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“My dad,” I say, my tone robotic. “My dad’s in the hospital.”
Her hand flies to her mouth. “What happened? Is he okay?”
I shake my head. “He’s not okay. He’s been shot. Someone put a bullet in my father.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Callie
Donny’s lips are a grim line as we drive home. He’s speeding as much as he can, and I don’t blame him.
All this time, I’ve been caught up in my own head, thinking the Steels are golden. That nothing bad ever happens to them.
I want to reach out to Donny, grab his hand. Anything to let him know I’m here for him. That I wish I could help. But I don’t know what to do, really. My father is big and strong like Talon Steel. What would I do if someone shot him? If he were lying helpless on an operating table?
One thing is certain.
It’s time for me to stop thinking others have it better than I do. I love my life. So I can’t go to law school yet. So what? I’m only twenty-six. The law can wait.
I’ll still show up tomorrow to do my job, even though Donny and Jade probably won’t be at the office. They’ll be in Grand Junction with Talon.
Where they should be.
Donny pulls into the long driveway leading onto Pike property. He stops at my parents’ ranch house and moves to open the door.
“Don’t,” I say. “Just get back on the road.”
“I’ll walk you up.”
I place my hand on his corded forearm. It’s ice cold. “It’s okay. Please. Let me do this for you. Get to your father.”
He smiles and gives me a quick peck on my cheek. “Thank you, Callie. I… I’ll make this up to you.”
“Don’t concern yourself with any of that right now. Will you call me, though? Let me know what’s going on?”
He nods, and I leave the car. In a flash, he’s peeling out of the drive and roaring onto the road.
I choke back a few tears. We already know that Talon’s prognosis is good. He’ll most likely be fine, but until I hear for sure, I’ll worry. I heave a sigh as I head toward the door and then open it and walk in.
“Hey, you.” Rory walks out of the kitchen. “Did you have a nice time in Aspen?”
She doesn’t know. “Where are Mom and Dad? Jess? Maddie?”
“Maddie headed back to school with Angie and Sage. Jess is over at Dragon’s, working on music. Mom and—” She gasps. “What’s wrong, Cal? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“It’s Donny’s father. He’s been shot.”
Rory’s pretty brown eyes go wide. “Oh my God. What happened?”
“Shot early this morning while he was out running. A hand found him. He’s in surgery.” I gulp. “Things look good.”
“Thank God. Who would do such a thing?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. Donny’s beside himself.”
“Of course he is. I’m so sorry, Callie. Here. Let’s get you some tea or something.”
I follow Rory into the kitchen, and she puts the kettle on the stove. Tea. Mom always used to give us a cup of hot tea with milk and sugar when we were upset.
It won’t work this time, but Rory’s intentions are good.
“I’m not going to be any good for anything until I hear from Donny.” I sit down at the kitchen table. “I told him I’d go with him, but he brought me here instead.”
“Don’t take that personally,” Rory says. “It’s family time.”
“I know. I just wish I could do something.”
“You can let him deal with this in his own way,” she says. “You hungry?”
We raced out of the cabin without breakfast, but my stomach is a pit of despair. “I couldn’t eat,” I tell her.
“Just the tea, then.”
I pull my phone out of my purse and set it on the table, eyeing it as if it’s about to explode. Another half hour, and Donny will arrive at the hospital in Grand Junction. He’ll call me.
Except he may not. He’ll be busy with his family.
With his mom, who he’s very close to.
With his brother, who he’s equally close to in a completely different way.
With his sister.
Then there’s Diana in Denver. Is she driving out? Probably. I didn’t ask. It’s not my business, really. None of it is.
Donny and I have had one date. One. Sure, we fucked in his library at home, and we fucked a ton in Aspen, but it still only equals one date.
No commitment. No nothing.
One date.
Mom walks in then, her eyes heavy-lidded. “I just heard about Talon. Your father got a text from the sheriff.”
I nod. “Donny’s going to call me when he knows more. He’s on his way to the hospital now.”
Mom sits down at the table just as the teakettle whistles.
“Tea for three, coming up.” Rory turns toward the stove.
“You think you’re safe on your own property.” Mom shakes her head. “Now I’ll worry every time one of you is out there working.”
