Chapter 12 Four days later, Teague stumbled up to his room, so damn exhausted, it was like he'd been running a marathon all day instead of making phone calls. But nothing had come to fruition, and his frustration was high. James wasn't returning his calls. The men he'd sent out to canvass the area around Tit for Tat had been run off by Halloran men. Neither his father nor Aiden would talk to him about the plans they had in the works. And, to top it off, his younger sisters had taken it as their own personal mission to make sure he made a full recovery. Every time he turned around, Sloan was pushing him into the nearest chair and offering a blanket, or Keira was shoving hot tea into his hands. They meant well, but he was losing his goddamn mind. He locked his bedroom door and sat gingerly on the edge of his bed. His ribs still smarted like nobody's business, but the family doctor had assured him that nothing was broken or seriously injured. He'd be back in fighting shape in no time. Teague sighed and stripped, moving carefully. A quick glance at the clock told him it was late-later than he'd wanted to be out and about. His promise to Callie lingered in the back of his mind. It was the only reason he allowed his sisters to run rampant over him. At least that way he had something to tell her when he called her at night to reassure her that he was taking care of himself. His shower was quick and miserable, the hot water doing nothing to pound the tension from his muscles. He needed a week on a beach somewhere and daily massages to work the stress out, but it was more likely that a unicorn would burst through his door. The fight was here. Callie was here. His family was here. Which meant he was where he needed to be. He shut off the water and grabbed a towel. Lying down on his bed was a slice of sheer heaven, but he didn't close his eyes. There was one last thing to do before he could give over to sleep. He smiled and reached for his phone. A few seconds later, Callie answered, "Late night." "Yeah." He adjusted his pillows. "My mother cornered me to ask about tux choices. She sat me down for an hour to go over pictures. An hour." And when he'd told her to just pick whatever she thought was best, she'd ripped him a new one without ever once raising her voice or letting the smile slip off her face. Callie made a sympathetic noise. "She called me three times today. I'm not particularly proud to admit I dodged every single one of them." "I don't blame you." He laughed. "I'd be doing the same thing, but the woman knows where I sleep." "So what did you decide on?" "Hell if I know. I chose three options before she was finally satisfied." "Poor baby." She moved, the sound of fabric sliding coming through the phone. He closed his eyes, picturing her lying out on her bed the same way he currently was on his, wearing a pair of sweats and a tank top. He liked that she went for comfort instead of sexiness for sleeping. It was such a contrast from how she carried herself during the daytime-perfectly put together in every way. "I wish you were here." He wasn't sure where the words came from, but they were the stark truth. "I wish I was there, too. I don't trust that you're taking care of yourself." She paused. "And I miss you. I know it's only been a few days, but-" He cut in before she could tag some qualifier on there to take away from the statement. "I miss you, too. Do you want to go get lunch tomorrow?" Or breakfast. Or dinner. Or, hell, he'd settle for coffee. Anything that got them into the same room and settled the uncomfortable feeling he hadn't been able to shake after the way they left things the other day. They might have talked every night they'd been apart, but it wasn't close to the same thing. "I wish I could." The regret in her voice was real. "Papa and I have a meeting that I can't reschedule." It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what the meeting concerned. He knew for a fact his father was coordinating things on his own without talking to Colm about them, so it only stood to reason that Colm was doing the same thing. But bringing business up meant taking away from the comfort and intimacy that came from just having a conversation with Callie. Business could wait, at least until tomorrow. Instead, he said, "Soon, Callie. I want to see you soon." She shifted again, maybe rolling over on her bed. "Let me see how the meeting goes, and then I'll have a better idea of when I'm free. I want to see you, too." "Deal." It wasn't an exact date, but the intent was clear. She wanted to see him as much as he wanted to see her. He yawned, a wave of exhaustion rolling over him. "Go to sleep, Teague. You need it." "You too." She wasn't getting enough. He didn't have to sleep next to her every night to know that. Every time he