Chapter 3
“Is that what you told yourself while depositing those envelopes into the Cayman account I created for you?”
Sadie’s face heated.
“I needed the money for my mother.”
“I don’t care why you took it.”
Callum’s gaze dropped briefly toward her mouth.
“I care that you did.”
Then:
“You stepped into the dark.”
“You can’t act surprised when monsters bite.”
The elevator chimed before Sadie could answer.
Dr. Evans stepped into the penthouse carrying a black leather medical bag.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
Uninterested in asking questions.
He appeared accustomed to treating injuries for people who preferred hospitals not to know their names.
“Callum.”
“Doc.”
Callum stood.
“Right leg.”
He gave the medical summary with cold precision.
Severe swelling around the ankle.
Possible serious sprain or hairline fracture.
A laceration along the shin.
Bruising around both wrists.
Dr. Evans opened his bag.
“Hello, miss.”
Then:
“Let’s take a look.”
For the next 20 minutes, Callum stood near the windows.
He appeared to be watching Chicago.
His reflection revealed otherwise.
He watched the doctor examine Sadie’s ankle.
Watched her bite her lip when pain sharpened.
Watched blood being cleaned from her skin.
Every flinch fed the rage he was holding in silence.
“No fracture.”
Dr. Evans finally straightened.
He covered the cut with a neat white dressing.
“Severe bone bruise.”
“Grade 2 ligament sprain.”
Then:
“No weight on it for at least 1 week.”
The laceration did not require stitches. Steri-Strips were enough.
He left antibiotics and a strong anti-inflammatory.
“Leave them.”
Callum did not turn from the window.
“She’s staying.”
Sadie’s head lifted.
“I can’t stay.”
“I have the museum tomorrow.”
“There’s a backlog.”
“You’re going nowhere.”
Callum turned.
He handed Dr. Evans a thick envelope and escorted him to the elevator.
When the doors closed, the penthouse became silent again.
Sadie moved her uninjured leg off the sofa.
“Mr. Russo.”
Then, correcting herself:
“Callum.”
She tried to stand.
“Be reasonable.”
“I appreciate the doctor.”
“But I am not your prisoner.”
“I’m leaving.”
She placed weight on her good foot and tried to hop.
She managed exactly 1 step.
Her injured ankle struck the edge of the coffee table.
Pain blinded her.
The leg gave way.
Sadie expected the slate floor.
Instead, Callum caught her.
His arm closed around her waist and pulled her against his chest.
The impact knocked the air from her lungs.
For a moment, neither moved.
Sadie’s palms rested against the hard planes of his chest.
His heartbeat remained heavy and steady beneath his shirt.
Callum looked down.
His face was only inches away.
“I am a very reasonable man.”
His voice dropped into a gravelly whisper.
He did not release her.
“But right now, Sadie…”
His grip tightened.
“…I’m holding onto my sanity by a very thin thread.”
His dark eyes held hers.
“The men who did this are dead.”
“They just don’t know it yet.”
Then:
“Until they do, you stay where I can see you.”
Sadie looked up at him.
Their breath mingled.
May you like
And with terrifying clarity, she understood that the O’Bannions were no longer the only danger.
The greater danger was that she did not want Callum to let go.
