The fact that I share blood with such a monster infuriates me and makes me question if I’ll end up like him. I try so hard not to be, but they always say that children will turn into their parents. I don’t want to be like him.
My breath hitches, and I reach up with one hand and cover my mouth, hoping no one heard me. I don’t want anyone to find me before Calder comes for me.
That’s who I want and wish like crazy will be the one to open the door to my hiding spot.
The sound of voices has my heart racing, and the closer they get, the more I feel like I might pass out as I do my best not even to breathe.
A silent cry leaves my lips as the door to my hiding spot starts to open.
“Bellissima.”
My silent cry turns into a sob as I hear Calder’s voice. He opens the door farther, and I launch myself at him, not caring who sees me crying.
Calder wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. “It’s okay, Emerie, it’s done and you’re safe,” he murmurs, between kisses to my temple, the side of my head, and the top of it. I nod but start sobbing hard like some idiot who can’t get control of their emotions. “Come on, Bellissima, it’s all good now.”
I nod and burrow deeper into him.
“Fuck me, you’re killing me with the tears.” Calder’s voice is filled with something I’d never heard in his voice before, similar to anguish, as he holds me tighter.
“Calder, why don’t you take her home, and we’ll deal with the rest tomorrow,” Granger suggests.
“You’re not staying here tonight,” Calder growls.
“We’re staying at your place,” Grant remarks.
“Not all of the rooms are completed,” I tell them, doing my best to get my crying jag under control.
“That’s alright, little one,” Grant says from directly behind me. “We’ll make it work.”
“I’ll send Leone and Ciro to get some air mattresses after we get there. Raiden will stay here on guard.” Calder tightens his arms around me.
“I’ll call in the rest of the men to help start disposing of the trash around here.”
I don’t even want to know what trash they’re talking about. There’s only one kind it can be, and I hope I don’t have to see any on our way out.
I might be okay with what Calder does for a living, but that’s because I love him so much. I can look past it all because at the end of the day, he comes home to me.
Calder scoops me into his arms, breaking through my thoughts of him, and orders, “Keep your head buried in my neck, Bellissima.”
I wrap my arms tighter around him and keep my eyes closed as well, and my head in his neck. I wasn’t taking any risks of seeing anything I didn’t want to see.
Long moments later, the cold air from outside hits me.
“Leave your car here, we’ll take the Hummer,” Grant states, his voice harder than it was moments ago.
Calder climbs in without letting me go, and I don’t loosen my grip on him either. I think if I did, I might start shaking and wouldn’t be able to stop.
I don’t know who’s driving, but they take off, spinning tires. In what seems like half the time it usually is for a drive between the two houses, we’re parking, and Calder gets out, not once loosening his arms.
No words are spoken as he walks up the steps, through the entry of the door, and up the stairs, into our room. Only when we’re in the en suite bathroom does he set me on my feet.
I finally open my eyes and glance up to meet Calder’s gaze and notice the blood coating his face. It should scare me. If it were anyone other than him, it would. Regardless, this is my husband. A man I know will protect me. He doesn’t even have to use words to confirm it. I know it without a doubt in the world.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” I breathe, helping him strip out of the clothes and taking mine off as well.
Taking his hand in mine, I step back and reach into the shower to turn the water on. Both of us like the same water temperature, being hot as we can handle, but when he gets in the shower with me, he keeps it at something comfortable. I sense he needs it hotter than that, though, and give it to him.
Once the water’s heated, I step in, bringing him with me. Calder keeps quiet, his eyes locked on me as I go about grabbing the soap and a cloth to wash him.