talked to her, she sounded more run-down and tired. Last night she hadn't been able to remember the last time she ate when he asked. It was added motivation to get some alone time with her-at least then he could make sure she got a full meal and maybe a nap. "Good night, angel." "I will say, Callie, I'm surprised by what you're proposing." Callie kept her nerves off her face through sheer force of will. In the days since Teague's attack, she'd been petitioning hard for her father to let her in. It was only today that he finally relented and promised to hear her out. The admiration on his face almost made the fight worthwhile. Almost. She took a deep breath. Every time she brought up Brendan, Papa changed the subject, making it abundantly clear that he didn't want to hear her confession, no matter what he might think happened. With that avenue closed to her, she'd focused on the war itself. "They'll be expecting a full-frontal attack, which means they'll be prepared for it. This will cripple a significant portion of their income." And destroying the factory where the Hallorans stored their illicit goods dealt them a blow that was unlikely to result in casualties. It wasn't a perfect plan as such things went, but it was better than what John was suggesting-work their way through Halloran territory, taking out every hub they used on the way. The loss of life would be devastating on both sides-she refused to sit back and allow it to happen. Thank God Papa seemed intrigued by her plan. He sat back, tapping his steepled fingers against his lips. "They'll use more than one location-they're too smart to store everything valuable in one place." "Even so, taking out one will hurt them with less chance of loss on our side." She met her father's gaze, her hands folded demurely in her lap. "When we go for their throat, I want it to be in a way that doesn't put any more of our people at risk than necessary." Please, God, let this end before we have to take such measures. It was becoming increasingly clear to Callie that she was capable of doing just that if they backed her into a corner. She hated knowing that about herself, but there wasn't time for her to wrestle with her bruised conscience. Brendan had been one thing. Even though she knew differently in her darkest soul of souls, she could still argue with herself that it had been solely self-defense. This was something else altogether. But seeing Teague hurt and helpless had driven the stakes home in a way she couldn't ignore. If left unchecked, the Hallorans wouldn't hesitate to kill every last one of them. By holding herself back, she might be putting the people she cared about at risk. Teague. Micah. Emma. All of them. When she weighed her conscience against those lives, it was no contest. She'd do what needed to be done to keep her people safe, no matter how unpalatable she found it. Especially since she was the one who struck the match that blew a tense treaty sky-high. He nodded to John. "Make it happen." Papa waited until the door shut behind his man to pin her with a look. "Enough about business. How are the wedding plans going?" It was on the tip of her tongue to remark that the wedding was just as much business as the strike against the Hallorans, but she wrestled the words back at the last moment and forced a smile instead. "My future motherin-law is a force of nature." Papa shook his head. "Yes, that's one way to describe Aileen. Be careful, Callie. That woman is ruthless to the core-she'd smile sweetly while she gutted you if she thought the situation called for it." She'd suspected as much, but it was enough to make her wonder what the woman had done to make even Colm Sheridan feel it necessary to dole out a warning. There seemed to be so many things she could no longer talk to her father about, but this was safe enough. "What did she do?" "Nothing in the way that you mean." He laughed softly. "But any woman who could survive thirty-five years of marriage to Seamus O'Malley-and bear him seven children-is not one I'm inclined to take lightly." There was something beneath the words, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. "Perhaps Seamus isn't as bad at home as he is with his enemies." Papa raised his eyebrows. "Do you really believe that?" She thought over how even being within touching distance of the man was enough to raise the small hairs on the back of her neck, and the way Teague spoke of him. Her father could be ruthless when the situation called for it, but she'd never once doubted that he loved her and her brother with everything he had. And, when push came to shove, he was willing to let her make the decisions that ultimately impacted her life. Like agreeing to marry a stranger. All Seamus cared about was his children's compliance. Their happiness didn't