Page 41 of Blood

“I didn’t fuck him in my hotel room if that’s what you’re getting at.”

His gaze sharpens, warming and chilling me in the same breath. “Not how Georgina tells it.”

I frantically try to control my breathing, but it’s impossible with his wrath bearing down on me. He’s such a formidable man it’s hard not to crumble beneath him. Fear roots itself in my chest, expanding like a weed. Not the fear of him hurting me, but the fear of him hating me. Seeing me as the enemy, even though that’s how I should see him. I just can’t.

“Well, you’re not asking her, remember?” I’m antagonizing foolishly. He could kill me right now, and I bet Tyler wouldn’t do anything to avenge me either.

“Rogue.” Icy fingers wrap around my name in warning, snuffing out any warmth. An ominous wave of dread settles in my gut.

“I know him. I saw his number calling your phone last night.” I grind out. The urge to put space between us and close it simultaneously sends a tremble through my bones. The glare on his face makes me want to weep.

“You’ve been spying on me?” The muscles in his jaw tic. The room shrinks, darkness creeping from the shadows and caging us in.

“It isn’t spying when it was accidental,” I bite out. None of this is the point. My heart thunders against my chest wall.

“How well do you know him?” His voice is a hoarse growl. His nostrils flare.

“Callan.” It’s a plea.Don’t make me answer.

“Say it. The gig’s up, Princess.”

A wounded gasp slips past my lips. The sting from him using my real name is potent.

“We were engaged.” I summon strength into my tone to hide the misery.

He steps back as if I burned him, his face contorting in disgust. “You were engaged to TylerTearsStratham?”

He spits Tyler’s Road name like it tastes bad in his mouth.

“It’s a long story.” The words stick to my tongue like tar.

“Shorten it.” Has this room always been this small? The dark green walls are barren apart from the video monitors on the back wall. They close in around me.

The wood floor creaks as I edge farther inside now that he’s no longer confining me. The air is thick, clogging my throat.

“I’ve known him my whole life. He was all I knew until you.” I stroke my fingers along the mahogany surface of his desk to stop myself from squeezing my hands into fists.

“He’s a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve to look at a woman like you, let alone marry her. Fuck.” He paces, grabbing at strands of his hair, then throws himself into his office chair, resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

“Callan,” I murmur, moving toward him, the ocean pulled by the moon’s gravity. Placing my hand over his, I bend to my knees.

He tilts his head, looking at me, studying, dissecting. His pupils constrict. His fingers curl around my wrist, raising us back to our feet. “Did he do that to your face?”

Crap.

“It’s not important.” And not the first bruise he’s left on my face. Tyler’s quick tempered and doesn’t like it when people talk back.

He takes my chin in his grip and turns my head, swiping my hair behind my ear. “I’ll cut his fucking hands from his arms and feed them to him.”

“Callan…”

Stroking his hand farther up my face, he pushes me against his desk. “Did he send you here?” His muscles coil beneath his shirt. His anger absorbs all the light. All that remains is the dark monster heaving over me. “To spy.”

Dread gnaws away at my insides. “No,” I cry out, clasping onto his arms to steady myself. Why does this hurt so much?

“Why the fuck did you come to Ray’s that night?” he demands, seeking answers.

“To get me here.” Tears burn the corners of my eyes.

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