by Shayla Black
“I know,” he said hollowly. “I need to find her. Can I come in? I need to pack a bag. I’m going to stay with her from now on.”
“Yes,” came the tense reply.
Callum glanced over and Oliver nodded, then whispered. “We go in slowly. Try to get her to the big window. I left all the windows open this afternoon because it’s so warm, but the one on the right is likely where Rory will set up.”
Callum nodded, then turned the doorknob.
Oliver caught his breath. Tori was standing in the middle of the room, her hands raised in the air. Obviously, she was terrified and shaking. Thea was standing behind her, using her as a shield.
“Callum?” Thea said, glancing over Tori’s shoulder. “Did you mean it?”
Yes, he saw the crazy eyes Callum had talked about. Thea was staring at Callum as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening, certainly not like she was holding a gun to his wife’s back.
Callum raised his hands, clearly trying to go for the non-threatening route. “What are you doing here, Thea? I was going to come looking for you.”
“What’s he doing here?” Thea glanced Oliver’s way, and it stopped his attempt to flank her.
He went still, lifting his hands as well.
“Oliver came to collect Tori,” Callum explained patiently. “He and Rory are going to marry her.”
Thea frowned. “I don’t like her. She kept us apart.”
“She’s going to be my wife,” Oliver said, his voice deep. “I won’t be happy if you hurt her. Neither will Rory. Do you want to alienate Callum’s brothers if we’re going to be family?”
Callum seemed to take up his idea. He moved to her left, a couple of steps closer. They needed to back her into the corner, preferably near the east window. From that position, Rory would be able to see Thea through the hunting rifle. Their father hadn’t believed in playing fair. When he’d hunted, he’d used a scope. Oliver could still hear his father saying if the buck wanted a fighting chance, the deer population should have developed technology. He hoped it worked on Thea.
“Thea, the last thing either of us wants is for our baby to be born in jail.” Callum’s voice was perfectly soothing.
Tori’s face twisted up in a mask of rage. “You’re a liar. You said it wasn’t yours.”
Oliver took over. “Tori, love, let’s get out of here and leave them to it. It sounds as though they have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes,” Callum said. “Let Oliver take his wife. You and I will talk.”
Tori’s back bowed and she hissed as though in pain.
“I don’t think you mean that, lover.” Thea’s lips thinned, and she pulled Tori’s hair, tugging her back. “I think you’re trying to save her.”
“I’ll be alone with you if you let her go,” Callum pointed out. “Just you and me. For as long as you want. Thea, we can close the doors and nothing else will matter but us, just like old times.”
“I hate you,” Tori spat at Callum. “I really hate you. You lied to me. You bastard!”
She fought against Thea’s hold, and Oliver could see her struggle was working. Tori was far stronger than ultra-skinny Thea. Unfortunately, their wife wasn’t stronger than a bullet.
“Stop,” Oliver commanded. In this case, Tori needed to wait for them. She needed to trust them to talk her out of this situation. “Be still.”
Tori stopped. “I don’t want to talk to him. He lied. He’s an asshole.”
Callum physically flinched. “I’m sorry. I was trying to do right by my brothers, but I have to do right by her. I have feelings for her.”
While Thea was watching Cal, Oliver inched to her side.
She snapped the gun up to Tori’s head. “You should listen to the one man here who loves you. It isn’t Callum. He’s mine. He always loved me. He always wanted me.”
“Yes,” Callum said. “You’re the one I wanted all along. I got a bit put off by how you talked to the press. I’m very private. But I know you only wanted what was best for us. Our union and our baby.”
“We can be private.” Thea stepped back, keeping her hand on Tori.
Oliver noticed the way the gun in her other hand quivered. Thea was rapidly losing strength. Maybe her adrenaline was draining out or she never ate any damn protein to build muscle. He didn’t care which as long as Tori survived.
