Page 39 of Edge of Heaven

Suddenly it all makes sense.

“And Callum is paying for it.”

She bursts into tears all over again.

Chapter12

Taryn

I hate showingweakness because I’m always so weak and submissive with Callum. And not in a fun, sexy way either. I have to do almost everything he says, when he says it, and on the rare occasion I stand up to him, he either belittles me, flat out shoots me down, or reminds me who’s paying Toby’s bills.

Essentially, I’m trapped in a nightmare.

Admitting it out loud is almost as humiliating as some of the things Callum makes me do.

But instead of mocking me or being repulsed, Mick drops to his knees in front of me and pulls me against him.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.” He strokes my hair and holds me gently, his body warm and strong against mine.

I’m about cried out at this point, so I just rest my head on his shoulder and soak in his embrace. His touch. The way it feels to have someone in my life who’s supportive. Holding me. Making me feel like I’m not alone.

Even if only for a few minutes.

“I’m so embarrassed to be in this situation,” I whisper. “Where I have to let him treat me the way he does, in front of everyone, watching the disgust and pity in their eyes. Knowing they don’t understand. Knowing they think I’m pathetic.”

“I don’t think they think that,” he whispers. “They’re worried. At least, I am. Ryleigh is. The guys in the band think that’s just what some women like, that maybe it’s some kind of kinky dynamic or whatever.”

“Ew. No. I mean, kink is fine—I’m into a little—but not the public degradation in front of people who don’t know anything about that kind of power exchange. And just to be clear, degradation is not the kind of kink I’m into. I like a little spanking, a little…well, you know.”

He nods—I can feel it—but he doesn’t say anything.

Because he spanked me when we were together.

And it wassohot.

He probably doesn’t know this, but no one had ever done that before him. I didn’t know I would like it. And if I’m honest, there’s only been one other guy who knew how to do it so it wasn’t painful to the point where it diminished my arousal. Callum always makes me cry. But I don’t want to talk about that. Not tonight.

“Jesus, Taryn. I wish I could help.”

“I know. It’s okay. He just made the eighth payment. Only four to go and then I’m free.”

“The trial is for a year?”

I nod. “Then they wait three months and do all kinds of scans and whatnot. At that point, we’ll know if he’s back in remission. They did some stuff at six months, to make sure the disease hadn’t gotten worse, and it hadn’t, so now we wait.”

“And you’re stuck with him because you don’t have the money to pay for it yourself.”

“It’s a lot of money. I don’t make anywhere near ten grand a month right now, and my mom’s a teacher who doesn’t have that much extra. She could pull it out of her retirement fund, and if Callum hadn’t offered, we might have gone that route, but that’s all she has. My dad passed away and left her enough life insurance for the house. Beyond that, she has her teaching retirement fund. We would’ve saved Toby’s life with it if we had to, but then what will she do in fifteen years when she wants to retire? This seemed…easier.”

“Easier?” There’s fury in his eyes when he lifts my chin and makes me look at him. “On who? Certainly not on you.”

“It’s harder on Toby,” I whisper.

He sighs. “I know but… babe, Callum is fucking awful to you.”

“And you don’t know the half of it.”

“Can you get a loan for the balance? Or maybe your mom can? So you can leave him now.”

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