19. Eli
nineteen
Eli
Callie’s head rests on my shoulder, her hand on the crease of my elbow, as she sleeps beside me. Even though she fought it, I could tell she was exhausted.
It’s been a long twenty-four hours, and hopping on a private plane to fly to a small town outside of Portland wasn’t on her list of things to do after her accident.
Accident. If you can call it that.
I’m honestly surprised she didn’t make a fuss about leaving LA. I almost flipped when she brought up Malibu. She doesn’t fully comprehend that her safety is at stake, but the look on her face told me it was important. As much as I want to keep Callie safe, I also need all the information.
I’m not sure what I expected to find in Malibu, but it sure as fuck wasn’t her mother living at a mental health home. I have a million questions and scenarios running through my mind. Instead of barraging her with them, I’ve stayed quiet, telling her we’d discuss everything later.
When I told her we have a lot of shit to talk about, it wasn’t even the half of it.
After Callie’s tests came back clear, I made Taylor promise to stay with her so I could slip out. Leaving her at the hospital was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, but I needed answers.
I made a few calls on my way to pick up Boone, before heading to Ricochet Lounge. The police had the building surrounded and were still interviewing everyone. One of my contacts at the PD helped me get into the building.
One look, and Boone confirmed my worst fear. Sabotage. I should have known from the start. The closet, the fall, the fucking cupcake… It all made sense. Someone wants Callie dead.
As soon as I saw the shredded cables, I knew I needed to get her out of town to keep her safe until I figured out who the fuck wants her dead.
A wave of nausea churns my stomach, bile rising in my throat.
Dead. Why on earth would someone want Callie dead?
Callie makes a cute little snort in her sleep, and I can’t stop myself from resting my temple on the crown of her head. Breathing in the sweet floral scent that still lingers in her hair after spending the night in the hospital, I let the heat from the top of her head seep in and calm me.
Callie could have died yesterday, and I could have lost her before I even had her.
That knowledge has changed everything I thought I wanted.
I press harder into the top of her head, relishing her presence beside me.
She’s here and safe , I repeat.
The sound of her blood-curdling scream will haunt me for the rest of my life. It all happened so fast. One minute, I was admiring her talent and beauty as she spun in the air and practiced her routine. She looked so fucking gorgeous and strong. The next minute, a loud screech and clanking cut through the music and the first cable snapped. Abject terror struck her features as she flailed above the ground.
I was on the stage in a flash, encouraging her to calm down and steady her movement while simultaneously screaming for the dancers and backstage crew to help me get the floor mats. Everyone was rushing around in panic. So, when the second cable snapped and Callie’s body started whipping around like a rag doll, I knew there was no time for the cushions; she was going to fall.
Instinct had me running under her, waiting to catch her body before she hit the ground. I didn’t care if saving her meant hurting myself. All I knew was I had to get to her. I couldn’t let her get hurt or worse.
Callie landed in my arms with a thud. The impact was too much for me to absorb, and I fell to my knees, allowing her backside to hit the floor and her head to whip back. She passed out from the impact, and when she came to, she asked if she was dead. I wanted to fucking scream as a torrent of emotions bubbled to the surface: anger, fear, regret, longing.
In that moment, when I looked down and saw her safe in my arms, every shred of doubt I had about Callie, about us, was stripped away.
Thankfully, the paramedics arrived when they did. It might have looked like I was holding it together, but I wasn’t.
When she panicked and begged me not to let her go, I knew I never would. The wall I had put between us came crumbling down.
Callie is not just my client. She’s so much more. She’s everything.
My everything.
My phone buzzes beside me, and I slide it open to find a text from Hudson. Anger fizzles beneath my skin. He has a lot of fucking explaining to do.
Hudson : How’s the flight?
Eli : Good. Thank you for letting me use the jet.
Hudson : Anytime. I had Reenie arrange a rental in your name.
Eli : Good thinking. I’m mad at you. You have some serious explaining to do.
Hudson : *Laughing emoji* About?
Eli : About Callie and what’s been going on.
Hudson : Oh. I had suspicions. Nothing concrete, and I certainly didn’t think someone was trying to kill her.
Suspicions . I mull his words over for a minute. He at least had an idea and kept me in the dark.
Eli : Why didn’t you tell me? Is this why you really wanted me watching Callie?
