Page 79 of Stolen Voices
Like an asshole, relief and pride floods my chest at his answer. Callie never confided in Hudson, further confirming her trust in me. Finally.
Eli: Never mind. I’m taking her to my brother’s place in Pine Hills.
Hudson: Are you staying with her?
Eli: Remains to be seen.
Hudson: *Eye Roll Emoji* Just keep me posted.
As I’m turning off my phone, the flight attendant informs me to prepare for landing. Since I haven’t moved during the flight, there is nothing to prepare. The plane lands with ease, Callie still sound asleep beside me.
I send Mason a text, letting him know we landed at a small private airstrip twenty minutes away from town.
Mason: Cool. Meet you at the house.
Eli: Thanks, man.
Mason: How’s your girl?
Love the sound of that. She may not know it, but sheismy girl. That’s a different conversation for when she’s feeling better and her body is healed.
Eli: Beaten up, but she’s strong as hell.
Mason: Did she give you any information yet?
Eli: Waiting to talk at the house.
Mason: Fair. See you soon, brother.
I pull into the driveway at Cameron’s place and kill the engine. Callie woke up a few minutes ago, and she’s been oddly quiet.
“Where are we?” she asks, staring out the window at the small white bungalow with forest-green trim and shutters.
“Pine Hills, right outside of Portland. This is my brother Cameron’s place.”
“The baseball player, right?”
“Yeah, the baseball player.”
“It’s cute. I thought he’d have a bachelor pad or something. This looks like a family lives here.”
“So judgy,” I tease her.
She slowly turns my way, the brace keeping her neck stable, and bites her lip. “Sorry. That was rude.”
“Nah, I’m messing with you. He has a house like that on the beach.” I leave out that his house is in Malibu, not wanting to trigger her. She’s tired, and I want her to get some rest before we talk about that subject. “You’re right. This place is cute, and it used to belong to my sister-in-law, Emery.”
“Oh. Where does she live now?” Her voice trembles, and I grin at her.
She’s so fucking cute, looking all nervous about the possibility of meeting my family. Callie’s in for a treat.
“She lives a couple of blocks away with my brother, in a new house they remodeled. And they live down the street from my older brother and his family.”
Her eyes grow as wide as saucers. “Your family lives here?”
“Yes. Sometimes, my parents too.”
“I thought you were from Los Angeles.”
