43. Eli
forty-three
Eli
Darkness surrounds me as I swim towards Callie’s somber voice. “I love you.”
Why is she crying?
The glow of her blonde hair catches my eye as I tread through the murky waters. Pushing harder, I reach for her, but she slips out of reach. I shout her name as the water pulls me under, and I slip into the depths of sleep once again.
My throat feels tight and dry, like I’m breathing fire, as the whir of machines pulls me from sleep.
Callie?
My eyes bounce around the room, looking for my girl.
The beep of the machine near my head matches my accelerating heart rate as panic grips me and the pressure in my throat increases. I reach for my mouth, searching for the reason I feel like gagging.
My dad’s head appears above me. “Eli, please calm down, son. It’s the breathing tube.” He lays a hand on my wrist to prevent me from pulling the plastic tubing out of my mouth. “Let the nurse remove it so you don’t get hurt.” I push his hand away, but he grips my wrist. “The nurse will sedate you if she thinks you’re panicking. I know you don’t want that, so calm your ass down.”
Nodding, I try to do what he said and relax, taking slow breaths.
“That’s good, E. Just breathe. Thank fuck you’re okay. You scared the shit out of us.”
“Cah-hee,” I mumble around the tube. I need to know where Callie’s at and if she’s okay. She should be here. Did something happen to her?
Hudson steps behind my dad. “Callie’s fine.”
The tension in my body ebbs but doesn’t disappear completely.
“Please, give us some space.” A team of nurses enters the room and surrounds my bed. The nurse on my left checks my IV while the one on my right introduces herself and lets me know what’s going on. “Alright, Mr. Miller. I need you to take a deep breath, and when you exhale, I will pull the tube out. On the count of three.”
I exhale and retch as the plastic tubing slides out of my throat and mouth. The sensitive tissue feels raw and dry, like sandpaper, but I don’t give a fuck as I speak against the nurse’s orders.
“Wh-where’s Cal—” I gasp.
My dad frowns at me. “Relax, Eli. Please calm down.”
“No, tell me,” I rasp, my voice rough from the intrusion. “Where?”
“She went to confront Silla,” Hudson cuts in, telling me the worst thing possible.
Fuck no. She wouldn’t.
It’s not safe for her to be near Silla. That devil-woman is trying to kill Callie, and she’ll never stop. I have to get to Callie, keep her safe.
Pushing up onto my hands, I immediately fall back at the screaming pain in my left side. “Fuck!”
“Serves you right, dumbass. You have broken ribs and needed surgery for a punctured lung,” Dad tells me. “Now, will you please calm the fuck down?”
Memories of the crash flash in my head—the spin, the smell of smoke, the second crash, and staring at Callie’s beautiful face as I passed out. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and mouth, Yes .
“Mark, have you ever thought of coming out of retirement? I could use an Eli tamer.”
“Fuck off,” I croak.
Dad brings a cup of ice chips to my lips, forcing me to take a couple into my mouth.
“So cranky,” Hudson teases.
Dad chuckles and pats my hand. “I’m going to go get your mom. She’s in the waiting room with Rhys. We’ve all been so worried.”
“Everyone’s here?”
“Of course. You gave us all a scare with that stunt you pulled. Just glad you’re okay, my boy.” He pats my hand, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears as he holds back his emotion.
“Pop.” My voice cracks, from not only the pain of having a tube but for the love and support of my family. I don’t know what I would have done without them at my back. They showed up for me, and while it shouldn’t surprise me, it fills me with so much love. Telling him how I feel isn’t possible at this moment, but I hope he knows how much I love him. How grateful I am he’s my dad.
“I love you too, kiddo.”
“Thanks.”
“Wouldn’t be anywhere else. I’ll be right back.”
I wait for my dad to leave before I turn on my friend. “Why the fuck did you let Callie go?” I practically snarl at Hudson, not giving a fuck that my throat burns from talking.
“First off, chill the fuck out. You’re supposed to be resting your voice.” He hands me a pink cup of water to take a sip.
The cool water feels good on my tongue, washing away the metallic taste in my mouth.
“Second, Callie is a grown-ass woman who can make her own choices. She is strong as fuck. You and I both know we can’t and shouldn’t tell a woman like her what to do.”
I might be listening and completely agree with what Hudson is saying, but that woman is my everything. If she were to get hurt, I don’t know what I would do. “You’re right. But—”
“Nope. You just said I’m right.” Hudson grins as I scowl at him. “Callie asked me to stay here to tell you she’s fine and she’ll be back soon.”
That does nothing to squash my worry. Silla is capable of anything. The pit in my stomach grows as I think about Silla going through with her plans. She’ll stop at nothing to get rid of Callie.
“She shouldn’t be with that psycho alone. What if something happens to her?”
“If something happens to her, I’ll hold all four of the idiots who left with her responsible.”
“What?” I jerk upright, flinching at the throb.
“Fuck, E. Relax.” Hudson pushes a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to lie back as I exhale a sharp, tense breath. “Callie isn’t alone. She took Boone and your brothers with her.”
What the fuck does she need Boone and my brothers for?
