Page 219 of Callan

But it’s the raw, unforgiving truth, and she knows I’m not fucking with her.

This is no longer a multiple choice quiz. There’s only one answer. Killing her would only be a remote option.

Her only choice is to understand that she has no way out.

“Callan…” she murmurs, her lips quivering.

“I’m sorry, baby. You can’t go anywhere. Someone will pick up some things from your place. You won’t work for me. That’s not an option. And you can’t work for anyone else. That’s not an option either. You’ll stay by my side as long as I require it.”

“How long is that?” she asks, a few tears rolling down her cheek.

I reach inside my pocket and pull out my hankie.

With it, resurfaces the necklace.

She is too upset to stare at it for long but notices it in passing.

Slowly, I wipe away her tears and offer my handkerchief to her.

“As long as it takes.”

I put the necklace back.

“What is that?” she murmurs, pointing at my jacket.

“It’s just another thing you don’t need to know about. I think you know enough.”

“Is that about a woman?” she insists, running my hankie below her eyes.

“Not in the way you think.”

She lifts her eyes to me. They look like cloudy summers.

“Have you seen someone else since you met me?”

A smile tickles my lips.

“What kind of question is that?”

“It’s a question. Answer it for me, please.”

I rub a strand of her hair between my fingers, studying the slow moves.

“No, I haven’t seen anyone since I met you,” I say, still looking down.

Her silence seems incredulous.

“I haven’t,” I say. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. Or would it?”

“It matters to me.”

I tilt my head to the side and give her a faint smile.

My fingers go to her neck and slowly stroke her fine skin and the pulsing blood underneath.

“It’s unfortunate,” I say, moving my fingers to her cheek.

Her eyes glimmer with tears again.

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