Page 22 of Stalker's Pet

“He’s lying,” Anne says dismissively.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Ruben doesn’t want to believe he was duped by his wife, but she’s got a history of it.

“I know because I heard the entire conversation from the laptop I gave Tinsley. She left it in her bag, which was still sitting next to your office. I heard everything. Even the part when Anne told Willow to do whatever it took to make a lasting impression.”

“You bitch,” Ruben seethes and throws his wine glass. It shatters against the fireplace, but Anne doesn’t seem fazed.

“I did what I had to do to secure my daughter's future.” She raises her chin smugly.

I’m done talking to these horrible people. I need to get my girl and get the fuck out of here.

“Enough!” I shout to get their attention, and it works. “If you have any feelings for Tinsley, if you care about her at all, then you won’t stand in the way of her happiness. She’s not a commodity to trade. She's a precious and wonderful creature that deserves better than you people. I love her with my entire soul, and I won’t let her spend another second in a home that doesn’t appreciate how incredible she is.”

“Callum?” The soft word is spoken from behind me, and I see Tinsley next to the door hiding from view.

How long has she been there? But more importantly, how much did she hear?

Chapter Thirteen

TINSLEY

He’s been lying to me from the very start. His words were sweet, but how much is true? My eyes fill with tears, and I don’t understand anything. How did I get caught up in all of this?

“Princess,” Callum says gently in a calm, soothing voice. He’s treating me like I’m an animal he could scare off. He might be right because the urge to run grips me. “Come here.”

I’m desperate to go to him but force myself not to. I was naïve once, but I won’t make that same mistake twice.

“You can’t believe this man,” my father tells me. “He’s clearly using you. He knows too much.” And obviously I know nothing at all. “Don’t listen to him. The CIA? He’s insane, Tinsley.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Callum growls at my father.

He takes a sidestep and appears to be scared of Callum. With everything happening, maybe I should be too. Although when I look at Callum, I don’t feel fear.

“Who are you?” I ask, wanting to know the truth before my heart shatters. I’m still trying to hold on to some kind of hope.

“Not here.” Callum glances at my father and Anne, and I can sense he doesn't want to say anything in front of them.

Can I trust that when we’re alone he’s going to tell me the truth? We’ve been alone many times, and yet he’s said nothing.

“Did we meet by chance?” I ask, needing to know this first.

Everywhere I turned, Callum was there. I thought it was fate, but now I think it might have been something else entirely. My silly brain has made up all these fairytale ideas, wanting it so badly to be real.

“You were always going to be mine, Tinsley.” He says it with such conviction.

“You’re not answering my question.” I swipe at my cheek, realizing a tear slipped free. “I’m so stupid. I try and try to get people to love me. To?—”

“I do love you.” He takes a step toward me.

"How do I know this isn't a lie too?!" I want to believe him, but I don't trust myself anymore. I glance down at my feet as the pain threatens to swallow me whole.

“Look at me, princess,” Callum orders, and before I can stop myself my head snaps up. It’s too hard to fight his orders. My body is desperate to obey him. “I love you,” he says again and then looks at the bag at my feet. “Do you have everything you need to leave?”

“You don’t have to go with him,” my father cuts in. “Anne, call the police.”

“By all means,” Callum agrees. “Call them.”

Silence falls over us, and no one moves. My father’s threat is empty, and we all know it.

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