38. Eli
thirty-eight
Eli
After our meeting with Jenkins, I scanned a copy of the file to Jace, who confirmed everything the slime ball had told us. Jace asked us to sit tight as he made a call to the original lawyer who handled Andrew Cartwright’s estate.
Callie has been awfully quiet since then, and it’s making me antsy. Trying to respect her space is hard for me. I trust she will come to me when she’s ready, but the in-between is driving me crazy. I’m a fixer. Not knowing how to help makes my skin itch.
Hence, my impromptu date night.
I arrange the various food containers on the table and light a few candles before turning on an easy listening station in the background. Taking a deep breath, I head to the bedroom and change into a pair of sweatpants and a black shirt, and lay out a similar-looking outfit for Callie.
While we were at the meeting, I had Callie’s new stylists fill the empty half of my walk-in closet with clothes for her. She doesn’t know it yet, but she has an entirely new wardrobe waiting for her to use.
The bathroom door opens, and the scent of candied flowers fills the room as Callie walks in, wearing my robe and looking more refreshed. I take a deep inhale of her sweet scent, letting it soothe my jagged edges.
Callie is here with me. She’s safe, I remind myself.
With a mind of their own, my feet steer me towards my girl. I envelop her delectable body in my arms, dip her back, and kiss her like my life depends on it.
She melts into my embrace, moaning into my mouth as I tangle my tongue with hers. I take my time tasting her and loving her. When I stand upright, I don’t let go.
Tucking her head under my chin, I breathe her in again and relish the feel of her body pressed to mine. “Feeling better, princess?”
She leans back and brings her dark-brown eyes to mine. A sluggish, drunk smile tips up her perfectly pink lips. “I am now.”
“Glad to be of service.”
She sighs, her eyes sparkling.
This is the moment. “I have something for you.”
“You do? How long was I in there?” she asks.
While I came up with plans for dinner, I sent her to take a bath, and by the looks of it, it was the right call.
“Long enough. I was just coming to check and see if you drowned.”
She chuckles. “Funny. But seriously, what could you have gotten me in an hour?”
I tuck a stray strand of hair back into the sloppy bun on her head. “Dinner and dessert.”
“I like food.” She grins, and as usual, heat spreads from my center to the tips of my fingers.
“I know. Before we get to the food portion, I have something to show you.”
“Should I be worried?”
“I don’t think so.” Lacing our fingers together, I guide us to the closet door and pause, my hand on the knob. Her eyebrows jump to her forehead in question, and I can’t help teasing her. “Behind this door is something that might make you want to run for the hills, but I really hope it doesn’t.”
She stares at the door, biting her plump bottom lip.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea.” I pretend to tug her away when she stops me.
“Wait. Show me. I swear there isn’t anything behind this door that would chase me away.”
A wide grin spreads across my face. “I fucking hope not. You’re stuck with me.”
“You’re trying to freak me out on purpose. Open the door, you big jerk.”
I turn on the light and push the door open.
Callie walks in, checking out all my suits on one side and running her fingers over the expensive fabrics. My palms sweat as she takes in the little details: the built-in dressers, shoe racks, cubbies. Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms a perfect O, when she sees the women’s clothing and shoes filling up the other half of the closet.
As she picks her jaw up off the floor, I see the awe on her face change to mischief.
“Don’t,” I warn her, sensing the smart-ass comment on the tip of her tongue. “This is all for you. I had Mona and Letty set this up while we were gone.” If I had known sooner that Taylor’s cousin Mona was a stylist, I’d have gotten her work a lot sooner.
“Umm.” Callie looks at the clothes again as she chews on her lip and twists the ring on her thumb.
“Say something, princess.” She hates it.
She tugs the robe tighter around her chest. “What do you want me to say, Eli? I don’t understand what this means.”
Fuck, I’m dense. I didn’t even ask her. Of course she doesn’t understand. “It means… Move in with me. Never leave. Make my home your home. Let’s make this our home. Stay with me forever. Is that clear enough for you?”
A slow grin takes over her face, and her eyes shine with unshed tears as she nods. “Yeah, Elijiah, that’s clear enough for me.”
By the look on her face, I have my answer, but I want to hear her say it. “Well? Are you moving in or what?”
“So romantic.” She bites back a smile as her eyes swim with affection.
“Calliope.”
