I felt eyes on me, and when I looked up, Callan was standing right there with a hopeful expression. His eyes were bloodshot and tired, with dark circles under them. He truly hadn’t slept all night, and all to make sure Karlee and Kira were getting what they deserved.
“Lana.” He took a step closer but stopped. His hands clenched at his sides, as if he was afraid he might frighten me away.
Holland stepped aside, looking between us before giving me a gentle smile. “He fixed it,” she told me. “He kept his promise.”
I wanted to understand what she was telling me. Wanted to let myself believe that it was over. But I couldn’t let go unless I knew one thing.
“Is it gone?” I asked, my voice small. “The video. Is it gone?”
Callan didn’t hesitate. He didn’t try to soften the blow or give me a half-truth to sugarcoat anything. He looked me straight in the eye when he said, “Yes, it’s gone. I had the police save the evidence, and then they removed it from the site. I watched them do it. It’s gone, Lana. I swear to you.”
The knot in my chest that had been right for hours finally loosened. I could finally breathe again. A sob escaped my lips, and all the sadness I had been feeling turned into unadulterated relief. My legs felt weak, and my body trembled with the sudden release of tension. I moved, not thinking about it too much, and threw myself into his arms.
He stumbled back slightly from the force of it, but then his arms were around me, crushing me to his chest. He buried his face in my hair, his body tightening against mine. I could feel his heart hammering in his chest in a wild rhythm that matched my own.
“It’s over,” he assured me, cupping the back of my head in a protective manner. “It’s done.”
I held on to him, digging my fingers into the fabric of his sweater, and he held me with a strength that told me he wasn’t going to let anything else ever happen to me. His arms didn’t loosen, and the fear that had followed me all night eased. He had protected me when I needed it most, and he wasn’t backing away now. But while it was gone physically, the mental pain this had caused would stay for a while.
We stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, until the tension in my limbs was gone. Eventually, we pulled back enough to look at each other, but he kept his hands on my arms, as if he was afraid I might collapse. Holland and Rocco had given us our space, standing near the sink with their backs turned.
The plates of food Holland had made were sitting on the table, and while I appreciated her effort, I didn’t feel like eating. But Callan gently guided me toward my chair. “You need to eat something,” he said softly. “Even if it’s just a few bites.”
I sat down, and he took the seat next to me, pushing the plate closer. I picked up my fork and poked at the scrambled eggs. My appetite was nonexistent, but he watched me closely, his expression encouraging.
“Just a few bites,” he repeated with a soft smile on his lips.
“I’ll be really mad if you don’t eat the food I so lovingly prepared for you after you ate everything he made last night,” Holland said, pointing at Rocco who was grinning next to her.
“You gotta admit…my food looked way better than what you whipped up here. Is this your first time cooking?” he teased.
I managed a smile as their usual banter lit up my mood. As much as she denied it, I could tell there was something more between them. Rocco liked her, and Holland was playing hard to get. I sensed something bigger growing between them.
Holland rolled her eyes at him and then smiled at me. “Eat, Lana. It’ll make you feel better.”
“Okay. Thank you, Holls.”
I scooped up a small bite and put it in my mouth as Callan did the same, and once Rocco and Holland sat down too, we ate in silence for a while. I felt Callan’s eyes on me occasionally. I knew he was trying to make sure that I was okay, and it didn’t bother me, so I didn’t say anything.
His protectiveness was something I had quickly gotten used to, even though, at first, I hadn’t been sure why he cared so much about me. We had never talked about our feelings, and he had never given me a reason to think he wanted me as more than just a fun time. And, still, he was sitting here with that fierce expression on his face, making sure that nothing could hurt me again.
“You gotta stop staring at her like that, man,” Rocco said, looking amused. “She’s right here. She’ll be fine.”
Callan scoffed and leaned back in his chair, shooting a glare at his friend. “I know she’s fine. I just can’t—”
“Stop looking at her because you’re so totally in love with her,” Holland chimed in.
My cheeks burned instantly, and I looked at her wide-eyed. “Holls.”
“What? I’m just saying what he’s too afraid of. It’s written all over his stupidly handsome face,” she said with a shrug before pushing another forkful into her mouth.
I glanced at Callan who was frowning, and I smiled tightly. “Ignore her,” I told him, not wanting him to feel pressured or put on the spot. “I’m fine. Really. I’m glad the video is gone. I’m still a bit shaken, but I’m fine.”
He studied me for a moment, running his hand over his head before dropping it to my hand on the table. He gave it a gentle squeeze as he leaned in closer. “I fired them. Karlee and Kira? They’re gone. I terminated their contracts earlier. You’ll never have to see them again. They won’t be coming around here anymore, and they won’t come anywhere near you. I made sure of it.”
Another rush of relief rushed through me. Maybe that’s what I was waiting for. He confirmed that he was done working with them. He stood behind me and wouldn’t allow them anywhere close to me. He hadn’t only apologized for everythingthat happened, which wasn’t even his fault in the first place, but he had also acted without thinking twice about it. He had cut them out of his life completely and permanently.
And, still, one little question lingered on my mind. “Why?”