“Why?”
Hudson’s phone buzzes, and he pulls it out to read the message. “I’ll let Callie explain, but that was Boone. He said all is well and your girl is on her way back.”
She’s on her way back to me.
Thank fuck.
Some of the anxiety in my stomach slips away knowing that Callie is safe. Closing my eyes, I lie back and breathe.
I must have been in more pain than I realized and drifted off to sleep, because when I wake up, my brothers are in my room chatting with Hudson.
The warmth enveloping my hand draws my attention to the side of my bed. Sitting in the chair beside me is my girl, looking like a fucking angel. Covered in … blood?
“What the fuck?” I glance between her beautiful face and her shirt.
“I’m fine.” Callie gives my hand a reassuring squeeze and smiles.
“Yes! I win. Pay up, suckers,” Cam shouts in victory.
Mason, Jace, and Hudson moan, placing cash into Cam’s waiting palm.
“The fuck?” I shout as my brothers and Hudson approach my bed. I’m really confused and getting agitated at all the secrecy.
Callie tugs at my hand, forcing my attention on her. “I’m fine. This isn’t real blood. I swear.”
“Told you it was a bad idea to let him see her in the bloody shirt,” Mason mutters.
I look at my brother in question.
He sighs. “Cam bet us you would see the shirt and your first words would be ‘what the fuck’ .”
“Way to go, E. Cam’s going to gloat forever,” Jace grumbles and walks over to grip my calf. He gives it an affectionate squeeze. “It’s good to have you back, brother.”
Mason’s forehead crinkles as he scolds me. “Don’t scare us like that again. Please.”
“Callie told us about your Fast I do. Even before we were together, I’d get agitated by the things she did.
“Ian West,” Callie says.
I growl like an animal, setting my brothers off into hysterics. “Fuck off, assholes.”
“Why don’t we give them some privacy?” Jace kisses Callie on the cheek. “Good job today, Callie. I’ll be back later with Rhys.”
I nod, thanking him again for being here.
“Aww, man. It’s not fair. I wanted to show him the video,” Cam whines as Jace drags him out. “See you later, Callie.” He winks at her, and she waves at him.
Great . Another shithead I have to worry about stealing my girl’s attention.
Where the fuck is Talia at ?
Cam points at me and laughs. “You are too fucking easy, like Jace.”
Jace smacks Cam upside the head like a good big brother.
“Just push play. I set it up on Eli’s phone,” Mason interjects, hands me the cell, and kisses Callie on the head. “So proud of you.”
I grunt in my throat like a ridiculous caveman. Okay, I get why Jace is the way he is. I really dislike sharing my woman with anyone. The tiny neanderthal in my head screams “mine”, and he doesn’t care whom at.
“Wait!” I shout, taking a soothing swallow, before saying what I need to say. “I don’t know what exactly you did, but thank you for having Callie’s back, my back, for being here, and for making sure nothing happened to her today. I owe you all one.”
“We’re Millers, and we stick together, E. We will always have your back. Callie’s too,” Jace replies.
“I already told Callie she’s one of us, so put a ring on her finger and not a collar on her neck, yeah?” Cameron quips, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
Of course he understands what a collar looks like. He’s probably been to that creepy sex club with one of the guys on his team.
“Oh my gosh.” Callie buries her face in my neck.
I can feel the heat pouring off her face as I give Cam the finger. He winks at me. Jace looks at me curiously, probably wondering about the necklace and where I got it.
Fucking perv . I’ll send him the details later.
“Anytime, E. And, uh, maybe don’t watch the video.” Mason chuckles. “You might not be so, uh, thankful after.”
With the three of them gone, I tilt Callie’s chin up. “As much as I want to kiss you, my breath is horrible and I’m incredibly thirsty. Think you can help a guy out?”
“Of course. Whatever my hero wants, he gets.” Callie swings her legs off the bed and gets up to get me some water.
My eyes drop to her ass, admiring the way her tight jeans fit it so damn perfectly. My cock jerks to life. Too bad the poor bastard deflates when she turns around, and I see the holes and blood in her shirt.
“It’s not real.”
“So you say. Can I please see for myself?”
“Fine, you big baby.” She rolls her eyes at me and hands me the pink cup with ice water.
I take a sip as she lifts her shirt, showing me her taut stomach. There are a few pink and red burns on her stomach and on her chest above her boob, but other than that, it’s all smooth skin.
“And the hand?” I incline my head to her bandaged right hand.
She lifts it up. “It’s just a bone bruise. Jace made me get an X-ray. No one tells you how bad it hurts when you punch someone in the face.”
I guess I owe Jace another favor for making sure Callie got her hand checked.
A smile pulls at my mouth, thinking about what Cam said about her injury. “You clocked Silla good?”
“So good.” She grins, and the look on her face is everything. “I ruined her nose job.”
My chest expands with heat at the delight and pride shining in her eyes. Whatever she did, it must have been something she needed to do on her own. Even though I hate it, I respect the hell out of it. My princess turned into a fucking queen and found her voice.
“I’m so fucking proud of you.”
