Page 60 of Shattered Union

“What?” I hiss. “Who the fuck let her go out?”

My heart races as my stomach drops. The bastard who hurt her is still out there. He could find her again.

“She’s fine,” Jerry tells me. “She needed some space. The girl’s been cooped up in this house since she’s been released from the hospital. She’s too frightened to go back to her own home.”

My fault. It’s my fucking fault. If I had dealt with Zoe earlier, this would never have happened.

“You fucked up, Denis. But what happened to my niece isn’t your fault. That’s on your wife.”

I grit my teeth. I’m sick of people calling her that. “She’s not my fucking wife,” I snarl.

Jerry’s lips curl up in disgust. “I’m pretty sure there’s a fucking licence which says otherwise.”

“This isn’t the time for this shit. Jerry, Da’s worried about Callie, she’s hurt, pregnant, and the maniac who worked her over is still out there,” Mal says, stepping in between us. A place I don’t want him to be. He should never have to stand between us.

Jer scrubs his hand down his face. Sighing heavily, he nods. “You're right. But let me make myself clear.” He stands up taller, his eyes narrowed in on mine. “Callie means a fuck of a lot to me. She’s my niece, but she’s also like my daughter. Hurt her again, and there’s no place on this earth you can hide from me.” The threat doesn’t scare me. Nor does he.

“Jerry,” I growl. “Don’t fucking test me.”

“Enough,” Mal rumbles. “Jerry, you don’t like Da, that’s fine. He doesn’t like you. But the two of you are going to have to come to an understanding. You’re going to be in each other’s life. Not because of me. But because of Callie. She’s pregnant. Which means Da’s going to be around a lot and knowing him, he’ll want to be married before the baby’s born.”

Jerry mumbles under his breath. He’s not happy about it. Too fucking bad.

“I’ve got something to take care of,” I tell them. Michael called fifteen minutes ago. He has Zoe, and they’re on their way to the countryside. To the old cattle farm we acquired over a decade ago.

“Good luck,” Jerry says with a chin lift. “Make that cunt pay.” He doesn’t wait around for a response.

“What’s your plans?” I ask Malcolm as we move along the hallway and toward the exit. I’m eager to find Callie. To bring her somewhere safe, but I know she won’t come. I’ve got to have a proper conversation with her.

To think she believes I don’t love her is completely whacked. She’s the only woman I’ve loved. Will ever love.

“I’m here for a day or so, then I’ll be flying back to Spain. I hate being away from Raylee.” His wife is still coming to terms with everything that happened recently. Not to mention she’s also pregnant.

“You may have to fly her out here, son. Your ma’s going to have a funeral within the next few days.”

His jaw tightens. “What she did to Callie…” he shakes his head. “She deserves everything that’s coming to her. It’s been a long fucking time coming.”

“She’s still your ma,” I tell him. I hate this fucking shit. This shouldn’t be something we’re talking about. If Zoe were in anyway normal, she’d be living her life, not getting ready to have it ended.

“Nah, she ceased being my ma a long time ago.”

I nod. “Okay, get Raylee on a plane. It’s time she met the rest of the family.”

“Um, Da,” he says as I walk toward my car. I glance back at him, he’s staring at me, his expression unreadable. “So, Callie’s pregnant?”

“Yeah,” I draw the word out, wondering where he’s going with this. If he implies they’re not mine, I’ll lose the fucking plot.

“So I’m going to be a brother, uncle, cousin, and dad all around the same time?”

I chuckle. Of course, everyone is pregnant at the same time. What the hell is in the waters? Danny and Melissa are expecting their second child, and Makenna and Dante are expecting their first. They’re due first. “Yeah, and what I’m about to say to you, doesn’t go further.”

“Scout’s honour,” he says with a smirk.

“Callie’s carrying twins.”

He blinks. “Fuck off.”

I roll my eyes. Seriously? “When are you going to grow up?”

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