Callibet: Book 2 of The Bet Series

by Sienna Grant

  “I’m sorry. I wanted to protect you. You were on your honeymoon, and I thought we could handle it.”

  Beth squeezed my hand and Charlie gave my arm a pat, but I started speaking again before they could say another word.

  “Chris… it’s not all his fault… you can’t…”

  Beth shook her head at me, and I stared at her. “No, Cals. He should have believed you. He says he loves you, yet he believed you hurt Lou. That’s not okay. That’s not love. That’s on him. It’s all on him.”

  “It’s not though. He was convinced by mounting evidence, but it’s not his fault.”

  I sucked in a breath and met her challenging stare. “It’s Finley’s fault. It’s all on him. Chris isn’t to blame, and if the last few days have taught me anything, it’s that you can’t hold onto a grudge when you love someone.”

  Beth’s eyes watered and Charlie went around and wrapped her in a hug, holding her for a second before she spoke again, but the sound was muffled.

  “We almost lost you, and if you want to talk about what you went through, we’re here to listen.”

  “I know. I appreciate it, but right now, I just want to sleep.”

  They both nodded and left, and I closed my eyes, trying to block out the memories that swam in my mind, but it was so much harder when I was alone. I felt the ghost of his hands, the viciousness of his fists, and the pain of knowing how much he violated me.

  My body started shaking as Chris came back in and rushed up beside me as I fell apart, holding me and giving me what I so desperately needed; someone to hold on to.

  “Cals, I’m here. I’m right here and I’m not leaving your side ever again.”

  His arms shook along with me, and I fell asleep when my tears subsided to the sound of his steady heartbeat and warm touch. I woke up a few hours later and heard soft voices speaking.

  “The lab reports are back. Chris… he must have raped her on at least three occasions, but they suspect more. He used a chloroform gas to knock her out, and we found videos. Reynolds and Walker are going through them now.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Chris muttered. “Was she…” He swallowed and leaned on the bed to steady himself as he asked the next question as his arms tightened around me. “Was she conscious for it?”

  I kept my eyes closed as memory after memory washed over me.

  “Some of it. He cut her hair when she was unconscious, and there was certainly some penetration when she wasn’t aware of it, but yeah, for some of it, it looks like she was awake and fighting back.”

  My body shook as a shudder ran through him, and I clamped my lips shut, trying to hold back the pain his words caused me.

  “The good thing…”

  Chris growled and shifted at his words, and I heard Summers sigh before he approached Chris, speaking softly to him, but I still heard every word.

  “The good thing is that although we still need her statement, we have all the evidence we need to put the case to bed. She’s safe now. You found her, but you need to get some rest. You’ll be no good to her if you end up in here too. She’s gonna need your strength and support more than ever now.”

  Chris nodded as Summers turned away, leaving the room and closing the door with a snap. Once the door was closed, it was silent for a few minutes before Chris’s body shook. His chest heaved as he sobbed, and I could feel the steady drip of his tears onto my head.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I should have stopped him.”

  I didn’t know what to say, how to make him feel better, but I did know that it wasn’t his fault. I told him to leave. I pushed him away too.

  When I turned to face him, he scrubbed at his face with his free hand.

  His eyes darted away, but I could see the pain, the fear, and the anguish written all over his features.

  “Chris, it’s not your fault. He played you. Please don’t leave me because you feel like you failed me. You saved me.” My body burned as I pulled myself up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “You found me.”

  He smiled against my skin, and his wet cheeks brushed against mine.

  “I did. I had to. I love you so much, Cals.”

  “I know you do. I love you too.”

  His lips moulded to mine, and our kiss was soft, tentative at first, but we both relaxed into it and I knew I wasn’t a victim. I was a survivor, and Chris was my saviour. He was the one who didn’t give up, and I loved him so much more for it.

  I woke up after a few hours with my stomach cramping. The pain was horrific. It was as though someone was sticking a white hot poker inside me, and I couldn’t keep the pain in.

  My breath was coming in short sharp gasps and I moaned while my vision started to blur as the pain worsened.

  Something must have been wrong because the machines around me started going nuts. They were beeping loudly, and a nurse came into the room, took one look at me, and ran over, pressing a button on the wall.

  Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity around me, and my bed was lowered as my legs were raised. The nurses were throwing words around and I didn’t understand half of them.

  “Yes, she’s tachycardic, hypotensive, and tachypneic. Her heart rate is two ten, her systolic is sixty and diastolic is thirty. Her resps are forty-three.”

  A few seconds passed and my ears buzzed as lights flashed before my eyes.

  “Yes, we’ve pushed fluids, and we’re rushing her for an abdo X-ray.”

  Then there was nothing. I slipped into blackness and watched everything happening as though through a tunnel until I couldn’t see anything.

  When I came to, I was in a different room with an oxygen mask on. My head felt fuzzy, confused, and I couldn't really remember much.

  “Hi, Calindra. My name is Suzie and I’m your nurse.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, and she smiled down at me as I tried to say something, but my throat was achingly dry, and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.

  “Here. Take a small sip and I’ll call Doctor Blackthorn in to explain what’s happened. Chris is waiting outside the door. Would you like him to come in?”

