by Wade, Maddie
“My keys are in my locker. The code is Mom’s birthday.”
Clay observed him for a moment. “Will you be there?”
Reid shook his head. “No, I have things to do here. You can stay as long as you need.”
Clay looked pained as he assessed him. “You should have stayed clear.”
Reid swallowed the self-recriminations. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“You call her sunshine,” Clay stated.
“Because she is. Callie encompasses it, her smile, her light, her laugh, just her.”
“You love her.”
“Never thought it would happen to me, but yes. She’s the other half of my soul. I would die for her.”
Clay nodded again, but he looked heat-sick as he looked down at his boots. “Then you know why I can’t let you hurt her.”
Reid hated his friend saying the words, hated even more that he agreed. If this were the other way around, he’d do the same thing.
“Yes.” The single word was the hardest he’d ever said, and it gutted him more than any bullet ever could, leaving his chest an empty cavern where his broken heart sat.
“I’ll take her home.”
Clay reached out and squeezed his shoulder and Reid knew he took no pleasure in it. Clay was merely looking out for Callie as he should have done.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It had been three weeks since Callie had returned to her apartment in London. While she was glad she was safe, her heart hurt as if it had been ripped open. Every room reminded her of why she preferred Reid’s place. Her bedroom had been completely redecorated, but she still slept in the spare room, the thought of sleeping in the room where Tina had lost her life was too much for her.
She had nightmares most nights, but she’d learned to hide them from Clay who refused to leave and hovered over her. She knew he loved her, but she was about ready to kill him. He watched her every move with an expression of guilt riding him as he waited for her to fall apart and sometimes, she did, but it happened less and less as the days went on.
The counsellor that Pax had recommended had helped, and she was now seeing him every two weeks after her initial three sessions in the first week after the attack. Though it was less about the kidnapping and more about who had instigated it which had shaken her to her core. To know a woman she trusted, cared for even, had harboured such malice towards her had been difficult to assimilate in her brain.
Sophia would now be held on remand until the trial next year. She had stated she’d been the person on the roof and had worked completely alone. The men at Eidolon weren’t entirely convinced but so far, the evidence suggested she was telling the truth.
Claude had alibis for when she was attacked, and nothing had come to light to suggest he had any idea that Sophia felt as she had.
Then there was the elephant in the room, the one she tried to forget, to block from her waking mind. Her Reid, the man she loved, had walked away from her. Without a single word, he’d completely ghosted her. No explanation, not even an excuse, nothing at all. She’d tried everything to get him to speak with her, but at each turn, she’d failed. He wouldn’t take her calls so she’d demanded Clay take her to Eidolon or she would walk.
Her brother had reluctantly agreed, however, when she arrived she was told by a sheepish Lopez that Reid had gone overseas. Clay had held her while she cried and then he’d brought her home so she could get on with her life. The threat to her was over, and she could resume her life, such as it was.
Having no choice she had tried to do just that, but there was an empty space where her heart was, a heavy weight which felt empty and numb. Part of her was furious with him for his cowardice, for not having the decency to face her and tell her he didn’t love her. That what they had was just fun and it was over. The other part just wanted to hear his voice, to have his arms around her.
She’d been doing well the last few days, working with Mel to calm the media storm over Sophia, announcing her retirement, and that she’d be pursuing other things in the future.
Callie decided to go ahead with her plan to start a charity for models and actresses with mental health problems, drug and substance addictions, and eating disorders. It would be a considerable undertaking, but she was gathering some great people around her, including Pax and Evelyn.
Callie watched Clay through her apartment’s large glass windows as he checked the perimeter on her balcony and found nothing. She knew he felt guilty for not being there when she needed him, and it didn’t seem to matter how many times she reassured him it wasn’t his fault, he still blamed himself.
Strolling out into the autumn sun she smiled as he looked up at her and he returned it. Sitting on the garden lounger, she pulled her heavy slouchy cardigan closer around her body and tucked her feet beneath her. Clay moved to sit beside her, angling himself so he faced her.
“How are you doing today?”
“I’d be better if you’d stop fussing.” Callie softened her gripe with a smile, not wanting him to feel any worse than he did.
Clay clenched his jaw. “I could have lost you, Callie.”
Her heart ached at his words. They had always been close. Despite being years apart and having different mothers, they had a natural affection and closeness which she loved. Reaching out, she took his rough hand in hers and waited for him to look up at her. “But you didn’t, and I’m safe now.”
Clay tilted his head to the side and kept watching her for a second. “He called you sunshine.”
Callie’s gut churned and her heart broke anew at her brother’s words, or at one of them; the name Reid had given her. She rubbed her chest as pain washed over her, and glanced up as Clay touched her arm gently.
“He loves you.”
Callie stood and paced to the edge of the balcony where she looked out over London. The view was one of the things she’d miss when she sold this place, as she’d decided to do. The air tickled her hair, and she let the cool breeze wash over her as she blinked back the wetness from her eyes. He didn’t get to have any more of her tears. She felt Clay behind her and stubbornly stayed facing away.