“Yes.” She lunges at me, and I lift her into my arms without hesitation.
“Yes, what?” I nip at her neck as she snakes her arms and legs around my body, clinging to me.
“Yes, I’ll move in with you,” she answers.
The weight on my shoulders falls away. “Thank fuck. The idea of you leaving gave me anxiety. I never want to spend another night away from you. I want to fall asleep next to your gorgeous face every night, and I want to wake up to your beautiful voice every morning. I want lazy morning sex and dirty fucking after dinner, and everything in between.”
Callie peppers my face with kisses, making me laugh. “Me too. I love you, handsome. I was worried I’d have to go back to the penthouse.”
“No way was I letting you go, Cal. I’d chain you to my bed if I had to.”
“That’s creepily sweet of you.” She cups my scruffy cheek and kisses the other.
“I aim to please. If you want anything from the penthouse, I’ll send Boone to get it.”
“Maybe. For now, I’m good.” With a wistful glance over her shoulder, she looks at the clothes hanging on what will forever be her side.
I carry her out of the closet and take a seat on the bed. Callie is usually all chatter and sunshine, but these past couple of hours, she’s been off.
Not wanting to push but still refusing to let her spend the night feeling alone in her feelings, I broach the subject. “I know this afternoon was a lot to process. I’m here if you want to talk.”
“It was. I’m just…” She shrugs, looking for the right words. Her eyes swim with emotion. “I guess ‘sad’ and ‘heartbroken’ are the right words. I loved my childhood home, and now it’s someone else’s home because Silla sold it. I’m not na?ve; I knew it was gone, but this just feels so final, you know?”
“I do.”
She snuggles into my chest, and I pull her closer. It seems like, every day, there’s a new missile launched at Callie’s heart, and I hate that there is nothing I can do about it. Being able to fix things or call in a favor is my thing, and she has me facing my inadequacies once again.
“I’m really sorry. I wish I could fix it for you.”
Callie rears back to look me in the face. “Eli, being here with me, holding me… This is fixing it for me.” She points at the clothes hanging in the closet. “You make me feel loved and supported. For so long, I was alone, but not anymore. Now I have you, and having you in my life means so much more than a house.”
Emotion clogs my throat, and my nose tingles. I have never loved someone the way I love Callie. It’s like everything inside of me aches with so much love it physically hurts. But in this completely amazing, scary, and wonderful way.
“If I have any say, you will never again have to know how it feels to be alone.”
“I really like the sound of that.”
“So, now that the ‘moving in together’ part of our conversation is done, I have one more thing to ask you.”
“Ask away.” Callie tangles her fingers in my hair, making my scalp tingle.
I fucking love it when she plays with my hair. She could touch me anywhere, and I’d be happy.
“Would you like to meet my parents and have dinner with them tomorrow?”
My mom is going to flip when I arrive with Callie for family dinner. Tomorrow night is Cam’s first post-season game. A couple of times a month, I eat dinner with them and watch the game on TV after.
“Are you sure? Meeting the parents is a big step.” She gnaws on her lip.
I roll my eyes at her before poking the tip of her nose. “Princess, you’re my woman and you’re moving in with me. I probably should have taken you home to meet them sooner. My mom is going to give me hell.”
“Should I be concerned?” she asks, and I can see the worry in the dark, bottomless depths of her brown eyes.
“Not in the slightest. My parents are good people, and I know they are going to love you like I do. They might end up loving you more.” I press a quick kiss to her lips.
“I’m already nervous.” Callie shifts on my lap, and I can see her brain going into overdrive.
Letting her overthink is bad for many reasons, so I toss out a joke instead. “You have nothing to worry about. And if you get too anxious, we can always practice our relaxation technique in the driveway before we go in for dinner.” I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively at her.
Callie scrunches my cheeks in her palms, giving me a smacking kiss. “You’re cute when you’re pervy.”
“Good to know my dirty mouth does it for you.” I slap her butt, making her laugh.
I love this. Being with Callie feels so right. Even when we’re just chatting and joking, she easily keeps up with me. She’s my perfect match in every way that matters, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.
“Why don’t you put on some clothes and meet me in the kitchen for dinner?”
“Depends. What did you order?”
“Chinese food and cupcakes.”
“With purple frosting?”
“What other color would there be?”
