Page 81 of Callum
“Yes.”
“No.”
They both answered at the same time.
Callum’s fingers tightened on her arms. “Let them check that your head’s okay, Fi.”
She sucked in a shuddering breath, her gaze skirting to Kasey, who was being loaded into an ambulance. Then she nodded. “Okay.”
* * *
Fiona watchedthe water in the shower run from red to clear as the blood on her hands washed away. Kasey’s blood. She still didn’t know if the other woman was okay. Had Kasey only been hurt as a way to get Fiona to open the door?
Of course she had. Fiona didn’t need to hear the story from the woman’s mouth to know that. And the guilt of that sat so heavy on her chest it was like an immoveable weight.
She scrubbed at her hands, attacking the dried blood under her nails.
Once the paramedics had cleared the bump on her head as superficial, she’d spoken to the police and described her attacker as best she could, knowing she’d sounded crazy. She hadn’t stuck around as Callum had spoken to the officers. She’d needed to get away. Wash the damn blood off her hands.
When the blood refused to budge, she scrubbed harder, the flesh on her fingers aching at the action.
A knock on the door sounded, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Yes?”
“Fi? You okay?”
She swallowed, forcing her lungs to accept air they felt too damn tight to let in. “Yes. I’ll be out in a second.”
There was a small beat of silence before Callum responded. “Okay, honey. Shout out if you need anything.”
She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. Then she closed her eyes and let the water fall over her, hitting her skin like small drops of fire on icy flesh. She’d made the water as hot as she could, needing the heat to help her feel clean. She remained under the stream until her skin was red and her fingers wrinkled. Then, finally, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a large towel.
She couldn’t get those eyes out of her head. So similar to hers but so filled with hate. Why? What had she ever done to warrant such rage?
Swallowing, she stepped out of the bathroom to find Callum by the window, phone to his ear. His gaze met hers, and his eyes…they seared her. Her brush with danger had probably scared him. He didn’t have to say it out loud for her to know.
Quickly, she pulled on some panties, a bra, some leggings, and an oversized tee. She was just sitting on the edge of the bed when Callum ended the call and sat beside her. Then he surprised her by lifting her from the mattress and pulling her onto his lap so she was sitting sideways. Gently, as if he was scared he’d hurt her, he grazed her forehead with his lips.
“How are you feeling?”
“My head’s fine, just another headache.” It wasn’t exactly what he was asking, but it was easier than trying to make sense of the mess that was her thoughts. “Who was that on the phone?”
His jaw clenched. Yeah, he saw right through her.
The hand around her waist moved below the material, and his fingers touched bare skin. “Tyler. He followed the paramedics to the hospital. He was in the hall when Kasey woke and spoke to the police. He heard her recount everything.”
“She’s okay then?”
“She lost some blood, but she’s stable.”
The air ran out of her in a rush. Thank God.
His gaze moved between her eyes. “Kasey was coming over to talk to me. She’d just reached my porch when someone stabbed her from the side.”
His thumb swept up and down Fiona’s ribs.
“My best guess,” he continued, “is the woman saw me leave and was either waiting for you to come out or looking for a way in. Kasey gave her that opportunity.”
She shook her head. “I feel terrible.”