“If he loved me, he wouldn’t have treated me like he did.” Her words were quiet, but she knew Clay heard them.
“I told him to stay away.”
Clay was looking out over London as she spun to him, his words not making sense. “What?” Her voice was gruff, the pain in it unmistakable.
Clay fully turned to her. “I told him he wasn’t good enough for you, that he should stay away if he loved you.”
Callie shook her head in utter disbelief. “Why would you do that?”
Clay looked pained, a frown marring his face as he turned away, gripping the railing, his knuckles almost white from it. “He didn’t protect you.”
“How could he?” she said as she faced his side, her body sizzling with more betrayal. “She had her gun on a child. Do you think I could have lived with myself knowing a child had died because of me?” She flung her arm out in question.
“I know, I was wrong. I blamed him when I should have blamed myself. I set up your security, and they weren’t good enough. I blamed Reid when my anger should have been internal.”
Callie’s anger faded as quickly as it came. She moved to Clay and slipped her arms through his, leaning her head on his shoulder. The familiar feel and scent of her brother soothing her pain. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m a grown woman. I should have kept a better eye on it myself. You don’t have to baby me, Clay.”
He turned to her then, a small smile playing at his lips. “You’ll always be my baby sister, Callie.”
She kept quiet, knowing arguing with him was pointless. He was her protector; he always had been. He was like their father, who had called her every day since the news had broken. She’d had to downplay it, so he didn’t fly over. She felt terrible but the thought of two overprotective men watching her every move was more than she could take.
“What will you do about Reid?” Clay asked.
A huge sigh left her body then, and she thought on it for a few moments before she gave him an answer. “He didn’t fight for me, Clay. I need a man who’ll fight for me, not run at the first hurdle.”
“Reid has demons you don’t know about.”
“Oh?” She lifted her head and looked at him in question.
“They’re not mine to share but suffice to say Reid believes he’s not worthy of you, of anyone. He has the misconception that he lets people down like his old man did, when all he ever does is give to those he loves.”
“He’s a good friend.”
“He was.”
Callie hated that a rift had formed between the two men she loved the most in the world. “It will heal,” she said.
“How can it when I took away the only woman he’s ever loved?”
Pain pierced through her chest and into her belly. “You didn’t take me away.”
“No, but I used his insecurities to make him walk away.”
“Reid is a big boy, Clay. If he loves me, truly loves me, he’ll figure it out and fight for me and if not, then….” Her shoulders rose in a shrug, and for the first time in two weeks, she felt better about her future.
“I need to leave in a few days. I’ve been asked to head up a new task force.”
“Really? Tell me more.”
“It’s a serial killer task force out of the Texas offices.”
“Wow, your own task force. That’s amazing, Clay. I’m so proud of you. It sounds kind of dangerous, though.”
His lips quirked in a grin then. “Nah, no more dangerous than wearing those ridiculous heels you wear.”
Callie’s smile was genuine. “Of course not, chasing serial killers definitely compares to walking in stilettos.”
“Exactly.” Clay turned and guided them inside. “Pizza?”
Callie let him change the subject, wanting to spend the next few days enjoying her brother before he left for home. It was with a smile that she took the pizza menu from the draw.
Two days later Clay popped his head around the door of her gym and grinned as she huffed and puffed on the treadmill. “I have to run into town for a few hours, do you need anything?”
Callie shook her head and watched Clay leave, hearing the click of the lock as he did. He’d relaxed his hold over the last few days, and she’d felt easier, more able to breathe and heal. He was leaving tomorrow and this time with him had been lovely, but she was ready to face her new life without Reid in it. It hurt like nothing before, and it still shocked her that he’d made such a significant impact in such a short time. He seemed as essential to her as air now, but he wasn’t there, and she wasn’t the kind of person to lie down and die. She was a fighter.
Finishing her workout, she was about to jump in the shower as her phone went.
She sighed when she saw who it was. “Claude, hey.”
“Hey, gorgeous, have you got time to chat?”
“I’m kind of busy.”
“Please. It will only take five minutes.”
“Fine.”
“Cool, I’m downstairs. Buzz me up.”
Callie shook her head and buzzed him up, hoping she could be rid of him quickly.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Reid was unsure about the reception he’d receive when he got to Callie’s place, but he was determined to have his say. After spending ten days with his mom and his sisters and having several lengthy discussions with his mother regarding his father, he felt he understood his family dynamic more.
His mom had been upset to hear he held so much guilt for leaving them. “Oh, my boy, you didn’t abandon us. You struck out into the world to make your mark and in doing so, showed your sisters that life is for the taking. You’ve been nothing but an exceptional brother and a loving son. If I could give you anything, it would be to tell you that your father isn’t a bad man.” She held her hand up as he went to speak. “He’s not a bad man.”
“How can you say that? He abandoned us.”
