Page 77 of Philly
“She has insider information,” Chad groused. “With the amount of time she spends with you all.”
Callie’s brow furrowed, and she pulled the phone Rian had given them out of her purse. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, here’s a consolation,” she said, setting it on the desk.
Chad’s eyes flickered to the device before lifting back to hers. “You look at it?”
She shook her head. “For the same reason Rian didn’t. I’m reasonably savvy with tech, but numbers and criminal minds are more my thing.”
Chad nodded. “I guess this means you’re staying on at the West Coast office of HICC permanently?”
“If you’ll have me. If not, I heard the police department is looking for a detective,” she said. Philly glanced over at her. The way she ducked her head told him she’d done the research before things had changed between them. As far as he was concerned, she didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. In fact, his peacock feathers ruffled a bit.
“Are you kidding? Once we wrap this case up, you can write your own ticket,” Chad said. “Stella hates your former boss, Greg Chrome. Something about a case he botched a few years ago, then tried to blame on HICC. She loves dropping open-and-shut cases in the FBI’s lap. That it’s one Chrome refused to allow you to investigate makes it even better. She’ll be sure to cc him on the email she sends to his boss to let him know.”
Callie snorted a laugh, making Philly smile. She’d been tense since they walked in and seemed to finally be settling.
Just in time to head to the clubhouse. He frowned. Maybe he should call off the meeting with his family.
Chad leaned forward and picked up the phone. “I’d ask you two what you have planned for tonight, but I’d rather not know?—”
“In addition to being inveterate gamblers, the Warwicks also have no boundaries,” Philly said, shooting Chad a look. He and the Falcons had grown used to the Warwick way, but Callie hadn’t. He didn’t want Chad to make her any more uncomfortable than she already was.
Chad gave a small nod of apology. “We have a huge family that’s very close. Sorry, boundaries are kind of nebulous for us. But wecanmind our own business.” Philly snorted. “Not well, but we can,” Chad added.
Callie inhaled. “Actually, we’re headed to the clubhouse. We wanted to tell Philly’s family tonight.”
He reached for her hand, and her fingers curled around his.
“They’re your family now,” Chad said. She bobbed her head, but more of a courtesy nod than a sincere one.
Theywereher family, but Callie needed time to understand that. And trust it. He didn’t mind her hesitancy, though. His brothers understood trauma, especially childhood trauma, and that it could take a long time to heal from. And while he hadn’t shared all the details of Callie’s early years, he’d shared enough that they’d fill in the blanks and give her the time and space she needed to trust them.
Because his family was awesome.
And it was time to celebrate with them.
“On that note, we’re headed out,” he said. “The sooner we see them, the sooner we can get home. She’ll be in to work late tomorrow.” Callie gasped. “I’m sure Sabina and Leo will understand,” he added, knowing full well that both he and Callie were early risers and there was no way she’d be late. Not with the prospect of bringing the man responsible for Liza’s murder to justice being so close.
“This is going to be the shortest marriage on record,” she grumbled as Chad laughed.
“Go, you two. Have fun, and don’t let Charley gloat too much,” Chad said as Philly dragged Callie out the door and back through the maze of halls.
Neither of their cars were at HICC, so he assumed they still had use of the SUV. Reaching into Callie’s pocket, he snagged the keys. He intended to drive this last stretch as there was a risk—albeit a slight one—that she’d drive them straight home and lecturehimabout boundaries. Although, the image of her reprimanding him, like a misbehaving boy, had him reconsidering. He handed the keys back.
She eyed him before taking them. They climbed into the cliché celebrity SUV and the engine roared to life.
Whichever option she chose, he’d bejustfine.
41
Callie pulled the SUV into a spot at the clubhouse, the parking area as full as she’d ever seen it. Her stomach twisted, and she wondered if she’d ever get over that knee-jerk reaction to new situations. The fear of rejection, the fear of not being good enough. This situation was worse than any of the others. No, that wasn’t quite right. This situation had thepotentialto be worse than any other because rejection from Gabriel’s family would hurt more. Would hurt more than getting something wrong at work. Hurt more than disappointing a colleague.
The way many had greeted her when she’d come by the clubhouse after the truth finally blew up between her and Gabriel led her to believe theymightbe okay with the sudden change in their relationship status. But she wouldn’t bet on it. Unlike the Warwicks.
That errant thought made her smile. It was a totally foreign concept to bet on people’s lives. She wasn’t sure she’d ever partake, but with time, she’d probably get used to it. The same way she’d get used to Gabriel’s family. And they’d get used to her.
She didn’t hold out hope that she’d ever be as comfortable as Charley or Joey or Juliana or Lina appeared to be. She wasn’t an easy person to like; she knew that about herself. Not because she was cruel or mean or a bad person. But life had taught her to be cautious. The less someone knew her, the less they could be disappointed in her. Recently, she’d started acknowledging how fucked up that wasandhow much she wanted to change. She’d have to figure that out somehow. In the meantime, all she could do was try. And she did want to try. These people were Gabriel’s family—hers now, too, according to Chad. They deserved more from her. She deserved more for herself.
“Ready?” Gabriel asked. “And you aren’t going to the gallows. You’ve met most of the guys already,” he added, concern shadowing his blue eyes.
