatened to kill me if I told anyone. Little old me gave in to her lies and, just like my father, I thought she really loved me."

Colby then threw his shirt across the room and sat back down beside of her. "Not attractive?"

Rebecca tilted her head at the joke. "I think it makes you look more badass." He looked at her then, and she gave him a small smile. "And I'm pretty sure you know how attractive you are." He smiled, and she cleared her throat. "Do they hurt?"

Colby shrugged. "Sometimes. I've grown used to them." She swallowed and he motioned towards his eye. "This hurts more than the scars right now."

Rebecca sighed. "I'm still pissed at him for that." She then punched his arm gently. "He's...different."

Colby inhaled and looked down at his striped pajama pants. He wiped his dry tears from his face. "I kind of deserved it, I guess." He paused for a moment. Do you want to know the real reason?" He asked in a whisper.

Rebecca swallowed and tensed. "You already told me." She whispered back.

Colby blinked. "I told you some of it." He said swallowing. "I told you about how you weren't his to protect anymore and yada yada...He told me how unworthy I was, and I told him he's a coward, a piece of shit—"

"Colby,"

"I'm not finished," he said blankly, looking down at his hands. "I also told him how lucky he is to have a daughter like you. How beautiful, kind, smart, and caring you are. That you deserve the whole world. That you are already a better CEO than he was."

Rebecca swallowed and her eyes teared up. Stop that, Rebecca. Colby looked back up at her with a look that made her heart speed up. "I also told him how thankful I was to have you in my life..." He gave her a small smile. "And that I would be the best husband, protector, and friend to you, Rebecca."

Rebecca let a tear fall. "And then he punched you."

Colby nodded. "Yeah, after I told him about where we had been." He added with a laugh.

Rebecca let his words sink in. "That means a lot, Colby." She smiled. "I've never heard anyone say that about me."

Colby shrugged. "That's what I do best, Rebecca. Besides fighting."

Rebecca laughed. It was quiet for a few moments. So quiet, Colby rubbed his hands down his face and thought about his dad again. Rebecca cleared her throat and stood up. "Uhm, I'll meet with the others in a few hours and tell them what's going on. You stay and try to clear your head, Colby."

He shook his head though. "If I stop and take all of this in, I'll be a monster. I'll be there."

But Rebecca moved in front of him. "Be a monster, if you have too." She whispered. "Your father just died, Colby."

But he stood up too, and towered over her. "Which is why I need to keep my mind busy."

Rebecca sighed and blinked away her frustration. She turned to walk away, but Colby grabbed her shoulder, whirling her back to him. "Thank you, Rebecca. For being here with me." He whispered.

Rebecca smiled and slowly, reached up to hug him. "I hope you know, I really care about you." She released the hug, and she saw that look on Colby's face again, making her heart skip a beat. "If you need anything, let me know."

Colby tilted his head and smirked at her. "Your lips on mine?"

Rebecca glared at him. "I think my father punched you too hard...you're seeing the wrong signals."

He laughed. Good, he needs some amusement. "God, you amaze me."

Rebecca walked to his door and opened it up. "I'll see you in a bit."

Colby watched as she walked away yet again. He swallowed away his pain and feelings, and walked over his nightstand to grab his phone. He dialed a number, and closed his eyes. "Hello?"

Colby tried not to stammer. "I need to talk about funeral arrangements." He then paused for a second. "And about delivering flowers."