33. Mission Accomplished
Mission Accomplished
WES
Noah was absolutely giddy going off on his own this morning again. Black eye and all, he practically skipped out the door to follow Scorpion’s tip about Joe Killer.
Up until this point, we’ve had very little productive information on Joe Killer. No solid clues or leads, just the list of his suspected kills from the police database, with the latest being about two weeks ago. He’s been killing more frequently, so the man’s gotta slip up soon.
Last night was a bust except for Noah sticking the tracker on Shane’s car. Now he’s back at the apartment building looking for a certain make and model of car that Scorpion claims belongs to Joe Killer.
Once again, I’m not with him because I’m watching Callie as she meets with her fuckwit soon-to-be ex-husband.
I hate that I’m not with Noah.
I hate that I’m not sitting right next to Callie.
Instead, I’m leaning against the building across the street from Roots Cafe, where Callie’s waiting for Shane.
Not the most subtle hiding spot, but I don’t really care.
Shane’s gotta know I wouldn’t let her meet with him all on her own, just like I’m relatively sure Jones’s thugs are lingering around somewhere, although I can’t spot them.
I won’t take my eyes from Callie. Not for a second.
I don’t even wait until Shane is clear of the restaurant before striding across the street and ducking inside. I intentionally bump into his shoulder as we pass each other.
“The fuck, man?” Shane says with a glare, then his eyes briefly flash when he recognizes me. Fear and fury, but he just shakes his head and flees. Coward.
“You okay?” I slide into the booth across from Callie.
Callie nods but looks miserable. She’s spinning a ring on her finger, her eyes fixed on the jewelry. The ring.
“Can I see?” I hold out my hand, and she hesitates for a beat before putting her hand in mine. I touch the ring gently. It’s a green emerald set in gold with tiny flowers etched along the band. “It’s beautiful. And he signed?”
“Yes,” she squeaks out.
“Good.” I squeeze her hand, but then she pulls away from me. “Then all you gotta do is file the papers.”
“And wait two weeks for the hearing. He doesn’t have to be there for that. I don’t either—I can just send a representative. Jake said he’d do it.”
“You’re done with him, Calliope.” But as I speak, I realize the reason she asked Jake to attend the hearing for her is because she’ll be gone from Maine.
She’ll be gone.
We’ve done what she hired me to do.
I found Shane. She got her ring back. He signed the divorce papers. I stayed with her far longer than I ever had with a client before. That’s because she’s not just a client.
She’s the woman I’m in love with.
Her expression morphs into a frown as she continues to spin her mother’s ring on her middle finger. It really is beautiful. I’m not surprised she fought so hard to get it back, especially as it’s the last gift her mother gave her before passing away.
Is Callie thinking that this is the end for us? Is she even thinking about us at all? Maybe I’m reading too much into her expression, her forehead crinkled and a downturn to her gorgeous mouth. Suddenly, I’m desperate.
Is this over?
Do I need to let her go, even though she’s fucking mine?
I can’t force her to be with me. But maybe she’ll have changed her mind. She could stay in Maine. Stay with me.
“Callie—” I start. I’ll have to convince her. I must.
“Can you send me your bank information or Venmo?” She cuts me off. “Plus how much I owe you. I can get the payment over right away.”
“I’m not taking your money, Calliope.” My voice is a low whisper.
“Please, Wes. Send the information.” Callie lays her hands flat on the table, as if she’s about to stand. “I’m—I’m going to go see Meadow. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
These are not the words I expected to come out of her mouth.
Thank you? Like this was some kind of transaction or favor.
“Where does she live? I’ll get you there.” My voice cracks.
“Wes—” she closes her mouth and shakes her head.
“I can’t let you wander around the city by yourself, Callie. There’s some fucked up people here.”
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.
I can’t accept this is happening right now. The edges of my vision darken, and I fight to stay calm.
“Fucked up people?” Callie chuckles without humor. “Like you and your brother?” Her face grows pink, like she’s shocked or surprised or embarrassed at her hurtful words.
They settle on my chest, burning like acid. I let them tear through my flesh and reach bone.
I thought she understood what we were doing. That we’re the good guys. We’re helping people. Helping women and children, so fewer people like my mother and sister end up murdered in their beds.
My stomach twists. I told her who I am. I showed her. And I thought she’d accepted me. I guess I was wrong. I was so desperate for love and acceptance that I made myself believe in an us that never existed.
“I thought you were different.” My words come out sharp, and she flinches.
“I’m not.” Callie shakes her head. Her eyes brim with tears, and even though her jaw is set and her words are firm, the tears escape and roll down her face. “I could never be with someone like you, Wes. I just can’t.”
Her words are a nightmare. My world shifts as I struggle to accept what she thinks of me. It was inevitable, I guess. And I can’t convince her—or anyone else—that murdering bad guys is ethically okay. It’s at best morally gray. And if I have to try, then this thing between us doesn’t have a chance.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it.
“Let me come with you. I don’t have to go in, but I can keep watch, then get you home safely to Portland.”
“Is that my home anymore?” Callie asks, and I don’t think the question is directed at me.
“Okay, then we grab your stuff and Honey Bunny, and you can come with me to Lake Savage.” I present the option, knowing she won’t take me up on it. Knowing I’m begging and it’s not dignified.
“I—” But then she stops. Looks at her hands. Shuts her eyes.
“Calliope.” What more words are there? Haven’t we said them all? But no. We haven’t. Not all of them. I reach over and cover her hand with mine, feeling the ring under my palm, but she withdraws after a few seconds, the edge of the stone setting scratching my skin.
Callie raises her big dark eyes to mine, and my heart breaks in two along the fissure that was already there. Her eyes are begging me to understand, but I shake my head. I don’t. I won’t.
While Callie’s goal is to get her divorce and start over, mine has always been to protect my loved ones, which was a lot simpler when it was just my brother.
For some stupid reason, I thought she’d choose me.
She stands, and I panic, the black along the edges of my vision creeping in. This is happening too quickly. I thought I’d have more time.
My phone buzzes in my pocket again, and I want to throw it across the room. I struggle to find the words for how I’m feeling at this moment. How can I convince her to give us a chance?
And maybe more importantly—should I?
Callie steps closer and grabs my hands. I link our fingers together, the feeling both familiar and foreign. She might have been mine, but it was only ever going to be for a short period of time. I see that now.
I shake my head, and she presses her lips together at the motion.
“Please, Wesley.”
I bring our linked fingers to my mouth and press my lips to the back of her hand.
“Callie,” I say, finally able to voice words. “I will get you to Meadow’s.”
“I don’t need you to protect me, Wes.” Her voice is soft and regretful. “You need to leave me alone. Understand? This is over.” She squeezes my hand, then withdraws and turns away.
But if I’m not there to protect her, who will be?
No one.
She’s so reckless, and she’s got no one in her life to protect her.
“Fuck!” I say. The older couple at the table next to me stops talking and stares. Callie hesitates with her hand on the door, but then she pulls it open and slips through without turning around.
“Sorry,” I growl at the older couple, whose eyes widen. I slide my phone out of my pocket, intending to track Callie. There’s a text from my brother.
Noah
found the car
He sends me a dropped pin for a mile away. I check Callie’s location before leaving the diner, and with a last glance at where Callie disappeared around a corner, I turn in the opposite direction and jog down the city street, my heart breaking with every step that takes me away from her.