The sun was filtering in behind the mad woman, temporarily blinding him. But that was all right because Rory could likely see Thea quite well. He needed to move her back a little more. The windows were open, allowing the sweetness of the summer afternoon to flood the room.
“Let me take my wife.” If he could only get Tori away, maybe they could trap the bitch inside this room. He didn’t want to leave his brother. They were a family. They weren’t as strong if they weren’t together. He was fairly certain Tori would kick his arse if Callum died. “Really, you two should talk.”
He held his hand out as though it was his right. It was, damn it. Tori was his. She belonged to them and he was representing his brothers right now.
Tori sent him a pleading, tremulous stare, reaching out for him. “Oliver…”
“Stop!” Thea shouted. “You’re not going anywhere. I don’t know what to do. I want Cal, but I don’t trust him.”
“We have a baby, Thea,” his brother tried.
She sniffled. “We should. We would make beautiful babies. Wouldn’t our baby be gorgeous?”
“He will be.” Callum was playing to her crazy, but he was doing a damn fine job.
Tori teared up.
Thea shifted, inching ever closer to the window. He needed her back just a little further…
Oliver leaned forward. “Thea, you can’t have Callum if you kill her. If you’re in prison, Callum won’t have anyone to keep him warm at night.”
“He needs someone. He needs me.” Thea let go of Tori’s hair, but the gun stayed at her back.
“I do.” Callum took another step forward.
“He definitely needs you.” Oliver moved with him and sure enough, Thea stepped back, almost to the window.
“I love you, Callum,” Thea said.
Oliver saw a glint of metal in the background. It was almost time. Could Rory align the shot? Or were they too close to the mental wench?
Thea frowned. “I’m scared. I lost the baby, Callum.”
Of course she had. Oliver knew this song and dance well.
Callum shook his head. “We’ll have to make another one then, won’t we?”
For a moment, Thea looked utterly tortured. He could almost believe she was heartbroken. “I’ve already done something bad. I didn’t mean to hurt him, but he was trying to make me leave.”
“The solicitor? He’s fine.” Callum wasn’t letting go. “I’m sure once we write him a nice fat check, he’ll agree that it was all a misunderstanding. But I think my brother is going to have a real problem with you threatening his wife. If you’ll let her go, I’m sure he won’t call the police.”
That gun was suddenly pointing his way. “I can make certain he doesn’t call the police.”
Tori chose that moment to raise her leg and kick back toward Thea. The woman shuffled at impact but managed to stay on her feet, then whirl around. She pointed the gun at Tori.
Oliver leapt forward. He didn’t think about anything but that bullet coming for Tori. Thea wasn’t going to take hostages. She wasn’t going to put her hands up and give in. She was willing to kill Tori and possibly him. He had to give Callum the chance to save their wife.
Then Oliver heard the shot. The sound blasted through the air. He hit Tori like a freight train, and for a moment was terrified he’d hurt her. His velocity forced her against the bed and he heard a loud smack.
Then a scream. Tori yelped, screeched in terror, her lovely eyes wide. Oh, god, had she been hit?
The world seemed a little hazy, but he forced himself to move, to cover her. He caught sight of blood. God. His heart pounded. Where was she hit?
There was the sound of glass breaking and he tried to cover Tori.
More screaming. He tried to move, but his arm didn’t seem to be working.
Suddenly Callum was standing over him. “Rory got her. She’s gone. Tori, it’s all right.”
“No, it’s not. He’s been hit. You have to get an ambulance. He’s losing blood.” Tori was clutching him like she wouldn’t let go.
“Who?” He looked down at her. She was getting fuzzy. “Who got hit?”
Tori stared up at him, clutched his hand tightly. “You. Please… Please don’t leave me.”
Well, this wasn’t how he’d thought his day would end. Blood. It was his. Damn. “You all right?”
She nodded, tears in her eyes. “Fine. Oliver…”
In the part of his brain still functioning, he realized this was everything Tori feared. His wife was clearly terrified. He’d just found her. He couldn’t leave her.
