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Callie squeals and jumps off my lap, leaving me to hide my erection by grabbing an oversized hoodie off the chair and hastily pulling it on.
East and Devon dish up the food and Callie keeps busy by making drinks. I don’t even know what time it is, but eating meals together in the middle of the night isn’t exactly unusual for us. I still don’t understand how Callie can think we’re plumbers. There aren’t that many late night emergencies in the industry, surely? I sometimes wonder if she knows more than she lets on, or if she deliberately blocks out details she doesn’t like.
I glance at Devon and East as they re-enter the room and realise that they must have stopped off on their way home to stash the gear and freshen up at one of our safe houses. There’s not a hair out of place on either of them. Callie would never suspect…but then again, how many plumbers stay so pristine in their line of work? I shake my head. Maybe we’re really shit at covering our tracks, but I think Callie sees what she wants to see.
No-one says anything as we sit down and begin to eat, but eventually Callie breaks the silence.
“You guys didn’t have to rush back for me.”
“We didn’t. We were done and right around the corner already,” East promises easily.
“Still…I feel stupid.”
“You have nothing to feel stupid about, cariño,” I jump in. “You had a massive shock and were rightly upset.”
“Do you want to tell us about it?” Devon prompts.
“My mama called,” Callie begins in a shaky breath. “She was drunk and abusive as usual, and asking for money. An insane amount of money that I definitely don’t have.”
“Oh,” East sighs.
“She thinks you’re all my rich boyfriends and that I should ask you for the money.” Callie’s cheeks heat and she giggles nervously. “I wouldn’t of course! When I said I didn’t have that kind of money, she went off on one saying that the only time I was of any use to her was when she s-sold me…”
“What?” East snaps. Devon jumps to his feet, fists curled into a fighting stance.
“Th-there’s more…” Callie stammers, refusing to meet our eyes. She looks miserable. Heartbroken. When she continues to speak, her voice is barely a whisper. “She called me useless and said I couldn’t even open my legs right and die properly for her.”
There’s a stunned silence while I wait for Devon to explode. I want to explode and I’m usually the calmer one. I did not see this coming at all.
“Fuck!” Dev releases a harsh bark and Callie shrinks back into me. The movement is so infinitesimal that I don’t think anyone else will notice, but pain flashes in Devon’s gaze before he looks away. He runs his fingers through his hair in agitation and paces, his food forgotten.
“You okay, Cal?” East asks, watching her closely. His face is full of compassion and concern, but there’s quiet fury in his eyes too.
“It doesn’t make any sense.” Devon is muttering to himself in the background but I’m so focused on Callie I can’t make out what he’s saying.
“What doesn’t?” I prompt her.
“She has to be talking about my…the ab— when I was taken, right?”
“I think so, cariño,” I agree sadly. My heart is breaking for her even as rage bubbles in my veins.
“But then…” she trails off, biting her lip and getting lost in her own thoughts.
I can imagine what she’s processing, but like me, she can’t connect the dots.
“Let’s talk about this in the morning,” I decide, trying to give Callie some time. Before the guys can protest I shoot them a look, just as Callie quickly throws her arms around me for a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I’m going to go to bed.”
“Aren’t you hungry? You haven’t touched your food,” East points out.
“I’ll have it tomorrow if you don’t mind putting it in the fridge for me. I had some cereal earlier so I’m not going to starve.”
“Sure thing, Cariño,” I promise. “Want me to tuck you in later?”
“Please.” She gives me a shy smile that makes my heart race and then waves awkwardly at the others before heading to her room and closing the door fully behind her. Small baby steps of progress.
“She seems…different.” I meet East’s frowning, puzzled expression, hoping that my face doesn’t give away my guilt.