  I nodded slowly, and she walked to the door, leaving me with the cup of water. I took small sips as instructed, but after three, I started to feel nauseated, so I placed it down on the table. It felt like I’d done a workout by sitting up slightly and placing the cup down.

  Just as I collapsed back onto the pillow, the door opened and Chris rushed in. His face was pale and the shadows under his eyes showed he’d been through hell, but his relief at seeing me awake was palpable.

  He wrapped his hands around me and breathed me in for a beat before the nurse came back in with a doctor I’d never seen before. He was tall with cropped black hair, kind eyes, and a chiselled jaw. In short, the doc was hot.

  “Hi, Calindra. I’m Doctor Blackthorn. I know you’ve just woken up and are probably a little disorientated, but there are some things we need to tell you.”

  His eyes darted between Chris and me, and I knew something was wrong. Was I dying? Was that it?

  “Would you like your friend to stay or wait outside?”

  My voice was hoarse as I answered him. I could only manage one word, but I needed him to stay. If I was dying… I couldn’t even finish the thought.

  “Stay!”

  He gave a nod and pointed to a seat by my bed as the nurse bustled around. My eyes stayed focused on the doctor as he shifted a chair close to the bed and sat down beside me.

  “Okay, when you came in, you were coming down from the effects of sedation and your injuries all seemed superficial. Other than a penetrating knife wound to your abdomen, there seemed to be no internal damage.”

  My head swam as I processed his words. A stab wound? I didn’t remember being stabbed. My eyes darted to Chris, and he nodded briefly at me, turning his focus back to the doctor.

  “The wound appeared superficial at first, but unfortunately, the location made it difficult to see the damage and you started bleedi
ng internally. The wound was deep and unfortunately it penetrated your womb so deeply that it pierced your bowel. Luckily, we managed to stop the infection from your bowel by removing a small portion of it, but I’m afraid your womb wasn’t salvageable. The internal bleeding and the infection from your bowel meant we had to remove it as your life was in danger.”

  Chris gripped my hand as his words sank in. My womb was gone. My body started to shake as I stared numbly at him.

  “What does that mean, Doc?” Chris asked when I couldn’t speak.

  His eyes focused on me as he answered, and his words echoed in my head for the longest time.

  “It means, and I’m very sorry to say this, but it means that you can’t have children. Not naturally anyway.”

  “She can’t have kids? Ever?”

  I watched as he shook his head and glanced between me and Chris.

  “No, I’m afraid not. Calindra could get a surrogate or adopt, but naturally, I’m afraid that without a womb, it’s impossible.”

  Impossible. I couldn’t have kids. I was infertile. The words hurt me worse than they should have because I was still alive, and a few days ago, that was something I wasn’t sure about, but Chris… e wanted kids. He wanted a family, and he couldn’t have it with me. My heart broke all over again at the loss of the future I thought I was going to have.

  “I’m sorry it’s not better news, but we did save your life, and I know it might seem like your world has changed beyond recognition, but you’re strong, healthy, and alive.”

  As he finished speaking, a loud buzzing sounded, and he quickly stood up, rushing from the room, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

  My head turned, and I saw Chris sitting with complete shock on his face. I couldn't help wondering what this meant for us. My head was spinning, and my eyes filled with tears as I contemplated my future without all the things I thought were for me. Chris, kids, and grandkids, all gone. I didn’t know how to feel about it other than devastated, destroyed, and when Chris stood and walked out without a word, I felt completely and utterly unlovable.

  With the door closed behind me, I pushed my fingers into my hair and tugged at the ends until it stung. The doctor's words repeated over and over in my head as I paced the corridor. I always had plans for kids at some point. I stopped the stupid pacing and put my back against the wall to think for a minute. I slid down until I was on the floor and pulled my knees up, resting my elbows on top. My fingers clasped together, and I leaned my head back, closing my eyes. What the fuck was I doing in the hallway? Why wasn’t I in there? The girl I’d confessed to loving was in there dealing with all this shit on her own.

  “You selfish prick.”

  “You know talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, so they say?”

  My eyes sprung opened, and I saw Charlie standing in front of me. “You think?”

  He sat next to me and mirrored my position. “So, Callie told us it wasn’t your fault.”

  “In retrospect, no, it wasn’t but I still think I failed her. I know you and Beth hate me right now, but you can’t hate me more than I hate myself.”

  “Beth is just angry that it all went on while we were on honeymoon. She loves Callie, a lot. And I know we didn’t get off to the best start, but you’re a good guy. Just give Beth some time. She’ll come round. I’ll talk to her.”

  I looked at Charlie. He looked healthy with his sun-kissed skin. Charlie was a likeable guy. Then I realised Callie was in there still trying to process everything, and I was sitting there chatting. “I love her, Charlie. I just wish we hadn’t lost so much time, you know?”

  “You’re telling me. I spent seven years living with my best friend and couldn’t see what was right under my nose all this time, so yeah, I get that. But you’ve got time now to make it up.”

  “Yeah. I have to get back in there before she thinks I’ve left the country.” I push myself up with my hands and shake Charlie’s hand while pulling him up from the floor too. “Thanks.”

