"It's gotta be frustrating. I assume she's down here too?" He asked, causing me to stiffen nervously.
"Hey, you know we'll keep her safe. There's no better place for you to have her." He said gently.
"I know Colby and I would never let anything happen to her and neither would any of you guys but I just want her safe." I said quietly.
"I have full faith you guys will figure this all out. Most of the industry is terrified of you so I wouldn't worry too much about the stragglers, we'll take care of them." Nate said with a reassuring smile then started looking at my wrist.
"I'd say it's at least fractured. I'll splint it and get it casted up for you but it shouldn't be on long." He explained as I nodded.
"Better than a broken leg. I'll take it." I said causing him to chuckle. "Yeah, fuck a broken leg." He said and started fixing my arm.
It only took a little while before I was officially rocking an arm cast.
"There ya go." He said and held my arm up. "Thanks Nate, I really appreciate you." I said then stood up. "Now if you don't mind...I gotta go tend to my baby." I said causing him to grin.
"We'll keep watch and make sure nobody is lurking." He said as I sighed. "If you don't, I'll kick your ass." I said with a laugh.
"I know you will." He said as I went to leave the room and go to the room we were staying at.
I felt myself being extremely paranoid as I walked down the hall. I felt like someone was going to pop out at any moment and try to hurt me.
There was something so vulnerable about being on the top of the crime world and I don't think I ever realized it.
Colby never talked about the pressure of it all. He never talked about the fear of everyone coming after you to take your spot.
It was hard to grasp.
When I got to the room, I looked around to see all of the kids sleeping soundly. Colby was still rocking Maisie though as she slept in his arms. "She won't sleep unless I hold her." He whispered causing me to smile.
"She loves you and finds comfort in you." I said and went towards our bag so I could grab the breast pump.
"I know this has to be so confusing for her. I know she's only two weeks old, but like....all she's know is Texas." He said as I sat on the bed.
"I know environments can throw off babies, and this environment isn't great for a baby." I said and started pumping.
"I know. We'll start looking for houses tomorrow. As soon as we get up." Colby assured and walked over to me.
"I think I should maybe reach out to Max or something." I said causing Colby to chuckle. "Max is dead." He said with a matter of fact tone. "What? Since when?" I asked with shock, causing Juniper to stir.
"Shit." I whispered then looked up at Colby. "Try to lay her down." I said quietly as he nodded and tried to lay Maisie in her basinet.
Luckily, she stayed asleep since I really needed to talk to Colby but didn't want to wake any of the kids.
"Come on." I whispered and turned to leave the room. We made our way to the conference room that was next to the room we were staying in.
I didn't exactly want to leave the kids alone but it would be only for a minute.
"Sam killed Max with my approval because he was going to hurt you." Colby explained as I frowned. "Why? Because I cut his tongue out? That was long overdue." I said causing him to laugh.
"Right. However he wasn't too happy about that." He said and looked down at me. "He's lucky I didn't just kill him." I grumbled. "He would have deserved it." He said and brushed my hair behind my ear.
"Do you think we'll ever find normalcy?" I asked and looked up at him. "Yeah, It just won't look like other peoples' normal." He said as I nodded. "I guess you're right." I said then slightly deflated.
I have been so on edge and in this moment I felt completely safe. I always felt safe with Colby but right now I couldn't describe it.
"I wish things could be different, Jules. I really do." Colby said as I nodded and leaned up to give him a gentle kiss.
I knew Colby held some guilt for everything, but none of it was really his fault. I knew that I had to make a choice and I had to make it fast.
Life was going to be difficult until I could finally figure out what to do.
I didn't know why I was so hesitant to make the choice though because I knew what I was going to do.
I knew what the right answer to the problem was.
I just had to follow through with it.
