Callin looked at the numbers on the sheet of paper, debating what to do. He glanced up at Riley, who stood watching him encouragingly. Callin knew he had to do this. As wrong as it felt financing a man like Riley, he had to do it. And he believed that once he paid, Brianne would be released as promised. Riley was in this to make money, and he didn’t care who gave it to him. He would honor the deal.
Callin pulled his cell phone out and called his bank. After a couple of security questions and a bit of back and forth, the transfer was done. Callin ended the call and looked at Riley.
“It’s done. Check your account,” he said.
Riley had already pulled his cell phone out as Callin ended his call. He tapped on the screen and smiled up at Callin.
“So it is,” he said. “Please go on through to the living room and the girl will be brought to you.”
Callin opened his mouth to protest, but Riley shook his head.
“That’s the way it works. Take it or leave it,” he said.
Callin resisted the urge to attack the man. He was so close to getting Brianne back and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin the deal because of his own damned impatience. With great effort, Callin moved toward the door Riley had pointed to. He went into the elegant living room, but he didn’t sit down. Instead, he paced the floor, trying to keep his dragon under control.
If he screws me over, or he’s hurt Brianne in any way, I’ll torch this whole fucking house, Callin thought to himself as he paced.
He heard footsteps approaching and he turned to face the door, ready to turn at a second’s notice. Riley stepped into the room, Brianne a step behind him. Callin felt relief flood him at the sight of her. At a quick glance, she didn’t look like she was hurt. She smiled at him, her expression of horror turning to joy when she saw it was Callin who was waiting for her.
“You found me,” she said.
“Of course,” he nodded. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she said. “How did you…?”
“Let’s go,” Callin said, hating that he was cutting her off and acting so cold, but desperate to get her out of that house and back to his place where she would be safe.
Brianne seemed to understand as she nodded her head and stepped a little cautiously away from Riley. Riley made no move to stop her. He even stepped to the side so that Callin could pass him easily.
“This isn’t over,” Callin said to him as he passed by.
“I assume that was meant as a threat which I’m going to ignore, and instead, offer you some advice,” Riley said. “You’re right. This isn’t over. But not between me and you. Between you and Valerie. Do you really think Valerie is going to welcome this girl into the pack with open arms after she was the one who delivered her to me? Just something for you to think about.”
Callin didn’t want to hear any more. He didn’t even want to think about what Riley had said, although now that he had heard the words, he saw instantly that they were the truth. In that moment, he didn’t care. All he cared about was taking Brianne home and being with her. He would worry about the rest later.
He took Brianne’s hand in his, marveling at the fact that even now under these circumstances, the feeling of her skin against his sent shivers running through his body. He ignored the feeling, staying alert, as he led Brianne out of the house and to his car. He opened the passenger door for her and waited for her to get in and then he shut the door and went around to the driver’s side and got in. He fired up the engine and drove away.
“Who was that man? The one who got burned?” Brianne asked him as he drove.
“He wasn’t a good guy, Brianne. He was a bear shifter who had come to buy you from Riley. I explained the situation to him, but he insisted he was taking you. I couldn’t let that happen,” Callin said, praying she understood that and didn’t think he was a monster.
She smiled a little.
“You saved me,” she said.
She understood. Callin felt relief flood his body.
“I told you that you would always be safe with me, Brianne, and I meant it. I only wish I could have stepped in sooner, but it didn’t even occur to me that Valerie would pull a stunt like this.”
“How did you find me?”
“Because Valerie couldn’t resist bragging about what she had done,” Callin explained. “Look, Brianne, if you want out of this world, I get it. I would hate to lose you, but I will understand. I can take you somewhere safe and you can leave the state, and…”
“I don’t want to leave the state, Callin. I want to be with you,” Brianne said. “I love you.”
Callin judged he was far enough away from Riley’s place to pull over safely. He knew he wasn’t being followed. He pulled the car up to the curb and turned to face Brianne, who also turned in her seat and smiled at him with tears shining in her eyes.
“I love you too, Brianne. More than you will ever know,” he said.
He closed the gap between them, pulling Brianne into his arms and kissing her. She kissed him back hungrily, her arms wrapping around him. He didn’t want the kiss to end, but he had to pull away, because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from making love to Brianne right there in the car. And the road they were on was pretty busy and not the sort of place they could do that.
“My place?” Callin said.
Brianne nodded breathlessly and Callin pulled away again. He drove as quickly as he could without breaking too many laws, and pulled up outside of his
