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Even her clenched hand shook.
Callum opened the door with a big smile on his face, which quickly turned into a frown as he looked at her. “What’s going on?”
“Drew asked me to come here.”
“But why?”
Leah came round the corner, as did Rebecca.
“Meghan,” Rebecca said.
She let Meghan down, who ran off with her cousin.
Running fingers through her hair, Callie looked at him. “Tilly, she … she’s back. Er, she’s, she was going to hurt Meghan. I stopped her. Drew told me to come here to you.”
Callum closed the door. He put a hand on her shoulder but she pulled away from his touch.
“Drew told me what she used to be like. You know what she used to do?”
Callum nodded, shoving his hands into pockets.
“She could hurt him?”
“Drew can defend himself.”
“But he’d never hit a woman?”
“No.”
She shook her head. “It’s too risky. We can’t let them—”
“No,” Callum said. “Drew can handle this. He sent you and Meghan here. It’s our job to protect you.”
“But who’s going to protect him?”
“Drew can handle himself. You’re just going to have to trust him.”
She didn’t want Drew to take care of himself or to put himself in any kind of danger. This was fucking sick.
She looked at Leah, who immediately came forward. “It’s going to be okay.”
The words were nice but they were also hollow.
Why had Tilly come back to town?
Chapter Eleven
Watching Callie walk away upset Drew. He didn’t want to make her leave.
Tilly watched them go, spinning on her heel and collapsing on the sofa where a few days ago, he’d screwed Callie.
Seeing this woman, he felt angry.
For a year, he’d not heard from her, nor had his PI. He’d come home to find the house trashed, her clothes gone, and he had to figure out how to take care of a kid, keep a home and his job. He’d sent the divorce papers. He didn’t want to be married to this woman.
“You really have let yourself go if you think being with that is a step up from me. Come on, Drew, you hated her.”
“Why are you here?”
“You want a divorce and seeing as you’re shacking up with her, and ruining my reputation because of it, I don’t see a reason why I should grant it to you. Adultery and all that.”
“Adultery.” He laughed. “The entire time we were married I didn’t stray. I know for a fact you slept with a dozen men. All of them will gladly take my side and tell the courts exactly what kind of a slut you are.”
“Yeah, and I’ll take custody of Meghan.”
“Try it, Tilly. The way you reacted then, no one in the world would give you custody. People here know you. You don’t have a job, you’re not stable, and I’m pretty sure people know what kind of person you are.”
“Oh, you mean because I stood up to you. Because I wouldn’t let you hurt me.” Tilly stood. “There are always ways of getting the truth to look just how I need it. I didn’t want you to hurt me, Drew, so I hurt you to stop you from attacking me.” She covered her face. “Don’t hurt me, please, don’t hurt me.”
“I can’t believe I ever married you.”
“If you don’t end this charade with that bitch, I’ll make you pay. I will have this entire town believe that you’re a beater, and I’m the victim.”
“You really care that much about who I’m dating.”
She shivered. “Please, don’t use that term.” Tilly cringed. “She’s horrible. I mean all of that fat.”
“She’s more woman than you will ever be.”
He should have seen the punch. It didn’t knock him out, but he stumbled back, cupping his face.
“No, she’s not more woman than me. I’m the best you ever had, Drew. Do as I say or you’ll regret the day you took her instead of me.” Tilly got to her feet. “I can’t stay here. When you’re done getting rid of the filth, clean this place of it.”
Tilly let herself out of the house and he touched his eye. He was going to have bruises tomorrow.
Fuck. He’d never reported Tilly’s abuse.
Now he was fucked.
Tilly could act the victim.
He didn’t want to lose Callie, nor did he want to have to go through a custody battle to have his little girl.
The door opened.
“Drew, where are you?” Callum said, the panic in his voice clear.
“I’m here. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Callum slammed the door closed. “Where’s the fucking slut?”
“She’s gone. She’s done her damage and now she’s gone.”
He’d slumped on the sofa. All he wanted was Callie wrapped around him, holding him, but instead, he had emptiness.
“Did Callie come to you?”
“Yes, she’s safe.”
“Good. I didn’t want anything to happen to her. Tilly went to hit Meghan. You should have seen Callie. She was … amazing.” He winced.
“She punch you in the eye?” Callum asked.