“He was sick, my darling boy. He’d suffered from depression his whole life and that lead to an addiction he couldn’t beat for long. He’d have times when he was well, and all was happy in our world. He would be the father I knew he could be, the husband I knew he could be, and then I’d see the clouds form and knew I was losing him again.
“After a while, it became clear that I couldn’t put you through it any longer. You would watch the window for weeks after he left, waiting for him to come back. It broke my heart, and I had to decide. I chose you, and I told your father to stay away. It grieved him, but he knew I was right.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Reid pulled his mother into his arms and rested his chin on her head.
“He made me promise I wouldn’t tell you. He wanted you to think he wasn’t any good and didn’t care, he didn’t want you to know he was weak.”
“But being ill, mentally or otherwise, isn’t a weakness.”
“I know that, but he won’t accept it. He’s proud, and he loves you, all of you. He emails me every week for an update.”
“Is he doing okay now?”
“Yes, but it’s always around the corner for him, the fight is never ending.”
“Do you think he’d speak to me?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll ask.”
Reid shrugged. “All this time I thought I was like him. That I wasn’t good enough, that I flaked on you when you needed me.”
His mom looked up at him. “You are the best man I know, and any woman would be lucky to have you.”
He chuckled. “I think you’re biased.”
“Nonsense, now tell me about the woman who put the pain in your eyes.”
Reid had told his mother everything; then he’d listened as she lamented his idiotic behaviour, and told him to fix it, which was why he’d jumped the first flight home. He’d taken a flight into Heathrow so he was closer to Callie and he wouldn’t leave until he’d had his say and convinced her she was the love of his life.
Pulling into the underground car parking, he rushed from the car, not caring if he got a ticket for not having a parking permit.
As he raced to the front entrance his phone rang. He glanced at it and saw Lopez’s name on the screen. He was about to cancel the call when he noticed he had fifteen missed calls, some from Lopez, some from Jack, and his throat seized, the cold hand of pure terror washing over him.
“Lopez.”
“Thank fuck. Callie has a second stalker. We found the evidence this morning.”
“Who?” His gut twisted in fear.
“Claude Monet.”
“Fuck.” Reid headed straight to the concierge, he needed to get to Callie now.
“We found a second property in his sister’s name. Jack and Liam raided it ten minutes ago.”
“Why wasn’t I told? Forget it, doesn’t matter.”
“Reid, he has a room full of pictures of her. Some were taken from inside her apartment as well as other things, like some of her underwear.”
“Goddammit.”
“It gets worse. I have him on camera arriving at Callie’s place thirty minutes ago.”
“I’m here, I need to go. Find Clay and get him here. Tell him what’s going on and that I’m going in.”
Jack came on the line. “Goddammit, Reid, do not go in unarmed or alone.”
“No choice, I love her.” Reid hung up.
The concierge looked up at him. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, I need access to Calista Lundholm’s floor right now.” He flashed the ID badge he’d used before and prayed it still worked.
“That access pass has been revoked.”
Part of Reid was happy, the other part incensed. “Listen to me, you know I was guarding her and right this moment she’s in her apartment alone with a stalker. If you don’t let me up and something happens to her, there won’t be a hole you can hide in that I won’t find you.”
The man blanched and quickly typed on his screen before nodding
. “It’ll work now.”
Reid nodded and called from the lift as the man watched. “Call the police.”
Then the doors closed, and he began his ascent. His weapon was locked in his glove box, and his knife was in his trunk. All he had was himself and his wits to get her out of this unharmed and God help that motherfucker if he’d touched her.
As he stepped out onto the floor, the door to the fire exit opened, and he braced for impact, relaxing slightly as Clay stepped through.
“We have a plan?”
His friend walked to him as if this was another job, as if he was in charge as he had been. To any other person, Clay would look relaxed, but Reid knew his friend and saw the tension in him. Yet Clay was looking to him to fix this, and he felt the weight of that on his shoulders, but also the olive branch it was. His attention never wavered, and Reid was bolstered by the confidence Clay had in him.
“Can you get onto the balcony from the room below?”
“Yes.”
“Do it. I don’t have weapons on me, do you?”
“Knife.”
“That will have to do until the police get here. I’m not waiting though. I’m going to see if I can brazen my way inside.”
“Good luck,” Clay said then he was gone, and Reid prayed for more than luck.
Lifting his hand, he knocked hard on her door. “Callie, it’s me. Let me in, we need to talk.” He put a slur in his words hoping if he sounded drunk, Claude would underestimate him.
He waited and heard nothing, so despite the almost paralysing fear in his belly, he knocked again, louder this time. “Come on, Callie, we need to talk. Let me in before the concierge calls the cops on me.” He took a risk with that, but if Claude were sensible, he’d take a chance on him over the cops being called.
Reid heard the lock disengage and her beautiful face came into view. He saw the fear and panic recede as she gazed at him. Her body blocked the door, and he knew Claude was behind her.
“What do you want, Reid?”
“Baby, I just need to talk to you.”
“I’m busy.”