Page 43 of Not Mine to Keep

“Both,” Constantine and I said at the same time.

“Bella will be at my side the whole night. I won’t let anything happen to her,” Hudson said, his tone deep and meant to reassure us, but there was something in his eyes when he looked at her—worry?—that did nothing to dispel my unease.

“She’s your tech person on the security cams. Our eyes and ears tonight,” Sebastian pointed out, his Irish brogue cutting through more than Sean’s had. “With the club being underground beneath archeological ruins, it’s too great of a risk we’ll lose her on comms, and then we’ll be moving around in the dark.”

“As much as I don’t want to agree with the decision to have her undercover at Esposito’s party, Renaud is right,” Constantine said, the concern etched into his voice not doing wonders for that backbone of mine right now.

“I’ll be fine. Relax.” Izzy unfolded her arms and went over to Hudson, nudging him in the side. “This guy won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Not if he wants to live to see another day.” Doubtful Enzo was joking, either, with that comment.

Before I could interject my two cents, my phone vibrated in my pocket, alerting me to a text. After I read it, I rushed out, “Excuse me for a moment,” already on my way to the bedroom.

Little Miss Tennessee Whiskey:The son of a bitch had me tested.

I closed the bedroom door and dropped down on the bed. We hadn’t talked much since our last exchange yesterday. I’d done my best to keep my distance and only sent quick messages to ensure she was okay, so I didn’t blow a gasket while worrying. This was her first time initiating contact.

Me:What do you mean?

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my legs as I waited for her to respond, anger barreling through me with worry about what the “son of a bitch” had done.What kind of test?I tried to calm myself down by the fact a call would’ve signaled a more urgent and pressing matter than a text. So she had to be okay.

Also, maybe now was the time to change her name in my phone to Callie? While waiting, I went ahead and did it—not exactly loving doing it, but I needed to place some distance between us somehow. This felt like a small step.

Callie:He had a gynecologist come and take blood and do a pelvic exam to make sure I’m not on birth control and I am fertile. (I had to take an hour-long bath after that to ... not feel so ... invaded. I know that’s the doctor’s job, but the fact I was ordered by Armani just ... )

I reread her message, feeling my control seconds away from snapping.

Pelvic exam?

The fucker had forced her to spread open her legs and ...

“I’m going to kill him and the doctor,” I hissed under my breath while standing, and I went out to the balcony, needing air. There didn’t seem to be any in the bedroom.

I set aside my phone, slammed my hands on the balustrade, and looked up at the sky, stars blinking overhead without a cloud in sight.Breathe, dammit. Fucking breathe.

After corralling my thoughts, only seeing carnage in my mind of all the men I was ready to destroy, I grabbed my phone to answer her, but another text came in from her first.

Callie:I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have bothered you with this right now. It happened earlier, and I told myself I would keep my mouth shut until you got back. But my anger is only getting worse the more time passes. The more I think about it I just want to ... kill someone.

Me:How can I help?

Callie:Listening is all I needed. (Or in your case, reading my words.)

Callie:Everything set for tonight? Gabriel mentioned you have to go to some underground dance club. He said the Espositos rented the whole place out since it’s normally closed on a Tuesday.

If she needed a distraction, I supposed I’d give it to her, even though I wasn’t quite ready to drop the subject of killing Armani for this sooner rather than later.

Me:We’ll be leaving in about two hours, but my sister has to come inside with a fake identity now instead of staying outside like normal, and it’s got me nervous.

Callie:I take it you don’t normally “do” nervous.

Only since I met her.

Me:We won’t let anything happen to her. I’m just a little bit more on edge now than I was before.

Callie:Just a little bit? Well, I’m officially over that edge after today. I was managing to keep it together (kind of) until now.

Callie:These comments from me aren’t helping you. I’m sorry.

---