12. Sean

Chapter twelve

Sean

I heard the key in the lock and stood quickly to face the door. I didn’t have a weapon, but if it were someone who posed a threat, I would handle it with my fists. The door swung open, and I relaxed when I saw it was Monika, Kadence, and Brandi. The shock on their faces was plain.

“Surprise?” I said hesitantly.

As soon as I spoke, it was like a bubble popped, and their expressions turned to anger as they rushed me. “Ow, fuck!” I yelled when Monika punched me in the face. Kadence and Brandi joined her, and I stood helplessly, trying to block my face as three girls kicked my ass. Colton leaned against the front door, grinning ear to ear, clearly enjoying my pain.

I couldn’t blame him. Or them. I deserved to get my ass kicked by Layla’s best friends. They continued for another five minutes before they wore themselves out and backed off me, panting.

“Explain,” Monika ordered.

“I knew Layla would regret killing Sean,” Colton replied, “so I faked his death, and he’s been here ever since.”

Kadence glared at me. “Do you think you deserve to live after what you did to Layla?”

“No,” I answered her honestly. “I’m grateful that I am, but I know I fucked up. All I can do is do everything I can to make it up to her and the others.”

“You better grovel so fucking hard your knees become permanently scarred,” Brandi seethed. “She trusted you! For years you were the only fucking person she could trust, and you turn around and hand her over to the enemy? All because you were uncomfortable?”

“I know,” I replied, “and I will.”

“What’s your plan here, Colt?” Monika asked. “When are you bringing him back from the dead?”

“When Layla is ready to see him breathing,” Colt replied. “She needs to hit rock bottom and realize she made a mistake. Not just feel guilty about it but truly know in her heart that she wants him by her side no matter what.”

“You’re playing with fire,” Kadence told him, “but we’ll keep your secret for now. It would be a real shame to resurrect him too early, and she ends up putting a bullet in his head.”

“Yeah,” Brandy said, glaring at me, “a real shame.”

“I get the feeling you might not mean that,” I chuckled. “Ladies, I love Layla. And I’ll never hurt her again.”

“We’ll see,” Monika said as she opened the door and left. “There are ways to course correct at a later date if you do,” she yelled over her shoulder as the other girls followed her.

“Colt, wait!” I said as he turned to leave.

“What?” he asked, turning back to me.

“How is Layla?”

“Terrible. Layla thinks she’s a monster. Autumn found out she was the one who had you killed and didn’t handle it well. She’s drunk half the day and demanding pain with her sex the other half. Layla’s destroyed by what she did, but you stay dead until she can see that even if she would do things differently if she could, that she didn’t make a mistake.”

I nodded. “I get it. Layla coming out on the other side of this stronger is what is important. Could you maybe tell Tyler to lay off the TV torture, though?”

Colton grinned at me as he opened the door. “No.”

As if on cue, as soon as the door closed behind Colt, the TVs turned on and started blasting the Barney song. Fuck my life.