Page 194 of Callan

“Sleep tight,” I say before pressing my lips to her hair and finally getting away from her.

I walk away, not looking back, a lump of tension stuck in my throat.

Holding a sheet in front of me, I enter the bathroom, where I remove my watch and stride into the shower.

Cold water runs down my chest while I try not to think about anything, absolutely convinced that if I start mulling over this story, I might just kidnap her, take her to some remote location, and have my bodyguards stay with her until I’m done with the shit brewing in my life.

But… No matter how strong my feelings are and how hot-headed I can be at times, this is not the moment to lose it.

That’s not how life works.

I know that better than anyone else.

But I have to talk myself into believing that nothing bad will happen to her while I’m cleaning up this mess.

Moments later, I’m done shaving.

I splash some aftershave on before securing my watch around my wrist again. Wearing only a towel around my waist, I walk into the closet.

My phone dings with an alert the moment I’m done putting on my clothes.

I reach inside my jacket, retrieve my phone, and check the missed calls and unread messages.

Most are irrelevant. The last one, though… Not so much.

Beverly: I’ve got news.

I call her, and she answers right away.

Already late, I pick up my coat and push away from the walk-in closet, the bedroom, the woman in my bed, and possibly a better ending to our story.

“I’m listening,” I say, entering the private elevator.

“The police will pick up the crazy crew.”

I freeze, holding the door open.

The crazy crew, meaning Carmen, Thomas, and Alvarez.

“Good,” I say curtly, thinking of how to protect Mackenzie.

“When?”

“Before noon.”

“Okay.”

I still have my foot between the elevator door and the doorframe.

Still thinking.

She breaks the silence first.

“If you ask me––and this is my professional advice––you should stay away from that building and keep her out of the loop.”

“I know that,” I say, unable to hide my irritation with how quickly things unfold.

On the one hand, this is good news.

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