  He nodded and I turned back to the door.

  As soon as I walked in, I could hear her cries. Her back was to me and her whole body shook with sobs. I clicked the door shut and went to her side. Stroking my hand over her hair, I leaned down and kissed her head. “Cals, baby. I’m here. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” She rolled slowly to her back, Her face was wet with tears and her eyes were red.

  “I thought you’d gone. I thought all this was too much for you.”

  “Oh, no. I couldn’t leave you. I’ve only just got you back.”

  “I’m sorry, Chris.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “Not being able to have kids. I… I’m sure you’ll want them som...?”

  I shushed her with my finger on her lips, “I have you. That’s all I need.”

  “You might change your mind.”

  “Sweetheart, you're in no state right now to think about anything. It’s gonna be a rough ride getting you back to the Callie I once knew…”

  “Chris, I’m never going to be the Callie you once knew. That’s the problem. Finley has taken so much away from me. I didn’t think I'll ever be normal again.”

  I pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, curled my fingers around her hand, and placed my lips on her knuckles. “Please don’t say that. To me you’ll always be Callie. My Callie.”

  Silence enveloped us. The only sound in the room was the beeping of the machine she was hooked up to, but it was kind of rhythmic and soothing. With the odd hitching of her breath as she hiccupped and a sigh every now and again, there was nothing. And soon she was fast asleep. I lay my head at the side of her, and with my hand still firmly grasping hers, I soon was drifting off with her.

  I woke when the nurse came in to check Callie’s blood pressure. I rubbed my eyes and opened them to find Callie’s on me. She pressed her cheek into the pillow, and with her eyelids at half mast, she gave me a sleepy smile.

  I couldn’t wait to get her out of there and take her back to mine. In fact, we hadn’t broached this roadblock. I wasn’t sure where she’d go. I didn’t think she’d want to go back to hers just for the anxiety it would cause her, but she might want to go to her mum’s. Lifting her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles softly.

  “Have you thought about where you’re going to stay when you get discharged?”

  Shaking her head, she sighed softly. “No. I can’t go to Beth's. It's not fair on them.”

  “How about you come to mine? I’m taking some time off anyway, and I can look after you properly. You can’t so much as make a coffee since your op. You’re gonna need to be cared for. I want to care for you.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “Cals, I love you. I want to be there for everything. We’ve wasted enough time.”

  “How is Lou?”

  “She’s getting there, she’s staying with aunt, back home until she’ gets back on her feet.”

  “Oh good. I’m glad she’s getting better.”

  The nurse halted our conversation as she took the cuff from her arm and leaned down. “Girl, if I had a good-looking man like that saying he wanted to look after me and wait on me hand and foot, I’d already be there sitting with my feet up waiting for my cuppa.”

  As Callie laughed, I realised it had been a while since I’d heard her, and it broke my heart. Before, she was so carefree and laughed all the time.

  The nurse hung the cuff on the machine, wheeled it away into the corner and left us.

  “Chris, what is it?” Callie’s smile fell from her lips.

  “I miss your beautiful smile. I feel like it’s partly my fault.”

  “No. That was Finley’s doing.”

  “I promise I’m going to spend the rest of my life making shit up to you.” I pushed out of my chair and leaned over her, holding my weight with my hands on the mattress as I kissed her. Her lips were dry as they pressed and moved against mine. I eased my tongue inside her mouth, licking tenderly, with my hands on her
face before breaking our connection and pulling away. The corners of her lips tugged into a smile that lit her eyes up. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again. You’re stuck with me.”

  “Suits me.”

  After a few more days of observation and to make sure everything was okay with her hysterectomy, the doctor finally discharged her. She still had some discolouration around her eyes. In fact, they were forming into some very pretty colours, but she was still beautiful. The doctor informed me she’d have to go back for a check-up in gynaecology to make sure everything was okay inside as she was healing, and she'd also had to have a check in a couple of weeks for everything else, but for now, I could take her home.

  Once I’d arrived back at my place, I helped her from the car and picked her up, cradling her against my chest, and carried her inside the building and up to my flat. I had to put her down for a second so I could open the door, but then she was back in my arms where she should have always been.

  “I can walk, you know.”

  “Shush.” I silenced her with a kiss and carried her through the flat and straight to my bedroom. “Everything is ready for you, and I’ve got Beth and Charlie coming over tomorrow with your things that you left there.”

  Her eyes widened, and she covered the gasp that left her lips. “What’s wrong, babe?”

  “Beth’s bedroom. All her books and her bookcase were on the floor when I tried to keep F… him…’ She closed her eyes. She couldn’t get his name past her lips, and I wasn’t going to make her. “...tried to keep him away from me.”

  “Baby, it’s okay. Beth and Charlie sorted that. Don’t worry.”

  She nodded and sat on the bed. I grabbed a pair of pyjamas I bought her, the fluffy warm kind she likes to wear, and placed them beside her.

  I had the bedroom all set up for her. Her iPad and Kindle on the bedside table, along with remote controls and chargers plugged in in case she needed them.

  “You’ve done all this for me?”