Page 48 of In the Dark

“You better have some actual proof.”

“Wouldn’t throw out an accusation without the facts to back it up, Viper.”

I gritted my teeth together, thinking of whether or not I could trust what Callahan said and what seeing the evidence would mean. I didn’t want to endure finding out the truth. I didn’t want to unearth more shit on Paolo that I would have to tell my family. “I’ll never forgive his ass,” I grumbled more to myself, but Callahan heard it.

“You don’t have to forgive him,” he said back softly. I saw his jaw ticking like he was thinking of something or someone else. “Just because a person is gone doesn’t mean they get a pass for all they did to you. It just means you can choose how and if you want to move on from it without their influence.”

Someone had hurt Callahan, it seemed, in the same way my uncle probably was going to hurt me with what I found out about him. Yet, I couldn’t ask Callahan about that now.

His words were burrowing deep in my heart and making my eyes water in a way that wasn’t at all like me. I blinked rapidly and told myself I would figure out the destruction that Paolo caused and rectify it. That’s why I was here rather than Maribel. Rather than Annarose.

That’s what made me put one foot in front of the other. “We’ll see once the evidence is in front of me,” I told him as I smoothed the sweater I had on and winced at the fact that I hadn’t even tried to put on presentable clothes. “Promise to give me all the facts and be honest?”

He stopped and turned to face me, his eyes so piercing as he caught my gaze. “I do promise you that for the next two years, Jas. This might be for your family and for mine, but I’m never going to take you for a fool or lie to you like you are one; I know you’re not.”

I nodded and chewed my cheek, trying not to get emotional at the way he was at least trying to build trust, at the way he was giving me his word like I was his equal rather than a prisoner of his.

It felt different than what I was used to, and I hated that I found I was hungry for it, hungry for someone to see that I was more valuable than Paolo had ever given me credit for.

I focused on Callahan and his dark jeans and black T-shirt, trying to change the subject before I fell off a cliff of thinking this man was actually worth my time. “Right. Good. Since we have that cleared up, in the next two years, you think you’ll maybe wear something a bit more casual, like you can relax around me?” I wrinkled my nose at him.

“This is casual,” he said like he was affronted.

“Oh please.” I waved a hand between us. “Dark jeans?” I lifted a brow as I started to walk down the hallway with him again. “Those aren’t comfortable at all.”

“As opposed to shorts that barely cover your legs and a thin sweater that is so baggy it’s basically falling off?”

“Well, at least I have a tank on underneath, and … Crap, forgot to wear a—” I felt my cheeks reddening as I stopped immediately.

“What?” Callahan looked me up and down, and as if on cue, my nipples hardened and his eyes laser focused on them.

“Viper …” He licked his lips. “Please tell me you’re not going to be dressing like this for the next two years.”

I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s going to be my house, too, Callahan. I can wear what I want.”

“It is your house already,” he corrected me, rocking back on his heels and putting his hands in his pockets like he needed them caged.

“So, guess I can wear what I want, right?”

“There’re men milling around.”

“All men you trust through and through.”

“With you in an outfit like that? I wouldn’t trust a fucking soul.”

“Is that a compliment now instead of insulting my attire?”

“Jesus, Jas. It was never an insult.” He sighed as if he was frustrated that I was always picking a fight with him. “You see the worst in everything I say.”

“Shouldn’t I? We were never nice to one another.”

“Could have fooled me. You seemed nice as hell when I slept with you a year ago.”

“That was before—”

“And this is now. I wasn’t insulting your attire, just saying it’s hard for others to focus with you in it.”

“Good, because I’m proud of this sweater,” I announced like we were just exchanging facts about one another now. And maybe we were. Maybe I felt like Callahan had his own demons and we could be cordial enough for two years to weather all the demons of ours together. “This yarn is the softest thing I’ve ever touched.” I held out my arm and pointed, and he frowned like he wasn’t sure I was offering.