“Why?” he hissed. “Give me one good reason why.”
“He’s. Not. My. Boyfriend.” Calloway was just a man from my past. We worked together, but I wouldn’t consider us to be friends. My problems weren’t his problems—not anymore. “Christopher, we’ll figure this out on our own.”
“Like hell, we will,” he hissed. “We have no defense against this guy. Even if I got a gun, I couldn’t use it against him. I would be thrown in jail for murder instead of hailed as a hero for saving my sister.”
“I know…but he’ll lose interest eventually.”
“After he rapes you,” he hissed. “And no, we aren’t letting him get his way. He’s a fucking brat that never learned a single lesson in his life. He’s scum.”
“He can’t do this forever. One day, he’ll get married and have kids.”
“Who knows how long that will take. In the meantime, we’ll walk on eggshells for the rest of our lives?” He shook his head, rage brewing in his eyes. “I’m not living like that, Rome. And you aren’t either.”
Christopher had every right to be frustrated, so I let him vent all his anger. “We’ll figure it out one way or another. But I don’t think getting Calloway involved is the answer. It’s you and me. We can do this.”
He dragged his hands down his face in anger.
“Christopher?”
“What?”
“We’re in this together, okay?”
He finally nodded, releasing a sigh. “Yeah. Just you and me.”
My bruises were pretty much gone, and the blue color could easily be hidden with makeup. My foot was better, but I wasn’t able to wear heels just yet. I could wear flats around the office for a day or so without anyone asking questions.
I lay in bed but couldn’t sleep despite how exhausted I was. At the hospital, I slept like a baby because I knew Hank couldn’t get to me. But now that I was in the apartment, a place he’d already broken in to, I didn’t feel safe. Christopher slept across the hall, his bedroom door opened so he could hear the sounds of the apartment, but that still didn’t chase away the fear.
My phone vibrated on my nightstand then the screen lit up with a message.
From Calloway.
I know I should leave you alone, but I’m worried. My assistant told me you’ve had the flu for three days. I just wanted to check on you.
My eyes burned with tears at the words, wishing I could tell him everything that had happened to me lately. I missed sharing my life with him, telling him about the ups and downs. I didn’t just miss him as my lover, but as my friend. The worst is over. I’ll be back in the office tomorrow.
I’m glad to hear that. You must have caught it when we were under the bridge earlier this week.
I remembered that day better than any other. He somehow broke my heart for the second time. Yeah. Maybe.
I’ll let you go to sleep.
I didn’t want to go to sleep, not in this tainted apartment. I wanted to lie against his hard chest, feeling at peace because no one could reach me. I wanted those strong arms to wrap around my body. I wanted him to look me in the eye as he made love to me. Tears bubbled until they formed drops and slid down my cheeks. Letting out the grief didn’t make me feel better—just worse. Good night.
Good night, sweetheart.
16
Calloway
I caught a glimpse of Rome the next day at work.
I walked into the break room just as she was leaving. My arm brushed against her shoulder, sending chills down my spine despite the juvenile touch. I got a whiff of her scent, beautiful and seductive. I suddenly pictured her underneath me, her mouth forming that sexy O as she came all over my dick.
Fuck, I missed her.
I missed fucking her.
I spent the rest of the day in my office, grateful she was back on her feet and moving around. She didn’t seem sick anymore, but then again, I was only in her presence for two seconds.
Normally, my driver took me home from work, but I’d been walking lately. The cold air and the sound of traffic seemed to minimize the pain in my chest. I had nowhere to be, so I wasn’t exactly in a hurry.
When I walked up to my front door, Christopher was standing there. His hands were in his pockets as he leaned against the wall beside my door, his ankles crossed. His hair was untidy like he hadn’t bothered doing it that morning. His shoes weren’t as polished as usual either. “Didn’t expect to see you again.” I walked up the stoop until we were eye to eye. “Hope everything is okay.”
“No.” He flashed me a venomous look. “Everything is not fucking okay.”
“I haven’t slept with anyone.” Did he come over here to tell me off again? I’d already admitted my crimes and apologized for them. It was time to move on.