We entered the building and took the elevator to our floor. Calloway stayed on one side of the elevator, his hands in his pockets and his gaze concentrated on the wall in front of him. He didn’t make any effort to comfort me. He was focusing on keeping himself calm before the doors opened and his employees looked at him.
We stepped out and walked by everyone’s desks like usual. One hand was in his pocket, and he held his head high as he walked. When we were past everyone, he spoke.
“My office,” Calloway said darkly. “Now.”
I didn’t object.
We walked inside, and he locked the doors behind us, not caring if people thought we were screwing. He walked to his desk and stood in front of it, his shoulders broad and rigid. He gave a violent shout before he tossed all the contents off the desk, breaking his computer and everything else.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stood silent, knowing any sound would just make it worse.
Calloway paced the office space before he leaned against the desk, gripping the edge until his knuckles turned white. He stared at me with blue eyes that burned hotter than white-hot flames. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, his recklessness unable to be tamed.
I slowly approached him like he was a wild animal that could be spooked at any time. I placed my hands against his chest and ran them down slowly, touching him the way I did when we were in the shower together.
Calloway calmed slightly when he felt my touch. His breathing slowed once he felt the pressure of my fingertips. He stared down at my hands and closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them again.
“I’ve never seen Hank do that before…” I was in awe that Calloway had scared him off so easily. He didn’t even need to say anything. All he had to was flex his muscles and give an ice-cold look. He’d done something I didn’t think anyone could accomplish. “He’s scared of you.”
“He recognized me.”
My hands moved to his arms, gripping his biceps. “How do you know?”
“I could just tell,” he said quietly. “He recognized the building, and put two and two together. I may not be the DA, but I’m pretty well-known in this city. He knows I’m not someone he should cross.”
I massaged his arms and felt the relief wash through me, the first time I ever thought Hank might actually disappear. All these years I’d been running from Hank, when all I needed was Calloway to scare him off. “Do you think he’s gone, then?”
“I’m not sure.” He hadn’t looked at me once, his eyes glued to the floor. “But he definitely knows I’m officially his enemy. I don’t think he’ll strike at you in the open anymore. We come as a package deal.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and moved into his chest, holding him and letting him hold me. I’d never felt so safe as I did with this man. Christopher was strong, but Hank didn’t see him as a problem at all. But Calloway was different. He was strong and powerful. He was wealthy, with influence. He was the smartest guy I’d ever known. “Thank you.”
When he heard the sincerity in my voice, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer into him. “You don’t need to worry about him anymore, sweetheart. As long as I’m around, he won’t touch you.” He moved his lips to my hairline and gave me a gentle kiss as his arms tightened around me.
I closed my eyes and rested against his powerful chest, wishing we were home and alone together. Calloway gave me the greatest gift anyone could have ever given me. He gave me back my freedom, gave me back my liberty.
I shut my office door so I could talk to Christopher without anyone eavesdropping. “Hey.”
“Hey, how’s it going with that caveman? I haven’t talked to you in a while and just want to make sure he didn’t eat you or something.”
He ate me all the time, in fact. “It’s been really good, actually.”
“Glad to hear that.”
“But that doesn’t mean I’m not still pissed at you.” Christopher and I hadn’t talked in a while, and I knew he did that on purpose so I would cool off. But he knew me better than that. I didn’t forget easily.
Christopher sighed into the phone. “I’m sorry, okay? But I did what I thought I had to do.”
“I specifically told you not to tell Calloway.”
His anger flared just the way mine did. “It was either that or let that psychopath get to you. I honestly believed you would be safer with Calloway than you would ever be with me. I’m sorry you’re angry, but that’s too damn bad. I made my choice, and I don’t regret it. You’re my sister, Rome. I’ve got to protect you—even if I piss you off in the process.”