She smiles brightly at my praise.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened from the start?”
“Wait one second.” Callie rushes out of the room, and not even a minute later, she waltzes back in, holding out a handful of peppermints for me. “Better?”
My heart skips a beat as I stare at the red and white candies. “I fucking love you.”
“I love you too.” I reach for the candies, but she shakes her head, rips open the package, and pops out a candy. “Open.”
I do as she asks as she places the peppermint in my mouth. I nibble her finger, making her laugh.
“Alright, enough stalling. Tell me what you did.” I pat the spot on the bed she was in before.
Callie climbs in and settles beside me. “Well, after you decided to be a hero and almost get yourself killed…” I try to cut her off when she places her finger over my lips. “Just let me talk, okay?”
I nod before giving her finger another nip. It’s so fucking hot when she takes charge. She’s always had this fire with me, but I’ve never seen it come out with others. It makes me feel so fucking proud because I know it’s a piece of Callie no one else gets, but I hope she channels that fire into her everyday life. She deserves to be heard, to live her life how she sees fit. Based on the way she looks right now—lighter, taller, and freer than I’ve ever seen her—I think that’s changed, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Callie deserves everything. And I plan on being the one who hands her the pieces that make up everything, for the rest of her life.
She curls into my side and threads our fingers together before starting her story. “I was sitting here, watching that machine help you breathe, and I was just so angry. Angry at you for protecting me, angry at myself for not doing something, angry at Silla for … so much stuff. And I just keep thinking about what you said when you gave me this.” Like she’s done since I gave her the necklace, Callie fingers the diamond bluebird at her throat.
“And what did I say that seemed so poignant?”
“You said that sometimes you’ll be supporting me and other times lifting me up. And I thought to myself … if I don’t pick myself up, then what kind of person am I? Am I weak and helpless? Or am I strong and capable?”
“And what did you decide, princess?”
“I’m strong. I was before you, and I survived. And now that I’m with you, I’m an even better version of myself. Stronger and more capable of anything because I have you to fight with me. You made me see how resilient I am. I know I can do anything because I have you. But we are also a team, and sometimes that means I need to fight for you too. So, I concocted a plan to get Silla to confess.”
“We had enough stuff to go to the police,” I reiterate. We had the Jenkins file and the security footage.
Callie looks up at me. “Eli, our evidence was circumstantial at best. We needed Silla to confess to all the horrible things she did so that she could pay. But really, I needed to hear her say the words. To admit what she did to me, to my mom, and especially my dad. It was the only way I could find peace and move on. To forget all about her, so we can start our life together.”
“And did you?”
“Hell yeah, I did.” She gives me a toothy grin, taking my breath away—bloody shirt, messy bun, and all.
I listen to Callie explain how she gathered my brothers, Hudson, and Boone in the waiting room and told them her plan to stage a confrontation with Silla. Callie had Boone and Hudson source stunt equipment for a fake shooting, she had Mason set up cameras and audio, and she asked Jace to stand in as her legal counsel. Cameron refused to be left out and went as back-up.
“Then, I waited for Silla to enter my trap. I knew there was no way she would just confess. She had to think I was dumb enough to let her get the drop on me. Would you like to see it?”
I hesitate, crunching on my peppermint.
Do I want to see it? Even though I know she’s acting, the idea of watching Silla shoot her makes me sick to my stomach. Callie must read the answer on my face.
“You don’t have to. Even though I think it’s some of my best acting.”
“You want me to watch, don’t you?”
She shrugs and cutely scrunches her nose. “It’s up to you, but if you don’t, Cam’s probably going to call you a little bitch.”
I bark a laugh but quickly groan in pain. It feels like hot pokers in my chest and ribs. “Aww, fuck. It hurts to laugh.”
“Elijiah,” Callie gasps with worry. She tries to jump off the bed, but I grip her thigh, keeping her in place.
“Nope.” I breathe through the pain. “You stay right there. I feel better with you right here at my side, princess. Please stay.”
“I’d like that very much.” She lies back down beside me and curls into my side. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Never. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a car crash to get rid of me, Callie.”
“How about no more crashes and no more crazy sisters out to kill me?”
“Sounds like we are going to have a pretty boring life.” I chuckle.
Callie sighs and smiles up at me, her big dark eyes shining with what can only be described as love. “I know. Doesn’t it sound wonderful?”
“Abso-fuckin’-lutely.”
We simultaneously lean in, our mouths coming together in an electric kiss. Our lips part in unison, and large volts of energy zing through me as our tongues touch, sliding against one another in a deep, tender kiss. Our kisses taste like Callie’s sweet flavor and peppermints.
I never thought I could love someone as much as I love Callie, but I do. She came out of nowhere and turned my life upside down. It used to piss me off, thinking it was wrong to want her and telling myself I’d never be able to have her. I was wrong. Being with Callie is the rightest thing in my life.
I’m going to spend my life making Callie happy, watching her eyes light up when she smiles, listening to her laugh and sing, and while she would hate to hear this, I’d take a million car crashes for her a million times over if it meant we’d end up right here together.
With her safe in my arms.