Hudson : That’s not a conversation we can have over text.
What the fuck does that mean? My anger grows hotter at his dodgy answers. What isn’t he telling me? We tell each other everything.
Did you tell him you’ve had feelings for Callie for the last two years? I huff at my phone.
Callie moans beside me at my movement.
“Sorry, princess,” I whisper against the crown of her head as I adjust her, making her more comfortable.
As much as Callie’s fighting it, her body needs rest to heal. I’m pretty sure the physical, and emotional, toll she experienced today hasn’t sunk in yet. I wish she would take something stronger to ease her pain, but she’s stubborn as hell.
It’s one of the many things I like about Callie. She pushes back when I act like a bossy asshole. The fire in her, the defiance… It’s all so fucking hot. She’s stronger than I gave her credit for.
Eli : Fair enough. I have some shit we need to discuss anyway.
Hudson : It’s morning here, so whenever. How’s our girl doing?
Our girl ? I don’t fucking think so. She might not be mine yet, but she will be.
I was so close to kissing her this afternoon. The way her deep brown eyes burned, she wanted to kiss me, too. If she hadn’t cried out in pain, closing the last inch between us, I’m not sure I would have ever stopped kissing her.
There is this magnetic pull between me and Callie, and I’m done denying it.
We haven’t kissed yet, and I’m already so fucking down bad for this woman that the codes I’ve lived by are meaningless words to me now. Even though I’m about to jump into the deep end, Hudson’s right, there are just some conversations that need to be had in person. This is one of them. He needs to know I’m about to throw my entire career out the window for her.
I won’t go one second of one day keeping my feelings for Callie a secret, and after yesterday, I could give a fuck about the consequences. I almost lost her forever and I won’t let that happen again.
Eli : Sleeping. Did you know about Malibu?
Hudson : Malibu??
Like an asshole, relief and pride floods my chest at his answer. Callie never confided in Hudson, further confirming her trust in me. Finally.
Eli : Never mind. I’m taking her to my brother’s place in Pine Hills.
Hudson : Are you staying with her?
Eli : Remains to be seen.
Hudson : *Eye Roll Emoji* Just keep me posted.
As I’m turning off my phone, the flight attendant informs me to prepare for landing. Since I haven’t moved during the flight, there is nothing to prepare. The plane lands with ease, Callie still sound asleep beside me.
I send Mason a text, letting him know we landed at a small private airstrip twenty minutes away from town.
Mason : Cool. Meet you at the house.
Eli : Thanks, man.
Mason : How’s your girl?
Love the sound of that. She may not know it, but she is my girl. That’s a different conversation for when she’s feeling better and her body is healed.
Eli : Beaten up, but she’s strong as hell.
Mason : Did she give you any information yet?
Eli : Waiting to talk at the house.
Mason : Fair. See you soon, brother.
I pull into the driveway at Cameron’s place and kill the engine. Callie woke up a few minutes ago, and she’s been oddly quiet.
“Where are we?” she asks, staring out the window at the small white bungalow with forest-green trim and shutters.
“Pine Hills, right outside of Portland. This is my brother Cameron’s place.”
“The baseball player, right?”
“Yeah, the baseball player.”
“It’s cute. I thought he’d have a bachelor pad or something. This looks like a family lives here.”
“So judgy,” I tease her.
She slowly turns my way, the brace keeping her neck stable, and bites her lip. “Sorry. That was rude.”
“Nah, I’m messing with you. He has a house like that on the beach.” I leave out that his house is in Malibu, not wanting to trigger her. She’s tired, and I want her to get some rest before we talk about that subject. “You’re right. This place is cute, and it used to belong to my sister-in-law, Emery.”
“Oh. Where does she live now?” Her voice trembles, and I grin at her.
She’s so fucking cute, looking all nervous about the possibility of meeting my family. Callie’s in for a treat.
“She lives a couple of blocks away with my brother, in a new house they remodeled. And they live down the street from my older brother and his family.”
Her eyes grow as wide as saucers. “Your family lives here?”
“Yes. Sometimes, my parents too.”
“I thought you were from Los Angeles.”
I shrug. “I am. They were. Then they met their women, and now they live here.”
“Oh. That’s … sweet, actually.”
She reaches for the door handle, and I shout at her. “Wait here.”
“No need to yell,” she grumbles, giving me side eye.