even come into the equation. Callie sat back. "I think that any woman who would go to bed with that man-and keep doing it-is someone I'm not inclined to underestimate." He nodded like she'd given the right answer on a test. "All the same, try to enjoy the preparations. I know you didn't choose this, and after Brendan..." She reached across the desk and covered his hand with her own. She might want to air her confession to make herself feel better, but her father obviously didn't want to hear it. She wouldn't burden him with her sins just to lighten the weight she carried. "It will be okay, Papa. Though I can think of a thousand things more important than wedding planning." "Unfortunately, it's necessary. The wedding itself is as much a statement as the marriage." "I know." Which was why she'd gritted her teeth and kept her complaints to herself. She squeezed his hand again. "We'll figure out a way out of this." "Sometimes the only way out is through, Callie. You know that." His smile was tired. "But we'll get through it. We always do." Guilt rose, threatening to choke her. She used to wish she could consider things as coldly and calculatingly as her father seemed to be able to when push came to shove, but now that she realized the ability was within her, all she wanted was to go back to how things were. Before she'd agreed to her engagement to Brendan. Before she'd let frustration and fear get the best of her. Before her entire world had come crashing down around her. It would have happened sooner or later. She knew that, but the knowing didn't make the guilt easier to bear. She pushed to her feet. "I'm going out tonight." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ƒindNoᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "To see that boy of yours again." She didn't comment on his knowing that she'd been at Teague's. It went without saying that Micah would have reported back to Papa. The fact that he chose not to bring it up until now was surprising. She hesitated just inside the door. "I... I think I like him." "I'm glad." The naked relief in his voice made her feel both better and worse. "Good night, Papa." She walked out of his office and closed the door softly behind her. Once she was alone, the worry that had been plaguing her every waking moment since Teague left her sight rose up with a vengeance. They'd shared short phone calls every night, but that did little to reassure her that he was taking care of himself. He sounded as tired as she felt, which wasn't comforting in the least. She dialed him before she could talk herself out of it. "Hey, angel." "Hello." She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, closing it almost before she registered its contents. The quiet sound of his breathing soothed her, but not nearly as much as the feel of his arms around her did. She needed that-desperately. Words rose before she could think better of them. "I wrapped things up earlier than anticipated. Can I see you tonight?" "How soon can you be to my place?" Relief made her knees a little shaky. "An hour." "I'll meet you there." "See you then." She hung up, the giddy feeling rising through her enough to make her wonder why she hadn't suggested this before. In the insanity of their lives, how safe she felt in Teague's presence was a glowing constant. It didn't seem to matter how briefly she'd known him, because he looked at her with those dark eyes and she felt like nothing bad in the world could touch her. That feeling was dangerous, to be frank, but she couldn't resist hurrying to her room and throwing some choice clothing into an overnight bag. She paused, considering her closet. Tonight, they would escape from the real world for a while. Her hands hovered over the lingerie she'd bought the other day with him in mind, but she reluctantly put it back into the drawer. As much as she wanted the reprieve that came from their physical relationship, they both needed something else right now. Comfort. She'd stop on the way over and pick up some food. Tonight was as close to an escape as they were allowed, and she intended to make the most of it. The real world would have to wait until morning. Teague wasn't prepared for what the sight of Callie would do to him. He opened the door to find her standing there, her cheeks rosy from the brisk breeze, her hair windblown, and her eyes drinking him in the same way he couldn't help but drink her in. "I missed you." Her smile was like the sun peeking out from behind the clouds. "I missed you, too." He kissed her, because going another moment without doing so was unacceptable. She melted against him at the first brushing of lips, her arms sliding around his neck. He nipped her bottom lip, and then soothed the spot with his tongue, the taste of her going straight to his