“I have access to the tracker in your car.”
“Without my knowledge or permission?”
“Most rentals have them, and sue me if it’s a crime to worry about my fiancée!”
“Don’t raise your voice to her,” Callan says.
“Thought I told you to shut the fuck up.”
“Seán! This is Callan’s house.”
“I’m well aware, Astrid,” he snaps. “Why the hell are you here?” Pain flares briefly in his eyes, and it helps to cool my temper. I put myself in his shoes, understanding what this must be like.
“Callan told me the truth about what happened all those years ago, and it was stuff I needed to hear.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence. You expect me to believe that took all night, and it required you to sleep over?”
“I hadn’t intended to, but we were up late talking, and I guess I fell asleep, but I swear, nothing happened. I would never cheat on you.”
He folds his arms across his chest. “I don’t believe you.”
“Let’s go home. We can talk about it there.” I turn to look at Callan, silently conveying I won’t tell my fiancé the entire story because it’s not fully mine to share, and I know Callan doesn’t want him to know.
He nods, and Seán scoffs.
“What the fuck is that?” he snaps.
I whip my head around to my fiancé. “I think you should wait outside while I get changed.”
“So you can align your stories?”
“So you don’t trash any more of Callan’s home or throw any more punches.”
“Always quick to defend him.”
“You attacked him in his home, Seán. It’s not unreasonable to ask you to wait outside so you don’t do it again.”
My fiancé ignores me, raking a derisory gaze over Callan’s sweatpants and shirt. “In case my right hook was too subtle for you, you’re fired. Get your men and your equipment off my premises by close of business today.”
“What? No. You can’t do that!” I say.
“I can, and I am.”
I march up to him, pushing my face all up in his. “Take it back, Seán. What’s going on here has nothing to do with the professional agreement you have with GH Construction.”
“I want this prick out of our lives, and you don’t get a say in this matter.”
“The hell I don’t! You can’t do this. Callan has a daughter to provide for and?—”
“It’s fine, Astrid. We’ll get by just fine without the project if that’s what your fiancé wants. Don’t go to war on my account. I’d prefer not to see his fucking face ever again.”
“Glad you remembered I’m her fiancé,” he says, grabbing me into his side and caging me with his arm.
“You won’t be for much longer if you fire him,” I say, trying to remove his arm.
“Don’t make threats you don’t intend to keep, darling. First rule of business.”
“Get your fucking arm off me, and I’m not bluffing. I mean it, Seán. If you do this, we’re done.”