“Sorry,” I cringe. She probably still has a headache. “It’s slippery from the rain. Please let me help you. Okay?”
She smiles widely, stealing my breath. “Okay, you can help me.”
I throw open the door before slamming it shut and rushing to Callie’s side. As she turns her body and places her feet on the floor, a white SUV pulls in behind my rental. The lights illuminate us and the entire front of the house.
Still sitting in the passenger seat, Callie blocks the light with her arm. I almost yell at Mason when the lights click off.
“Who’s that?” she asks.
“That is my brother, Mason. We need a thumbprint to enter the house.”
“Fancy.” Callie chuckles for the first time all day.
Fuck, I love the sound of her laughter. It’s all melodic and twinkly.
“Mason is all about tech. This place also has security cameras and an alarm. Also, he’s a little crazy about his wife.”
“I heard that.” Mason walks up in a puffy coat, black joggers, and matching sneakers.
“You were supposed to hear me, you grumpy asshole.” I grip Callie’s palms in mine and help her stand.
She barks a laugh, but the movement has her swaying on her feet. I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her close to my body and holding her up.
“Guess I’m still a little off balance.” Callie tries to play it off, but I know she’s in a decent amount of pain.
“A fifteen-foot fall will do that to you,” Mason quips.
“What the fuck, Mase? It’s not a joke.” I stare at him, seething. I’m about two seconds away from punching him.
“Sorry.” Mason nods his chin at me with a sheepish look.
“It’s fine,” Callie says.
“It’s not fine,” I fume. “Don’t fucking joke about it. In fact, don’t fucking bring it up.”
She places her hand on my chest and rubs circles, soothing the angry beast in me. “Ignore him. Hi, I’m Callie, but I guess you know that.” She waves at Mason.
“Mason. It’s nice to meet you.” My brother reaches his hand out for Callie to shake, and I growl at him.
He pulls his hand back with a smirk, then looks from Callie to me. “When did you turn into Jace?”
“Don’t,” I snap at him, ignoring his Jace comment.
The fucker just laughs. I’m never going to hear the end of this, especially when I give my older brother so much shit for being an over-the-top beast with Rylann. I get it now.
I don’t want anyone touching Callie.
“It’s cold out here. Can you please move your ass so I can get Callie inside?”
“Whatever you say, E.” Mason leads the way to the house.
Not wanting Callie to walk, or wait in the cold longer than she needs to, I scoop her up under her knees and kick the door shut.
Callie locks her hands around my neck. “You don’t have to keep carrying me,” she says.
Looking down on her face, I admire the slope of her button nose, the fullness of her pink lips, and the way her black-coffee eyes sparkle in the streetlight. I want to kiss her so fucking bad.
Not yet .
“Can you humor me?” I ask her.
“If I must.”
“You must.” I brush a soft kiss on her forehead, and she gasps at the unexpected action.
She better get used to it.
I catch up to Mason at the front door, who is ready for Callie to press her thumb to the scanner. Once it’s done, I walk her inside and place her on the couch. She looks up at me, worry clouding her big doe eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I take a seat beside Callie on the couch.
“You didn’t do your finger.”
My chest puffs out at her subtle hint at wanting me to stay. I brush her hair behind her ear. “Don’t need to. It’s already in the system.”
“Oh. Okay.” She scratches at the foam surrounding her neck.
Mason clears his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but I want you to know Emery filled the fridge with essentials. Eggs, bread, cheese, fruit… If you need anything, text me, and I’ll grab it or have it delivered.”
“Thanks, Mase.”
“Anytime, E.” He leans against the wall by the door, ready to jet at a moment’s notice. “Just so you know, Rhys knows you’re in town, so don’t be surprised if he comes knocking.”
“Word gets out fast, doesn’t it?” I laugh.
“Yeah, he was over playing video games with me when you called. I swear that kid has dog ears. He hears everything.”
“Rhys is your nephew. He’s eight, right?” Callie asks.
“That’s the one.” I can’t help placing my palm on her thigh and giving it a squeeze, appreciative of her remembering our conversation about him. “Best kid on the planet.”
Callie places her hand on mine. “I hope I get to meet him.”
“You will,” Mason says with a smirk. “And be ready for him to talk your ear off about baseball.”
“I take it he’s a huge fan of his uncle?” Callie glances between me and Mason, looking for confirmation.