Callie jumps off my lap with a happy squeal, flashing me her pert tits and making my cock jerk to life. She reaches for the belt on my robe.
Jumping to my feet, I shout, “Stop. Please let me leave before you drop the robe, or we will never eat.”
“You’re so bad.” She slowly unties the sash, teasing me.
“I don’t mean to be, but my dick and I can’t help ourselves around you.”
Callie’s cheeks turn pink as I adjust my growing erection, tucking the fucker under my waistband.
I plant a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t take too long.”
She playfully bats her lashes at me. “I won’t, daddy.”
“Seriously, Cal. Stop with that shit.” I stomp to the door with an angry, hard dick as Callie laughs her ass off, slamming the bedroom door shut.
As I make my way to the living room, my phone buzzes on the kitchen island, where I left it next to the pink box of nut-free vanilla cupcakes I got Callie for dessert. My plan is to play with the frosting like we did with the chocolate sauce on our first date.
Lifting my phone, I swipe it open to find a text from Mason.
Mason: This time, you owe me. I had some people searching for your guy. His name is Novak. Came across him in the witch’s yearbook, then ran his information. He was kicked out of school and arrested for petty theft and drunken disorderly. The last known address for him was in Simi Valley. See if Callie recognizes him and text me back.
The first picture looks like an old yearbook photo. Bryan Novak. He looks so young in the photo. A gangly teen with brown hair and hard-looking brown eyes stares back at me. He looks like every guy you went to high school with.
The second photo is a mug shot, and it has the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. There is something familiar about him, but the connection is just out of reach as I inspect the man in the photo. The guy in this photo looks rough, beaten down by life, and angry. It was obviously taken a good ten years after the high school photo. He has tattoos on his neck, and the look in his eye has my skin prickling. He is not a good dude.
“Hey, handsome, what are you looking at?” Callie hugs me from behind, wrapping her arms around my waist. She slips her hands up my shirt and runs her fingers over my lower abs.
I’ve finally been able to help turn her mood around, and now this is going to be another blow. The last thing I want to do is ruin our dinner, and as much as I want to wait to show her the photo of this guy, I won’t be another person in her life keeping things from her.
Callie is strong, and she can handle this , my brain reminds me. This woman has survived on her own, and while I want to take care of her, I know she can take care of herself. This is one of those moments where I need to stand beside her.
Turning around in her arms, I smooth the flyaway hair off her face and drop a kiss on her forehead. “Mason sent me a photo of the guy he thinks Jenkins was talking about. This guy went to school with Silla. Based on the yearbook photo, he was a year ahead of her at school. I need you to look at the photo and tell me if you recognize him.”
She looks away, chewing on the inside of her cheek.
With a slight squeeze, I grip her shoulders, imparting my silent support. “No pressure. You can look now or after dinner. It’s up to you.”
Callie lets out a deep breath and shakes her head. “No, let’s get this over with. I want all of this to be over and for Silla to be out of my life so we can start ours.”
My fucking brave girl. I knew she would face this head-on like a badass.
“I’m really fucking proud of you, princess.” I press a kiss to her cheek. “You’re so damn strong,” I whisper, kissing her neck.
She drops her head back, giving me better access.
“Courageous.” My mouth finds hers. Using my lips and tongue, I inject everything I feel for her into our embrace.
This kiss isn’t leading to anything physical. It’s purely an expression of the deep connection we share and the overflowing love we have for one another. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers. Our warm pants mingle as we breathe each other in, taking solace in each other’s arms.
Reaching behind Callie, I swipe my phone off the counter. “Are you ready?”
She holds out her hand. “I’m ready.”
I pull up the yearbook photo and hand her my cell. “Do you recognize him?”
She shakes her head.
“Swipe left. The next photo is more recent. It’s a mugshot. He was arrested for some small stuff but never convicted.”
Callie swipes, and the blood from her face drains. She looks as white as a ghost. My cellphone falls from her hands and crashes to the floor. Every cell in my body screams to reach out and hold her.
I react immediately, pulling her to my chest. Her body shakes like she got tasered with a cattle prod, and painful whimpers erupt in her chest.
“Baby, talk to me. What is it?”
The picture.
Fear strikes me deep, making the organ in my chest pound painfully behind my ribcage. I lift her into my arms and place her on the counter in front of me. She’s frozen in terror, caught in a nightmare in her head.
