Page 48 of Fix You

While Callum rolled his eyes at my statement, Caterina shook her head. “Please don’t make this about my kidnapping.”

“Fine,” I muttered.

To both my surprise and disgust, Callum slid his arm around Caterina’s waist and drew her against him. “Despite me being a prick about it in the meeting yesterday, you have my word that you can visit your brothers any time you want.”

She smiled up at him through her tears. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he mused.

After bestowing a somewhat chaste kiss on his lips, she moved on to start hugging Gianni. Callum and I stared at each other, silently daring the other to relent first. Since my sister’s happiness was tied to the fucker, I decided to be the better man. I extended my hand. “I look forward to the continued benefits of our alliance.”

“As do I.”

“I appreciate the happiness that you’ve put on my sister’s face.” Squeezing down on his hand, I added, “I expect you to keep it that way.”

“Rafe!” Caterina admonished as she jerked away from Gianni.

While my brothers chuckled, Callum kept his face impassive. “As I did before, I give you my word that I will ensure Caterina’s health and happiness to the best of my ability.”

“I thank you for that.” Nodding at Leo and Gianni, I said, “We all do.”

“And you’ll ensure her safety and mine?” he countered, referencing what I’d told him about making Father promise not to threaten Callum.

“Absolutely.” Flickering my gaze to Caterina, I said, “We’d walk through fire to protect her.” When I looked back at Callum, I added, “And because of her, we’ll do the same for you.”

Callum’s menacing expression faded. “You have my gratitude.”

“Thank you. As you have ours.”

With one last hug, I started to duck inside the SUV. But as I raised my leg, I froze. Turning back to Callum, I said, “Give our regards to your brothers and sister.”

At the mention of Maeve, Callum tensed. “Thank you for dancing with Maeve.”

“It was my pleasure.”

At the mention of pleasure and Maeve, Callum’s fist clenched at his side. Without another word, I slipped into the SUV and closed the door. As the SUV lurched forward, I glanced out the window to the house. In the top right window, the curtains flickered slightly. As I peered through the tinted glass, I saw Maeve’s face for a fleeting moment before the SUV disappeared down the street.

I’d hoped once we’d gotten airborne and headed home that the ache in my chest would wane. But it didn’t. It remained steady long into the relatively short flight.

When the captain came over the speakers to inform us to prepare to land, Leandro flopped down in the chair beside me. “Why are you so quiet?”

With a shrug, I replied, “Just thinking.”

Leo cocked his brows at me. “You’re not plotting our new brother-in-law’s murder already, are you?”

I chuckled. “I think we can put that one safely on the back-burner.” Despite giving Callum shit, I truly believed in our alliance. But more than that, I knew he would be good to Caterina, and she was more important than any fucking alliance.

“Then what’s eating you?”

I leaned forward in my seat. After opening my mouth, I closed it. I couldn’t seem to find the words I needed. With a ragged breath, I shifted in my seat. Each time it was on the tip of my tongue, I grimaced or shook my head.

At my hesitation, Leo and Gianni exchanged a look. “Fuck man, put us out of our misery and spit it out,” Leo demanded.

Throwing my hands up, I blurted, “Have you ever had a woman throw up?”

Leo’s brows slanted in confusion. “Set the scene. Like have we been drinking?”

“No. Not like that.” I huffed out a breath. “I mean during….a somewhat intimate moment..”

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