Page 19 of Torched

“What about the diamond?” Imogen asks, mainly to Kane and Callie, still avoiding my glances that come her way.

“We need to know if it’s true, either way. If not to give her, then for anyone else can come for it if they find out it’s linked to the Reyes family. The world doesn’t know Callie is not a born Reyes. They will come for her to get to the diamond,” Kane explains.

“Yeah, we need to find out if what Cristina told us is true and make sure we know where it is.” Callie conjures a sarcastic smile on her cheeks. “Before I have to fight off any other ambitious treasure hunters that aren’t my cousin.”

“That’s no joke, Callie.” Kane scowls. “You’re pregnant now. I’m not risking your safety. You’re staying under my watch twenty-four-seven. And Cristina can’t know. It will make you even more valuable for her, knowing there is another life she can endanger for leverage.”

“I can still defend myself,” she scoffs.

“He’s right, though, Callie. We can’t let the world know you’re pregnant just yet, and certainly not Cristina. You’re the hotheaded wife of Kane Carrillo. It gives you a certain level of respect. I’m not as good at this whole shit as you guys are, but I’m pretty sure there will be people who will see it as a weakness and will try to poke whenever they can.” Gen’s reply makes me proud, seeing the strong woman that she doesn’t realize she is.

“Exactly,” Kane agrees, then leans on the surface to point his index at his wife. “You’re not leaving my sight.Ever.”

Callie volleys a look between us all, finally stopping at me with a hopeful glint.

“Liam?”

“Don’t look at me, Callie. I know I’d do the same if you were my wife.” If this was Imogen who was being at risk, I’d be tempted to lock her in the cell we once kept Callie in and keep the key in my pocket just to make sure she was saved from Cristina’s grasp. But the world doesn’t work like that.

I can’t help but glance at Imogen, looking for what’s going on in her mind. There is fatigue etching her pretty eyes, her breathing heavy, as if she has a hard time keeping up with the conversation. I know she’s somewhere else in her head, probably worried about how the next few weeks are going to be stressful with Cristina strolling into her life. I want to take away her worries, but I know it has to wait until we’re alone.

Grinding my teeth together, I push away the deep need to fix this right here and right now, letting her know that whatever she’s thinking, it’s not true. But I know she won’t appreciate me calling her out in front of Callie and Kane. Not after the night she just had.

“Fine.” Callie throws her hands in the air. “But that doesn’t mean you get to cut me out of anything. We’re in this together.All of us.” The last words are aimed at Kane, but she still glances around the table.

“I agree,” Gen suddenly adds, her chin high. “I know I haven’t been involved with most of the business you do. But I don’t want to sit this one out. I want to participate. I’m not going to sit by and hope for the best while that bitch is trying to terrorize us.” The fierceness in her voice is surprising, but instantly turns me on. Finally, her eyes find mine with fire, staring back at me with a warning. One that silently tells me to back off and not dare to fuck this up for her, or exclude her while claiming to want to keep her safe. An unnecessary warning, because I know my girl is capable of far more than she knows herself.

“We’re all in this together,” I concede, my eyes beaming from the small smile she finally gives me while Kane complies with a grunt.

“Okay, now that we’re all on the same page. How are we going to defeat the bitch in the meantime?”

“You need to find out if there is any truth to her story. We need to see Frank’s lawyer and get through his belongings,” Kane clarifies.

His explanation forms a dreadful expression on Callie’s cheeks.

“You mean go to Granada?”

“Yup.”

“I’m not going to Granada with Cristina. I don’t know what other skeletons my father was hiding, and I sure as fuck don’t want to share them with her. Good or bad.”

“No, we take a team and go to Seville. Cristina can stay here.”

That causes Imogen to sit up straight with wide eyes. “What?”

“You want to leave her here? With Genny and Liam?” Callie cocks an eyebrow, and I briefly close my eyes at the disaster I can already see playing out.

It’s not good. It’s not even salvageable. It will probably end with me strangling Cristina and Imogen walking on eggshells until I do.

“It will be good for them to keep an eye on her, make sure she isn’t up to something. At least if she’s here, we know where she is.”

“She’s gonna torment the hell out of Liam,” Callie argues. “And Genny.”

“He can take it.” Kane locks his blues with mine, his eyebrows lifting a little in a dare before he moves them to Imogen. “And so can Gen.”

When she rears her head to meet his gaze, he shoots her a comforting smile that warms my chest. I like that Kane wants to give her the feeling that she’s competent. What I don’t like is him leaving us with that wicked witch of the Mediterranean.

“Can you?” Callie challenges. It’s not even her trying to be rude. But she’s genuinely asking if I’m up for it, and I can’t blame her. I did try to strangle her and all, caused by a wave of anger that was rooted by the same woman we are now inviting into our home.

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