head. "You'd better come in before we do something to scandalize the neighbors." "God forbid." He led her into the apartment, pausing only to lock the door. "You look good." And she did, wearing a white sundress with red flowers on it. Her blond hair had an artful curl to it, but there were still faint circles under her eyes that were a mirror to his. She held a bulging bag over each shoulder, and when he tried to take them from her, she slipped past him down the hallway. "You're lying, but thank you." She set one of the bags down on the floor near the wall and put the other one on the kitchen counter. Then she turned back to face him, her blue eyes narrowing. Her fingers hovered an inch from his face, tracing the pattern of his bruise. It had faded to a truly impressive yellow-green tint that made his mother shake her head every time she looked at him. Callie motioned to his torso. "How are your ribs? I suppose it's too much to hope that you've followed the doctor's orders to take things slowly." There was comfort in starting this night with a conversation similar to the ones they'd had the last few nights. "It depends on your definition of slowly." He laughed when she scowled. "Ah, angel, I'm mostly joking. I've managed to go a whole five days without fighting or doing anything else that would injure me further." Mostly because Carrigan had threatened his life if he left the house, and Sloan and Keira basically pounced on him if he got within ten feet of the front door. He'd had to conduct his investigation to find Brendan's killer via Devlin and Liam. The former he would have liked to avoid including despite the work being low-risk, but his youngest brother had insisted. They hadn't found much conclusive, but three of the dancers who worked at Tit for Tat were sure they saw a woman who wasn't an employee leaving through the back door with blood on her. On one hand, it would no doubt reassure both James's and Teague's conscience that it didn't seem to be a case of self-defense that came about from some runaway. On the other hand, it made it a hell of a lot harder to track the woman down. Two of the three dancers said she was wearing a bright red wig, and he couldn't exactly search Boston for a woman with "a body to kill for." No, he was temporarily stalled out, at least until a few of the feelers he put out came back. He paused in the kitchen. "Beer or wine?" "Wine, please." He poured her a glass and then grabbed a bottle of beer for himself. If he was stuck for the time being in his search for the truth, there wasn't anyone else he'd rather be stuck with. "Have I mentioned that I missed you?" "It might have come up." She smiled and moved to peer into his cupboards. "Sit down before you fall down." He'd half expected her to show up ready to seduce him-especially considering how the last time had gone when they were in this apartment. The fact that she so obviously had other priorities stung his pride a little. He stepped up to wrap himself around her from behind. "What's the hurry, angel?" "None of that." She slapped his wandering hands away and turned in his arms to face him. "It's been a rough week, Teague. Let me take care of you for a little while." She pressed a light kiss to his throat. "It'll make us both feel better." There was no rush. He'd wanted to prove to her that this meant more to him than hot sex, and dragging her off to his bedroom to show how much better he was suddenly feeling wasn't going to do that. They had all night. Teague kissed her forehead and let her turn back around. "What's for dinner?" "Pizza." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "Our cook, Emma, has tried to teach me the finer points of putting together a meal, but I'm a lost cause. I can do the simple things, but that's about it." It didn't matter if she was making mac and cheese. Callie was here, cooking for him, making sure he took care of himself. "How can I help?" "Sit down and drink your beer. You might be feeling better, but you still look like you're about to keel over." She pulled out two jars of pizza sauce and started laying the various toppings out on the counter. He sat. "You sure know how to make a man feel ten feet tall." "I just-" "It's okay. I understand." She'd been worried about him-was still worried about him. He'd had the last five days to get used to the idea of another person being that close to him-someone who wasn't family. She offered him a small smile. "That's good, because I'm still wrapping my mind around it." She started the oven preheating and rifled through the lower drawers until she found two cookie sheets he hadn't known he owned. "How was your day?" "Better than yesterday because there was no wedding planning involved." She laughed. "You were dodging your mother." "Unashamedly. I saw her coming up