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“Well, they are your things so feel free to take what you’d like,” Lucas said. “I can even have the team load your vehicle for you.”
I didn’t know about all that. I didn’t want the Mallicks or Legacy to know I was here. I thought it’d bother them, so yeah. I pointed toward the front door. “I just need one thing actually. An art piece I worked on.”
Lucas raised a hand. “No problem at all. Take whatever you’d like.”
I nodded, feeling awkward again. I felt like I should thank him. I mean, he had saved me when Godfrey had taken me.
But I’d always had been an awkward bunny. The moment passed, and I ended up rushing off just to avoid the silence. My feet leaving tracks in the fresh snow we’d had this morning, I only got a few steps before Lucas called my name.
“I just wanted to let you know Callum is here,” Lucas said, catching up to me. “He’s inside. Overseeing the move so…”
He probably felt the need to tell me due to obvious reasons.
You did run.
I had been running, and Legacy, along with Ramses and Brielle, definitely wouldn’t like that I was here with him inside. They didn’t trust him, and they all had history with him.
I think they all did know the circumstances surrounding Callum were more complex regarding myself, and I had been thinking about what Bru said. Callum had been asking about me, and he had taken care of me.
I nodded to Lucas before he was called to assist with a question the movers had. I was left in the cold then, my bag on my arm, a chill in my body. Going and confronting Callum probably wouldn’t be liked by others in my life, but this was my life.
I ended up going inside, and Callum was doing exactly what Lucas said he was. In his dark suit and crisp tie, he directed those around him carrying boxes and furniture.
“That’s Miss Sloane’s stuff,” he said to one, a few of my canvases under their arms. One of the works was actually the piece I’d planned to grab for Ramses. Callum placed hands on his cane. “Be careful with everything. We’ll be overnighting all personal items to her.”
I swallowed, the guy with my paintings passing me. This, of course, brought Callum’s attention my way.
“Sloane.” He stepped forward, his jewel-top cane assisting him. He didn’t seem terribly reliant on it, and I assumed it was more for stability since he was older. He looked around, and I definitely saw the connection to him and Dorian’s father now that I knew the fact was there. Decades separated Dorian’s dad and him, but Callum clearly used to be blond and had a similar presence about him.
I supposed Dorian may have some of those mannerisms too. I adjusted my bag. “Hi.”
“Hello. What are you…” He stopped when a mover required his attention. He answered their question quickly, politely, before gesturing me to the right and guiding us both out of the fray. “Everything all right? We were just moving your things, packing up the house.”
I saw that, my fingers clenching my purse. It was weird now, being within the same space as him, like I was doing something wrong by being here and not telling anyone about it. It didn’t sit well at all, and I really wished I hadn’t come. I didn’t want to upset anyone. I…
Perhaps, he knew my discomfort as he studied my body language, a frown on his lips. “Have you come for something at the house? We didn’t know anyone would be here today.”
“I…” I started. You’re fine. You’re not doing anything wrong. “Yes, I did. Just wanted to grab one of my pieces so—”
I caught the mover guy before he got too far, taking the small canvas from him. When I cradled it, Callum had his head tilted. I felt bad for how weird I was being, but I had a feeling he got that.
How could he not?
“We really didn’t know anyone would be here.” A mover cut in front of him, his smile small at the man before looking at me. He lifted a hand. “Please. Take anything you’d like. It’s yours, and whatever you can’t we’ll have shipped to the Mallick household.”
“Thank you. Thanks,” I huffed. “Really. Thank you.”
“Of course,” he said, his gaze averting. I was sure this was just as awkward for him. He braced his cane. “Well, I suppose I better get back to it. Good seeing you, and I’m glad I got to. Your brother mentions you from time to time, but I’ve always wondered how you’ve been.”
I’d been well, and extraordinarily so. This was 100 percent due to the changes and people in my life, his grandson included.
Callum’s expression tight, he navigated away, and I felt like such a piece of fucking crap. He’d always been nice to us, and I was treating him like shit.
I didn’t want to keep doing that to him, treating him that way, and when he walked away so quickly, he let me know he hadn’t expected anything from me.
“He lost his entire family after what he did.”
“I want to thank you for what you did.”
