Page 70 of Shattered Union

Closing my eyes, I let his words settle over me. I've missed him so much, I ache not having him with me. "I don't trust you," I whisper. Hating that I'm even saying those words.

"I know,mo ghrá. I fucked up. But I'm asking you for another chance. Let me prove myself."

Do I want that?

Yes, I fucking do.

"Tonight, you have a pizza date with your daughter. One she's really looking forward to. What about tomorrow?” I question.

“I’m with the kids tomorrow, baby. Their nanny has taken some time off.” It’s something he doesn’t sound too happy about. “I want you to meet Mary and Gareth.”

Do I want to meet them? If I'm going to be in his life, the kids are going to be a part of that. I'm pregnant with his babies. We need to figure this out. Whether it be together romantically or co-parenting.

“Why don't you bring the kids over to the house where the party was? It's going to be empty other than Maverick and me?"

I hear the relief in his sigh. "Okay, baby, tomorrow it is. Let me know what time."

"Whenever is fine? I'll be there for most of the day. I've got to work in the pub in Temple Bar tomorrow evening."

"Sounds good,mo ghrá, I'll text you with a time later."

"I'll have Chloe home before five," I say and hear a low hiss. I turn and see Chloe pouting at me. "I have to go; I'll see you tomorrow."

I hand the phone back to Chloe, who's now smiling brightly. She talks to her dad some more before ending the call. "So, we're coming to your house tomorrow?"

I nod as I lean against the bar. "Yeah, if that's cool with you?"

She nods. "Yep, it's crazy at our house at the moment. Everyone's home. Danny, Malcolm, Holly, Makenna. Not to mention all their spouses. It's chaotic."

I'll bet. "God, I hate being around Maverick for more than a couple of hours. I couldn't imagine being around all those people."

She giggles. "They don't really spend much time with me. They're all older and still think I'm a baby."

It's got to be hard having such an age gap between her elder siblings and her younger. I was lucky to have Maverick be my twin. We always had each other.

* * *

“Are you doing okay?” Stephen asks softly. It’s something I still don’t expect from him. He’s usually so gruff and impatient.

“Sort of,” I reply honestly. “Everything’s so messed up.”

It’s almost 3am and Stephen and I are sitting on the bench that’s just outside of the family home. He picked me up from the pub this evening and brought me home. Since the attack happened, I’ve never been alone unless I’m in the house, and even then, there’s always guards about.

I picked out a house with the help of both Maverick and Chloe. I told the agent if she could get the owners to push it through quickly, I’d give them the asking price. Within twenty minutes, the sale was agreed and my lawyer has already been on the phone with me. He’s working out the details and trying to see if the owners will rent it out to me while the sale’s going through.

I want a home again. Somewhere I can live without being scared and without having to worry that when I come downstairs, everyone will be there. I want peace and serenity again.

He gives me a hard stare. Yet another person not happy that I’m expecting. “You’re pregnant, Callie. Of course it is. But, from what everyone’s said, the arsehole loves you.”

I roll my eyes. “Since when did you become a gossip?”

“I just want the best for you, Callie girl. Always.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m scared if I give Denis another chance he’s going to hurt me again.”

He sighs. “As much as it annoys me to talk about this shit. Because no one will ever be good enough for you. If you didn’t give him another chance, you’d regret it. He hurts you again and I’ll kill him.”

I smile. That right there is how Stephen shows his love for you. “Please don’t hurt him.”

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