the stairs and looking determined, and I ducked into my brother's room and hid." The look on Devlin's face when he rushed in had been priceless. "I'd make fun, but Aileen is very... formidable." She greased the cookie sheets and rolled the pizza dough onto them. "And I did my own bit of dodging yesterday." "It's easier with phone calls." He sipped his beer. Callie checked the oven and then popped the cookie sheets in. "For now. It's only a matter of time before she shows up on my doorstep again." It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest they make a run for it, but Teague bit the words back. She wouldn't leave her family behind any more than he would. That loyalty was something that he'd previously considered a weakness. Now, he wasn't so sure. It seemed like family got them into as many problems as it got them out of, but he couldn't imagine his life without his siblings. And Callie obviously loved her father dearly. "You could always tell her no." She raised her eyebrows and propped her elbows on the counter. "Have you met your mother?" "Good point." He laughed. This was... nice. He'd known he enjoyed Callie's company, but he hadn't gotten to experience it on this level. Even with the world falling to pieces around them, he could see a glimpse of what the future might look like. A future where they had quiet nights like this. Where there'd be laughter and conversation and a home that was a bastion against the outside world. A sanctuary. "Do you want kids?" The oven beeped and she busied herself taking the cookie sheets out and setting them on the stovetop. Then she turned back to him. "Eventually, yes. Maybe not seven." She smiled. "But, once things calm down, yes, I'd like a few children. Do you?" "Yes." He answered in a rush, and cleared his throat. "My siblings are one of the most important parts of my life." "That's how I felt about Ronan. He was always in my corner, even when we were growing up and fighting like cats and dogs." A shadow passed over her face. "I miss him." "I'm sorry, angel. I didn't mean to bring up bad thoughts." "No, it's okay. He's gone no matter if we talk about it or not, and not talking about it might make me feel better in the short term, but I'm partially afraid I'll start to forget him." "Come here." He waited for her to walk around to him and then wrapped his arms around her. The physical touch wouldn't drive away all the bad things in the world, but it was all he knew how to offer. "You can talk about your brother to me whenever you want. I'll always be here to listen." "Thank you." Her voice was partially muffled by his shirt. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his back. "I'm glad you're okay, Teague." He stroked his hands up her back to tangle in her hair and tip her head so he could see her eyes. "I'm here, angel." He kissed one corner of her mouth and then the other. "I'm right here." His next kiss took her mouth, slow and sweet, and he went rock hard at the little whimper she made when his tongue brushed hers. Callie jerked back, but she didn't leave the circle of his arms. "You're trying to seduce me." "Trying? I thought I was doing a pretty damn good job of it." "You are-were." She shivered. "But that's not why I'm here." Maybe not, but he didn't think he could let tonight end without tasting her again and feeling her come apart in his arms. "What did you have planned for tonight?" Because she obviously had plans in place, or she wouldn't be digging in her heels so spectacularly. "Dinner." She slipped away from him and grabbed the jars of pizza sauce. "Movies. A full night of sleep." It struck him all over again that she wanted to take care of him. "I'm willing to negotiate." "Negotiate all you want." She finished spreading the sauce and started on the cheese. "You need to take it easy." No, what he needed to take was her. Teague finished his beer and pushed to his feet. He crossed the kitchen to her and caught her hips when she turned around. "Teague!" "Here's a newsflash, angel." He pulled her closer, lining up their hips so she could feel exactly how turned on he was. "I'd have to be in a goddamn coffin not to want you." "Don't say things like that." Her hands came up to fist in the front of his shirt, but she didn't push him away. "It's the truth." He kissed her, taking her mouth like he'd wanted to since she walked through the door. She melted against him, and he backed her up to the counter, taking the kiss deeper yet. He knew he should back off, should let them go back to the domestic scene he'd been enjoying so much, but his head was full of too many things he couldn't say. Not yet. Not without potentially scaring the shit out of Callie. But he could show her. "Do you think the pizza can wait awhile?" "I think we can work something out." She