Page 178 of Callan

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” I say, and he tips his gaze down to me, pondering.

My heart pitter-patters.

He speaks again.

“I have to leave early in the morning, so I won’t be there when you wake up. You’ll have to get home on your own tomorrow morning and be a good girl and not get killed before I return.”

He looks at me down his nose, a playful grin gleaming through his lashes.

“Deal,” I say.

“Promise me you’ll stay alive,” he says.

“I promise,” I toss back at him, smiling from ear to ear.

MACKENZIE

At first,I’m convinced he’ll find a cab or have one of his men give us a ride to Long Island.

But, to my surprise, he locks my hand and walks me down the road.

“Do you need to pick up something from your place?” he asks, my building not far from us.

He glances up, and I know for sure he’s not looking at my windows.

“Like, um… New clothes or something?” I ask, distracted by his face.

He moves his eyes back to me, a smile dangling from his lips.

“Yeah… Something. You can change at my place,” he suggests. “I’ll make a few calls in the meantime.”

“Yes, sure. We can do that.”

His suggestion makes sense, and I understand his need for privacy when making those calls.

Who wouldn’t want that?

There must be stuff he needs to take care of, like disposing of those dead bodies.

Oh, my.

I can’t believe I'm so callous about it.

At the same time, I could’ve been one of those dead bodies. Or even worse, I could’ve been kidnapped. A missing person.

The truth is, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him.

Gratefully, I stare at him.

“Are you waiting for me here?” I ask, hinting at the obvious.

He nods, amused by my fake perspicacity.

“If you don’t mind,” he says.

“No, I don’t. Of course I don’t.”

I loop my arms around his neck and push up to reach his lips.

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