Stepping between her legs, I wrap my arms around her body and squeeze. “I’ve got you, Callie. Just breathe.” Following my advice, I take a deep breath and place her hand over my sternum as I actively try to lower my heart rate. “Feel that? Concentrate on the beating of my heart.”
I rub her hair and back as I flatten her body to mine in a tight hug, pressing her face into my chest, until her breaths even out and her body stops trembling. Tilting her chin up, I find tears streaming down her cheeks. The sight rips my insides out. I stay silent, waiting for her to speak when she’s ready.
After a few minutes, Callie whispers, “It’s him.”
“Him who, Callie? The guy in the picture?”
She nods. “He … he was the man that night.”
My brain scrambles to make sense of what she’s saying. “I’m sorry, Cal. I don’t understand.”
“My dad, Eli. It was him. The man in the picture, he was the one who robbed us. He killed my dad.” My strong girl breaks down sobbing.
I cocoon her in my arms and hoist her up to carry her to our bedroom.
My brain goes haywire, drawing connections between everything that has happened in the last few weeks. I lie in bed with Callie on my chest, holding her tight until she cries herself to sleep.
The reason Bryan Novak seemed so familiar is that it was his side profile in the grainy security camera pictures. I should have recognized him sooner. I spent days staring at those photos.
When Callie reaches deep sleep and her body relaxes, I slide out of bed. A lingering sense of unease, like I’m missing something, settles over me. I watch Callie sleep from the foot of the bed before I retrieve my phone from the kitchen and head to my office.
Opening my laptop, I pull up the suspect photos from Andrew’s murder and pictures of the guy I suspect tampered with the equipment at Ricochet Lounge, and place them side by side. I lift my phone and compare the three photos.
No huge similarities between the three pictures stand out. As I stare, scrutinizing every detail, an idea hits me and I reach for my phone to dial Mason.
“What did Callie say?” he asks, getting straight to the point. Mason is never one to dick around, and right now, I love that about him.
“She identified him,” I answer.
I can hear muffled shuffling. “What do you mean?”
“Callie took one look at the picture and turned white as a sheet. It was fucking scary, Mase. But when I finally got her talking, she said he was the man who robbed and killed her father.”
“What the fuck? That’s…”
“No coincidence,” I finish for him, rubbing my aching jaw. I’ve been grinding my teeth for the last hour, staring at these pictures.
“No, it’s not.” I hear the clacking of computer keys.
“I have a hunch, and I’m hoping you can help me. I will owe you an unlimited amount of favors.”
Mason scoffs. “E, this is personal. This is about your girl, and she’s our family. You don’t owe me a damn thing.”
My chest swells with love and pride in my brother. In our family, no matter what, we have one another’s backs. “Thanks, brother. It feels good to hear that because she’s my everything, Mase. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
“I understand, E. Now, tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
“Can you use some of your contacts to get security footage of the bakery?”
“Which one and when?”
I give him the date Callie went into anaphylaxis and the name of the bakery. “Have them looking for signs of Novak. Or Silla. If my hunch is right, it’s been her and him the entire time.”
“Consider it done. Jace gave me the abridged version of what went down with the lawyer. How’s Callie handling it?”
“She’s dealing, but now with this… I don’t know. Callie’s tough as nails. She’ll get through this too.”
“I don’t doubt it. I will call you as soon as I have the information. And, E?”
“Yeah, Mase?”
“I’m really happy for you. You deserve to be happy, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we put an end to all this.”
“Thanks, Mase. Love you, little brother.”
Mason groans, which brings a smile to my face. “Fuck off. You’re in the middle with me. But I love you too, big brother.” He cuts the call before I can tease him.
My brother has grown a lot since he met Emery, but he’s still the same emotionally stingy grump.
Before heading back to bed, I send a text to my parents confirming dinner, and one to my buddy, Boone, giving him a heads-up, along with a copy of the photo so he can keep an eye out when he guards Callie tomorrow.
I crawl into bed, exhausted, and curl my body around Callie’s, spooning her. She mewls in her sleep, and I pull her tighter, repeatedly whispering, “I got you,” into her hair until she settles .
Callie is my heart, and without her, I don’t exist. I protect what’s mine. Silla better be prepared because I’m going to do everything in my power to make her pay for what she’s done to the woman I love.
Even if it’s the last thing I do.