unbuttoned his shirt with quick movements, and slid it off his shoulders. Then she froze. "Oh, Teague." He didn't have to look down to know what she saw-a rainbow of bruises up his side that were a match for the one on his face. "It looks worse than it is." "Don't lie to me." She traced a finger over the edge of the one covering his ribs, still an ugly purple. "This is why I wanted to wait. I couldn't stand it if I hurt you." His heart gave a painful lurch, and he covered her hand with his own. "I'm not broken-just a little banged up." "Still-" He kissed her again to stop her words. She didn't want to hurt him. Well, he'd make damn sure she didn't get the chance to worry about it. "Hands on the counter." She obeyed with a little hiss of relief, the positioning leaving her body open for him, an opportunity he had no intention of wasting. He cupped her breasts, playing with her nipples through the thin fabric, and then slipped a hand up her skirt, and groaned. "No panties, angel?" "You already know the answer to that." Her lips brushed his with every word. "The thought of you walking around Boston with only this sad excuse for a dress in between you and the rest of the world makes me wild." He pushed a finger into her, finding her wetter than he could have dreamed. She spread her legs a bit wider. "My dress is cute." "Cute doesn't begin to cover it." He used his free hand to tug the strap off first one shoulder and then the other. It fell to her waist, leaving her breasts bare for him. He kept fucking her with his finger, and added a second. "But if we'd met outside this apartment, I would have been sorely tempted to do exactly what I'm doing right now, and to hell with the consequences. Keep your hands there." Her knuckles went white as she gripped the edge of the counter, even as her hips rolled to take him deeper. "You'd touch me like this out in public?" "Angel, I'd drag you to the nearest private spot and bury myself inside you the first chance I got." He circled her clit with his thumb, twisting his wrist to flick his fingertips over that sensitive spot he'd found inside her. Her eyes went wide. "Teague, I-" "I know. Let go. I've got you." He kissed her as she came apart around him, her moans the sweetest thing he'd ever heard. He held her through the aftershocks, gentling his strokes until her knees buckled. Teague caught her easily, ignoring the twinge of his bruises as he lifted her into his arms. "Put me down. You're going to hurt yourself." "You're going to give me a complex." He walked down the hall to his bedroom and carefully set her on the bed. Her smile was a balm to his soul, and the fact that she lay back without trying to cover herself only made him hotter. She was damn near perfect, and she knew it. He sat on the edge of the bed and had to fight back a wince. He thought he'd hid it in time, but she saw. "Your ribs?" "They're still tender." He wasn't about to tell her that they hurt like a fucking bitch more often than not. Not with what he had in mind for tonight. For a second she looked like she might protest again, but Callie sat up. "Well, then, I suppose we'll have to go about this another way." She kissed him gently and then gave his shoulders a push. "I promise not to jar them too much." Teague laughed. "So I should just lie back and think of England." "I think that's for the best." Her grin was downright impish. "We all do what we have to do." He lay down, pulling her on top of him. She settled over his hips, sliding against his cock in a move that made him curse. He leaned up to kiss her, ribs be damned. "Do your worst." "With pleasure." She moved over him, tantalizingly close, but the angle was wrong for him to slide home. Christ, he wanted that more than he wanted his next breath. Which was exactly why he needed to put on the brakes, at least temporarily. "Angel, if you don't get a condom right fucking now, I'm going to take you like this." "I thought I was the one doing the taking." But she rose and moved to where he pointed-the nightstand drawer-and came back with a condom. Callie ripped it open with a wicked grin and took his cock in her hand. She stroked him once, squeezing in a way that made his eyes damn near cross, and then went to work rolling on the condom. Then she climbed back on top of him, kissing him as she adjusted the angle and plunged down on top of him. Holy mother of God. He gripped her hips, holding her sealed to him, taking a second to simply enjoy this moment. With her eyes half-closed and her body rolling as she took him deeper, she was a vision straight out of a fantasy he hadn't even been aware of before now. He coasted his hands up over her sides to cup her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers as she moaned. 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