Page 54 of Shattered Union

“Callie managed to get away and called for help. It wasn’t enough to keep the bastard from hurting her more, but thankfully, she’s still alive.”

“What’s Zoe’s role in this?” I question, noting he didn’t say if the bastard raped her or not.

I want Callie in my arms. I need to hold her and make sure she’s okay.

I want to tear apart everyone who stands in my way.

I’m barely able to control myself. I’m hanging on by a fucking thread.

“Your wife,” Maverick snarls. “Organised it.”

“Watch your fucking tone,” I growl at him. I’ve allowed the disrespect. It ends now. They’re pushing me, and soon enough I’m going to snap and take someone’s fucking life.

Maverick seems to have a fucking death wish. He steps up to me. “This is on you,” he hisses at me, pushing his finger into my chest. “You’re the reason she fucking cries. It’s because of you she’s packing up her shit and moving. I willnotwatch my fucking tone.”

I don’t even blink. I grab his hand and yank it off me. He grunts in pain as I hear the snap of his finger. It’ll teach the bastard not to touch me.

“Enough!” Callie shouts, and I turn to her, releasing her idiotic brother just in time to see her wince in pain.

“Jesus,” Ava cries, rushing to Callie’s side “Will you take it easy, your ribs need time to heal.”

“Ribs?” I glance around the room and everyone has their eyes on Callie. She’s been hurt a lot more than I had thought.

“Can ye leave us for a minute?” she asks her family, her tone gentle and calming.

I feel anything but.

Just what the fuck happened to her?

Her family turns and leaves. Her father, uncle, and brother all glaring at me as they do so. Making it known they’re not happy. Yeah, well, join the motherfucking queue.

“You need to calm down,” she tells me once the door is closed.

“Calm? You want me to be calm. Fuck sake, Callie. I’ve just found out someone beat the shit out of you. Not to mention you’re leaving.”

She turns her head away from me, not before I notice the tear falling down her face.

“Ah,mo ghrá,” I whisper, taking a step forward. Her fucking tears gut me. “Please don’t cry.”

She holds her hand up, stopping me in my tracks. “Please don’t touch me. I can’t deal with this right now.” Her voice is filled with emotion and I tense. “I’m done with this bullshit, Denis. I seriously have nothing else to give you.”

“Callie—”

She bows her head, keeping her gaze to the floor. “I believed you,” she whispers. “I believed you loved me. That you were divorcing her. But it’s just lie after lie with you. I hate you made me love you; I fucking hate how weak I’ve become.”

I close my eyes. The emotion in her voice has my knees buckling. Fuck.

“I do fucking love you.”

She lifts her head and pins me with a glare. “You brought her into my home,” she cries. “My family home. The one place where I’m actually safe and you waltzed her in here. So no, you don’t love me.”

I grip the chair beside me, my fingers tightening around it. “That’s fucking bull, and you know it. I hate the bitch. I’d snap her fucking neck if I could.”

She shakes her head in disgust. “You don’t understand. Do you know how hard it is being around you, but not being able to have you?”

I stalk toward her. “Yes,” I hiss. “I know how fucking hard it is. It’s torture. Not being able to hold you, touch you, kiss you. I’m a man starved right now. Craving your touch. I can’t do it though. You’re hurt. The woman I love is hurting and I can’t touch her, I can’t fucking help her.”

“What can you do? You’re still with her. That fucking bitch tried to kill me and you’re still with her.”

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