Page 173 of Broken Saint
“Mom,” I warn.
“Ella, baby,” she says, her voice becoming firmer. “I love you more than you could ever know, and I know you will hate me for this. But you have to leave this room.”
I nod, unable to argue with my mom like I have everyone else.
“Colt knows you’re here. He knows you’re supporting him. But he needs you to look after yourself. Please, Ella. Come back with me for a couple of hours. Let me take care of you. Let me do my job so you can do yours.”
Tucking my face into her neck, I cry again. I can’t argue with her.
By the time West and Letty return, I’ve managed to calm down and am almost prepared for what I need to do.
The second Letty steps into the room, I walk over and pull her into my arms.
“Thank you,” I whisper, squeezing her tight, trying to tell her without words how much what she’s done means to me.
I had no idea that I needed my mom right now. But she did.
“We’re going to take a couple of hours out,” Mom says, holding my hand the moment I release Letty. “You’re both going to stay here, and you’ll call us if anything happens, right?”
“Of course,” Letty agrees.
Sucking in a deep breath, I walk up to Colt and take his hand in mine.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I whisper. “But apparently, it’s what you’d want, so I’m going to do it for you. I’ll be back before you know it. I promise I’ll be right here the moment you wake up.”
Leaning over him, I press a kiss to his forehead, squeezing my eyes tight to try and stop the flood of tears that burn the backs of them.
“I love you, Colton Rogers. I can’t wait for you to come back to me.”
I take a step back and blow out a long breath as I try not to talk myself out of doing this.
They’re right. I need to leave. I know I do. But it’s just so hard.
Too fucking hard.
“Security guards are waiting for you at the department entrance. They will escort you out the back exit and take you straight to the hotel,” Letty explains. “There are a lot of press and fans out there desperate for any kind of news. Keep your head down and just walk, okay?”
I nod, already completely overwhelmed.
Colt’s publicist has been working hard on keeping the world updated as best she can on the situation, but it’s not enough forhis desperate fans. Hell, it’s not enough for me, but there isn’t anything else we can give while he’s still sedated.
“My cell is right here,” Letty says, pulling it from her pocket.
“Thank you,” I say shakily. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Ella. Now go and look after yourself, and come back stronger for your man, yeah?”
I nod, hoping like hell it’s even possible. I feel nothing but broken right now, and I’m not sure a bath is capable of fixing that.
Just as Letty explained, getting out of the hospital and to the car is terrifying. Even at the back exit that’s meant to be somewhat secure, there are people everywhere, barking questions, demanding to know how Colt is, sending their love and best wishes. I keep my eyes on the ground and try to focus on getting to the car, but the world around me spins out of control, blood rushing past my ears.
I’m so out of my depth it’s not even funny.
Mom holds my hand tightly the whole way, and she doesn’t let go until we’re safely delivered to her suite. The hotel on a normal day would only be minutes away from the hospital, but it took us almost half an hour just to get out of the hospital grounds. It was crazy.
I don’t see anything in the suite as Mom guides me to “my” room and then the bathroom.
Everything is a blur. My only focus is doing what I need to do and getting back to him.