Oliver slumped down, his head too heavy to hold up anymore. Her warmth surrounded him, but so did the darkness.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Callum glanced over at Tori as they pulled up to the gates. She sat in the backseat with Oliver, fussing over him.
Oliver was a wimp. The bullet had barely grazed him, but he’d hit his head on the side of the bed and required an overnight stay at hospital. Callum knew all too well what concussions felt like, and he know Ollie’s head was throbbing. Still, his brother was milking the injury for everything it was worth. Between the small bullet wound and the hit to his head, there had been enough blood to terrify their wife.
Actually, Tori hadn’t been the only one scared. He’d seen all that blood and feared Oliver could die. Again.
Thankfully, Oliver was basking in Tori’s attention like a conquering hero. Rory was the man who had saved them all with one shot. And Callum was the idiot who had gotten them all in trouble in the first place.
“More reporters.” Rory sighed as he stared out the limo window.
“What did you expect?” Oliver asked. “‘Brothers kill stalker in their own home is a big headline. Though I have to say some of the more offbeat tabloids are amusing. According to one, Thea was an alien and she was the leader of our sex cult.”
Rory just shook his head. “Mad, I tell you.”
“We’re lucky Rory is a good shot,” Tori murmured.
“And that Oliver’s got such a thick skull,” Rory replied, chuckling.
Tori’s hand tensed in Oliver’s. He gave it a squeeze.
They hadn’t talked. He’d dealt with the doctors and the police, while Tori had stayed at Oliver’s side. They still hadn’t discussed what had happened. The past twenty-four hours had been a hazy mess of reports and waiting, and an aching feeling in his gut that he’d lost the love of his life.
“I’ve already put out a statement,” Tori said. “It was a simple, please give us privacy while we deal with this tragedy. We pray for Thea’s family and hope they find the peace they deserve.”
“According to the reports, she didn’t have much family,” Oliver noted. Even from his hospital bed, he’d checked up on the investigators. “But she definitely hired two men to follow and kill Tori. They’ve been arrested in London. We shouldn’t have to worry about them a moment longer.”
“The coroner’s report showed she’d never been pregnant,” Rory said. “The papers are now reporting that she was lying about the pregnancy all along.”
Tori gave Callum a wan smile. “That will help restore your image immensely.”
He didn’t care about his image. He cared about her. He cared about how she felt about him. He’d done what he had to, but he’d hurt her in the process. He was the reason Oliver had been shot. Because of him all her fears had bubbled back to the surface.
The driver made it through the throng of press at the gates and turned down the long drive.
Callum risked a glance at Tori. He had to get her alone. He needed to explain everything he’d said to Thea, make sure Tori wasn’t spooked enough to leave them again. If he didn’t, he feared she would build up those walls until they towered, unscalable. A bit less than two weeks remained in her concubine period. If she decided to leave them, he and his brothers would have no recourse. Talib would shut them out. She could well vanish inside the palace, and they would be unwelcome.
“When we get to the house, I was hoping we could talk, Tori,” he murmured.
She frowned as though the idea wasn’t pleasant. “I’m awfully tired. Aren’t you?”
She hadn’t slept much. Still, the idea of going to bed without resolving anything didn’t sit well with him. “I think we should talk about what happened. I would like to explain to you.”
She gave him a tight smile. “That’s not necessary. I’d just like to pick up where we left off and move on.”
He knew that wasn’t possible. “I think there are things we need to say.”
“Oh, Cal, leave the poor girl alone. She’s tired. She’s had a rough day. Let her get some sleep. We’ll deal with all the fallout tomorrow,” Oliver said.
“As you will.” Callum turned to look out the window as the car stopped. Claire was waiting for them as the door was opened.
She wrapped her arms around Tori and then Oliver, fussing over him.
“What’s wrong with you?” Rory asked as they walked toward the house behind the women and Ollie.
Callum glared at him. Was he kidding?
