Page 31 of Shattered Union

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My phone buzzes in my handbag and I giggle as I try to reach for it, but my bag falls to the floor of the car.

"Christ," Stephen mutters. "Why the hell are you and Ava crazy? You'd think when you're alone, you'd be saner."

His words make me giggle harder.

"You wanna tell me where you've been the past month?” he grunts. "You're usually all up in my business. Past four weeks, it's been radio silence."

I shrug. Not wanting to talk about this with him. I love Stephen, just as I love Maverick. But Stephen is a tad overprotective. Stephen is dangerous. He's been a part of Jer's organisation since he was fourteen. Mam hated it, but there was nothing she could do. It was what Stephen wanted. While we may not agree with it, we all love and support him.

"Callie," he growls. His tone is one I can't ignore. I look at him. His jet-black hair is longer than it usually is, shaggier than normal. His dark brown eyes, so beautiful and yet still filled with pain.

"I met a guy," I tell him, sobering up somewhat.

"Fuck," he curses. Those brown eyes turn to me, sharp and knowing.

"We dated for a while." I glance out the windscreen, fighting back the tears once again. "I fell in love," I say through gritted teeth. God, I was so bloody stupid. "Then his wife showed up at my door and told me they were still married and they have a baby."

He pulls up outside my house and switches off the engine. "You're telling me he played you?"

"Stephen," I whisper. Not wanting him to kill Denis. I know his first instinct is to always protect me.

He raises a brow. "What? You think I'm going to let this slide?"

I nod. "That's exactly what I expect you to do. It happened. There's nothing you can do to change that."

He scoffs. "There's a hell of a lot I can do. That arsehole shouldn't be allowed to get away with what happened."

"Did you beat the shit out of Andrew?"

His eyes narrow in on me. "Why would I?"

I bite my lip. Oops, I guess Ava or Freddie never mentioned it to him.

"What did the prick do?” he grouses. “I never fucking liked him."

I giggle again. "Andrew cheated on her with Leeane."

His lips thin. "God, what a prick."

"Then Ava slept with Freddie."

I hear his sharp intake of breath. "Fucking eejit. Let me guess, he pushed her away after he was done?"

"Ding, ding," I retort. "What's up with him, anyway?"

He shakes his head. "He's got shit to sort through. Now back to your arsehole. Where can I find him?"

I laugh. God, I've missed him. "Not going to happen, but, Stephen, I promise I'll be all up in your business again."

He groans. "Great. I'm looking forward to it."

I unbuckle my seatbelt and push the door open. "Love you," I whisper, letting him know just how much he means to me.

I get out of the car before he can reply. I notice headlights ahead and I frown as I realise just whose car it is. God. Just what I fucking need.

Arms close around me, and I sink into Stephen's embrace. "Don't think I'm going to push this shit aside. I want to know who the arsehole is."

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