“Something like that,” I gripe.
Mason scoffs and turns to Callie. “Eli’s upset because he’s losing the favorite uncle spot.”
“And you’re not?” I toss back.
My brother smirks. “There’s no competition. I live two blocks away.”
“Smug bastard,” I grumble.
“Speaking of smug bastards, did you see Cam? Dad said he was amazing last night, so that must mean he and Talia are good.”
“I did. Ran by the stadium to call in a favor and check on him. Found him and Talia going at it in the supply closet after the game, so they’re more than good. Well, that’s if her brother doesn’t kill him first.”
“Romero was there?” he asks, shocked, referring to Talia’s brother, Nico Romero, who has hated Cameron for over a decade.
“Yup.” I shake my head, recalling Nico’s pissed-off face. “Dude was outside, ready to kick Cam’s ass.”
Mason throws his head back and laughs. “I wish I was there for that.”
“It was hilarious. Romero’s going to have to get used to it, and from what I heard, it wasn’t Cam’s idea.”
“Oh fuck. That’s great.” Mason gasps between laughs. “As bad as Jace and Ry?”
Now I’m rolling because, somehow, the bathroom incident always gets brought up.
“No. Jace and Ry are next level, but when they came out, Talia wasn’t even embarrassed. She’s a little spitfire. I like her for Cam.”
Cam brought Talia to Sariah’s first birthday. He had never introduced a woman to the family before, and we knew right away they were a done deal.
“Me too.” Mason smiles, and I know he’s thinking about his own wife.
“I think I’m missing something,” Callie says with a yawn.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Cal. That was rude.” I feel like an asshole for having a conversation without Callie while she’s sitting on the couch beside me.
“It’s fine, Eli. I like seeing you smile. It’s way better than the cocky glare you usually have pointed my way,” Callie teases.
Mason coughs, covering his laugh.
“I don’t have a cocky glare.” I do, and I really hate myself for being such a dick to her for the last few years. I’m going to have to make up for a lot of shit.
“Sorry, I must have been thinking about a different jerk who calls me ‘princess’ and ignores me.”
“Oh, I like you,” Mason says. He heads for the door. “As much fun as this has been, I would very much like to get back to my pregnant wife. But I look forward to seeing how this plays out.” Mason walks out the door and slams it shut.
“He seems nice.”
“He’s a riot,” I deadpan.
Callie giggles. The sound is music to my ears. She’s so fucking resilient.
“When you said you were close to your brothers, you really meant it.” She gnaws on her lip again, and I desperately want to gnaw on it myself.
“I did. They are my best friends.”
“I’m going to be honest. I’m super jealous. I always wanted siblings like that.”
I sit back on the couch with a laugh as I gently slide Callie to my side, where she fits perfectly. She’s stiff at first but slowly melts into me as we chat about my brothers.
When she yawns, I stand from the couch. “I think it’s time for me to get you into bed.”
Callie freezes, her mouth hanging open in a perfect O.
When the words register, my dick stirs in my jeans and my body temp rises. I’m one part embarrassed and two parts turned the fuck on thinking about getting Callie into bed. Naked. Needy. Wanting.
I need a cold fucking shower. Stat.
I clear my throat. “I meant, I think you should get some rest.”
Callie snaps her mouth shut. “Yeah, of course. I know what you meant.” She picks at nonexistent lint on her sweatpants. Her entire demeanor has changed, leaving me worried.
With her soreness, I don’t chance turning her to look at me, so I beg, “Callie, please look at me.”
She brings her shimmering eyes to mine.
An ache in my chest forms at the forlorn look on her face. “Hey, what’s wrong, princess?”
“It’s just…”
“What is it?”
“I really need a shower, and it hurt to put these pants on. How am I going to get ready for bed?”
My body sags in relief. I thought she was worried about the accident, not about a shower.
Fuck.
My palms sweat, and my heart pounds in my chest. Fucking hell. I’m going to have to help her, and she will be naked.
“I will help you get cleaned up.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
Oh, I’m going to be uncomfortable all right, I grumble in my head. Making his excitement clear, my dick jerks to life in delight at the prospect of seeing Callie’s naked body. I ignore the horny bastard.
“I won’t be.” Glancing towards the dining room, I smile. “I have an idea. Give me a few minutes to get everything prepped, and then I will help you get cleaned up.”