Chapter 23 Calli
CALLI
The front door to the main house closes behind me, and I step into the open air like I've just surfaced from deep water.
Every step across the path toward my house feels longer than it should. I'm aware of each and every security staff posted along the perimeter, their gazes flicking toward me and away. None of them speak, but I can't shake the feeling they somehow know everything.
Clearly, I'm not used to hiding such a big thing, and I feel everyone is already one step ahead of me.
By the time I reach my porch, my head is pounding. I fumble with my keys at the door, hands shaking so badly that I drop them. When I bend to pick them up, a wave of nausea rolls through me. I close my eyes, breathe through my nose, and wait for it to pass.
I get inside and shut the door, leaning against it. I close my eyes, trying to collect myself. Then I force my body forward, toss my keys into the bowl by the entry table, and drop my purse on the table.
I sink into my couch and pull out my phone. It's been burning a hole in my pocket since I got off the plane.
Staring at my reflection in the black screen, I barely recognize the woman looking back. I'm exhausted and terrified.
I press the power button and wait for it to boot up. The black screen flickers to life. I unlock it, and the first vibration rattles through my palm, the notifications rolling in immediately.
It’s Keira.
How's Rome?
***
Did you tell him yet??
CALL ME!!!!
A small smile flashes across my face because her urgency is so Keira. But before I can even process those messages, a new name appears on the screen.
Niko.
My chest constricts, and I sit up straight. His unread messages start filling my screen, one after another.
Calli, answer your phone.
Come on.
Calli, what the fuck is going on?
Each one feels like a gut punch. I can hear his voice in my head, the confusion giving way to anger.
If something happened to one of your brothers and you had to leave, fine, I get it.
But if you just left, especially after I told you I loved you, then what the fuck?
I press a hand over my mouth.
You're mine, Calli.
I will go through hell to get to you.
We're not over.
I squeeze my eyes shut, but the tears escape anyway.
Either call me or see me soon. You don't get to just walk away from this.
The phone slides into my lap, and I wipe my eyes.
It's too much. His words. Theo's warning. The baby.
My chest feels like it's caving in. I press a hand to it, but the pressure only grows until it's almost unbearable. My stomach twists violently, and the nausea rises again, sharper this time.
It's happening more often now. Not just in the mornings. Nausea sweeps in with no warning, no mercy. It's whenever stress hits, whenever I think about what's coming, whenever I picture Niko's face.
My entire body trembles. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold everything in.
God, what am I supposed to do?
I pick up my phone and scroll back to Keira's messages. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and hit FaceTime.
She answers on the first ring.
"Wait. Why are you at home? What the fuck happened? Tell me everything," she demands without so much as a hello.
I choke on a laugh that quickly dissolves into a sob. "Everything is fucked, Keira. Everything."
"Tell me." Her voice hardens, going into problem-solving mode.
So I tell her.
I tell her about Dimitri's call. About the name that dropped like a guillotine into my life. About Stavros Petrou being the man who killed my father.
Her eyes widen. "Fuck. Stavros Petrou as in—"
"As in Niko's father." I press my fingers to my temples. "But that's not all. My brothers are planning to kill them both. Stavros and Niko."
Keira doesn't say anything at first, but her eyes flash, that same electric, dangerous light she gets when someone messes with her family.
Then she starts moving. She paces across her bedroom, phone in hand.
"Okay, I'm sorry. Let me get this straight," she says finally, voice sharp. "Your brothers find out Stavros killed your father, and their plan is to kill both him and Niko? Even though they don't have proof Niko had anything to do with it?"
"Yes." I nod, crying. "Theo said even if Niko didn't know, he'd retaliate. That they can't leave loose ends."
"Loose ends?" she snaps. "He's the father of your baby. Jesus." She hits her forehead. "What the actual fuck."
Keira stops pacing, turns back to the camera, and stares at me.
"Did you tell them? About you and Niko? About the baby? Do they know anything?"
I shake my head. "No. God, no. They'd—I don't even know what they'd do."
"Does Niko know? About the baby?"
"No. I was going to tell him in Rome, but then Dimitri called and..." I pause and shake my head. "I just left."
Keira runs a hand through her hair, her face flushed with anger. "So this ends with Stavros dead," she says coldly.
"What?"
"Just him," she clarifies, her green eyes flashing. "Not Niko. Just Stavros. I'll figure out something, Cal. Even if I have to drag my brothers into this."
"Keira, no. It's too dangerous," I protest, shaking my head. "You can't get involved."
"Dangerous is letting your brothers make the wrong move.
" She stops and sits down, leaning toward the camera.
"Listen to me, Calli. Your brothers want revenge for your father's murder.
I get that. But if Niko isn't responsible for what Stavros did.
Shit, you think I'm going to stand by while they kill the man you love? The father of your kid? Not happening."
Her fierce loyalty breaks something in me. Fresh tears well up. "I don't know what to do," I say. "I left Rome determined to fix things, to change their minds, but I haven't even been back five hours, and I'm already losing control."
"That's okay. You don't have to know right now," she says, reassuring me.
"But what kind of plan could possibly fix this?"
"I don't know yet. But I do know one thing." She stops. "Your brothers don't know what we know. They don't know about the baby. They don't know how you feel about Niko. And they sure as hell don't know what I'm capable of when someone I love is in danger."
A strange calm settles over me. This is Keira, my best friend since childhood. The girl who taught me so much, who held my hair back the first time I got drunk, who knows all my secrets. Of course she'd burn down the world for me. And I'd do the same for her.
"I'm scared, Keira," I admit.
"I know. But you're not alone in this." She pauses. "You do love him, right?"
"Yes." I try not to cry. "I do."
"Then we fight for him. Simple as that." She straightens her shoulders. "I've gotta go make some calls. You take care of yourself and that baby. Eat something. Rest. And call me if you learn anything."
I nod, feeling a shred lighter, though the fear is still there, coiled tight in my chest.
"Love you, Cal. We've got this."
"Love you too."
The screen goes dark, and I'm alone again. But not really. Not anymore.
I place my hand on my stomach, thinking of the tiny life growing inside me. Niko's child. My child. Our child.
If my brothers thought they could decide who lives and dies while I just sit idly by, they're about to learn otherwise. I refuse to be their obedient little sister anymore.