Rory slapped him on the back. “Fine. I’ll reword. What’s wrong, besides the fact that your psychotic ex nearly killed your brother and the woman we love? Because I, for one, am happy to have the whole situation resolved.”
There was nothing happy about what had happened. “Don’t you think all that shit will set Tori back? She’s terrified of losing someone she loves. She would rather not love at all. She watched Oliver nearly die.”
“And she’s processing what happened. Pushing her on it won’t make that better,” Rory said as the front door closed, leaving them standing outside. “She’s been good with Oliver, very affectionate. I think she’s all right.”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t see what happened.” He wasn’t sure he would ever be able to forget it.
Rory studied him for a moment. “I saw enough. I know something happened that made Thea decide to shoot. I know Oliver saved Tori. I know you tried to get to them. I shot her before she could get you. She had that gun aimed at you.”
And in that moment he would have gladly taken the bullet if it would have spared his brother and their wife. He’d stared at that gun and known it was likely over, and all he’d wanted to do was hold Tori one last time.
“She said if she couldn’t have me no one could. I think she meant to turn the gun on herself after she killed me. She wanted to be with me one way or another.”
“She was crazy, Cal. The shooting wasn’t your fault. Anyone who came in contact with her could have become the center of her psychotic fantasies. If it hadn’t been you, it would have been an actor or some other man she viewed as wealthy and powerful. We’re all alive and we’ll be stronger for it.”
“And if Tori decides to leave?”
“She won’t.” Rory sauntered to the door. “It’s going to be all right. She gave us her word and she’ll honor it. She’s stronger than she seems. I think once she makes a decision, she doesn’t go back.”
“Even when everything goes to hell?”
“For better or worse.” Rory clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get something to eat. You’ll see in the morning. She’ll feel better once she rests.”
They strode into the house, and Oliver was waiting in the kitchen, Claire pouring him a cup of tea.
“Where did Tori go?” She was nowhere to be seen.
Oliver gestured to the back of the house. “She was going to take a shower and get some sleep. I think we could all use some of that. I was going to have some tea and conk out myself.”
“Are you feeling all right?” Callum worried his brother still look
ed a bit pale.
“I’m good. The doctor said I’m ready for anything.” Oliver’s eyes strayed to the back of the house. “Which is precisely why I think we should give her a moment, then cuddle up with her. When she’s had some rest, I think we should debauch her thoroughly.”
Callum wasn’t sure he would be welcome at that event. “I’d like to talk to her first.”
“I’d like to not hear this conversation,” Claire complained.
Rory kissed her on the cheek. “You’re right, dear. Oliver, finish up. We should go back to my room and have this discussion. I think Callum is still feeling guilty. If we don’t fix him, he’s going to fuck matters up with Tori.”
His brothers were treating this like some kind of joke. “I already fucked matters up with her. Can’t you see that? Rory, you have no idea the things I said.”
“I heard every word,” Oliver returned. “Tori is a smart girl. She spins stories to the press for a living. She understands damage control and spinning a good yarn for the audience.” He set his teacup down. “Let’s go talk to her. Callum isn’t going to stop worrying until we settle this.”
Finally. Callum didn’t say a thing. He simply turned and strode up the stairs. He needed to change his attitude. He typically wouldn’t top her outside the bedroom, but this was a different case. She was going to talk to him, damn it. It was better for both of them if they got everything out in the open. She’d gone through a trauma, and she wasn’t leaning on them. She was doing her level best to take care of everyone else, but she wasn’t letting them take care of her.
Callum intended to put a stop to that.
He walked past his door. They’d agreed not to stay there until they’d thoroughly cleaned and redecorated. Until they did, it could bring back bad memories. Once they’d torn down the wall between Cal’s and Oliver’s rooms and made a massive suite, they would be less likely to remember what had almost happened there. He already had plans to take what used to be his room and turn it into a decadent bathroom where he would lavish Tori with affection every morning. She would get used to not showering alone. One of them would always want to be with her.