Chapter 36
Callum
“Lucy.” Even her name sounds rough to my ears when I finally untangle my tongue.
“This is all because I agreed to testify.” Her voice quivers. Tears aren’t far off. “The DA says I’m a star witness in this case, but…but I…”
Once the waterworks start, I push aside my guilt to soothe her. That’s my job. And even if I suck at emotions, every cell in my body hates seeing those tears.
I hug her to my chest.
“I’m sorry.” Lucy hiccups. “Why am I such a coward?”
I press my lips to her ear. “What are you talking about?”
“Viktor Roguilin is a horrible man, and he deserves far worse than prison, and they won’t be able to nail him without my testimony, but…the truth is that I want all this to go away. I want my life back. I know it’d be awful and cowardly not to testify, but I just want this to end.”
I swipe the lower rims of her deep brown eyes with my thumb, smearing her tears away. “You’re not a coward for wanting no part of this, Lucy. There’s nothing good about the position you’re in. Most people would’ve caved under the pressure you’re under, but you haven’t.”
“Yet.” She blinks rapidly while patting her damp face.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” The words land between us like a promise, a vow. The way Lucy peers up at me after they’re out there… All the trust glimmering in her eyes…
It shatters my fucking heart.
The guards escort us to our suite using an indirect route we never would’ve been able to navigate on our own. All the while, my mind spins out of control.
We’ve been going about this all wrong.
Instead of constantly playing defense and waiting for the next incident to occur, maybe we should take the fight straight to Roguilin and his cronies.
He’s already been arrested on racketeering and human trafficking charges, and based on the dossier Darren gave me, that motherfucker’s still in prison, awaiting trial after being denied bail due to his flight risk status.
My guess is he’s been holding court from his cell and using his men to act on his behalf out here in the city.
Without knowing where the cronies are headquartered, an ambush is impossible.
And getting into a high-security detention center to assassinate Roguilin myself?
Equally improbable. I don’t know what to do about this situation yet, but I am at least sure that getting the hell out of this hotel is the right move.
As soon as we’re in the suite, I conduct a sweep of the entire room. Once I’m satisfied the coast is clear, I gently release Lucy’s hand.
“Go pack your things.”
“Where are we even going?” She regards me with wide eyes and pale cheeks. Less information always makes her more anxious than not. I just want to hold her, but there’s no time.
I march toward the couch, reaching for my bag. “My place. I’ll feel safer if we stay there. I have more control over security and far fewer variables to contend with.”
I’m also desperate to find the crypto wallet.
Lucy’s in danger every second that thing remains in her possession. And the longer she has it, the longer I have to snoop around behind her back.
And if she finds out about that…
Well, there won’t be any more cutesy dates in the city, will there?
A new plan materializes in my head.
As soon as we get to my place, I’ll find the wallet.
Whatever it takes. At least this time, I’ll have the homecourt advantage.
Turning my own apartment upside down should be far easier than overturning hers or trying to rifle through her things in the unpredictable amount of time she spends showering.
Once I’ve located the wallet, after I’ve handed it over to Shane Gallagher, that part of my contract will be over.
Then once the modeling competition ends, I can tell Darren to assign someone else to Lucy’s guard detail.
That wasn’t the original agreement, but we should be fine.
After that, my employers won’t have any say in the nature of our relationship.
Which means I’ll be free.
For the first time in a long time, I’ll be able to pursue something with someone, if that’s what I want. And what she wants. Beyond touching this infuriating, beautiful woman, I haven’t thought that far down the path. But if us together means I’ll have more days like today…
Fuck. I want to try for her. Want to care.
Even though I know better.
Focus, Callum.
If I’m not careful, there may be no future for either of us to explore.
After I get the wallet to Shane, I’ll do whatever it takes to persuade Lucy not to testify against Roguilin. Once the DA learns she won’t be testifying and Roguilin learns he’ll need to tango with the Irish Kings to get that crypto wallet back, Lucy should be safely out of his crosshairs.
That would grant her freedom too.
Freedom to relax and…be with me, if she so chooses.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I follow Lucy into the bedroom. “Want some help?”
She doesn’t answer as she rips clothes off hangers and tosses them haphazardly into the suitcase she packed before we arrived at the hotel. “I’m gonna take a quick shower.”
When she disappears into the bathroom, I speed my search for the wallet. The device must be around here somewhere. If I see where she packs the thing, swiping it once we reach my apartment will be that much easier.
I grab a handful of her clothes from the suitcase and begin rolling them into tidier bundles, hoping my fingers might brush something metal or—
“What are you doing?”
I drop a pair of leggings. Lucy’s wrapped in a towel, observing me with narrowed eyes. The shower’s still running, which explains how she snuck up on me.
“Helping.” That sounds like a question. Shit.
While she doesn’t call me out, she does shoo me away to dig through her suitcase before returning to the bathroom.
No sign of the wallet. And I’m too afraid she’ll catch me off guard to do a deep dive.
Twenty minutes later, we pull into the garage of my extremely secure loft. I park the Range Rover next to my motorcycle and step into the bright, fluorescent, enclosed cement slab I call a garage.
I round the SUV and yank open Lucy’s door. She peers outside, her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Why aren’t there any other cars?”
My mind is spinning in so many different places that for a second, I think she’s asking me why I only own two vehicles.
Keep up, Callum. I shake my head as I collect our bags from the back seat. “Because I’m the only one who parks here.”
Lucy gapes. “This giant garage is all yours?”
“Yes.”
“You could park a plane in here.”
“I prefer helicopters.”
I barely register her incredulity. I’m too busy planning as I carry our stuff to the elevator on the far end of the space.
I have to keep a clear head.
Lucy needs professional Cal right now. Not infatuated Cal.
Nobody needs that guy.
The elevator climbs to the top and opens into my converted loft with exposed brick, abstract art, and contemporary furnishings in every direction. Clean lines. Minimalism. Floor-to-ceiling panel windows overlooking the city.
It’s been a while since I’ve had any visitors. Fortunately, I keep this place well maintained, partly because I travel to Dublin so frequently, and partly because I’m a control freak who prefers to keep things neat and clean.
The foyer opens to the den on the main floor. Sleek ivory-colored furniture and a stone fireplace opposite the windows welcome us home.
As I usher Lucy inside, I point out the second-floor kitchen that overlooks the den.
The loft has three bedrooms—the master, the guest room, and my home office—and three and a half bathrooms, including one tucked in the hall that leads out of the den.
Only once we’re standing together beside the couch do I realize I haven’t thought this through at all.
Last night, we shared a bed. This morning, we fucked.
As incredible as those experiences were, if I expect to maintain focus from now until the moment Lucy’s safe and free of this bullshit, I need to tighten up.
No more sleepovers.
I direct her toward the hall behind the leather couch. “This way.”
I push open the door and stand aside, allowing Lucy to enter. The guest room is sparse, decorated in an inoffensive color scheme of beige and brown. I never noticed how impersonal the space is ’til now.
She raises a brow. “This is your room?”
I set her bag on the bed, trying not to feel like a total asshole. “It’s the guest bedroom.”
“Oh.” She glances around.
I can practically taste her disappointment and rush to come up with an excuse. “I’ve got paperwork to do tonight, and I’ll be up late. I don’t want to disturb you later. I know tomorrow’s a big day.”
The next stage of Lucy’s competition.
She simply pins me with a blank stare.
“I’ll leave you to it.” I retreat toward the door. “I’ll be down the hall if you need anything. Sleep well.”
She gives me a small, if empty, smile. “Goodnight, Callum.”