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CALLI

My body trembles from head to toe as Alex leads me through the foyer that’s full of massive arrangements of my mum’s favourite flowers. But I don’t really see any of it.

My head spins and my blood rushes past my ears at such a rate, I can’t help but wonder how I’m still standing.

“Are you okay?” Alex breathes in my ear, sending a shiver racing down my spine.

Plastering a fake-arse smile on my face, I turn to him. “Of course.”

“Yeah, nice try, baby C. That shit might work on Nico, but you’re not fooling anyone here.”

“He came to me last night,” I confess.

“Yeah, I figured. Although he never actually said the words.”

“He looked after me when I passed out in the den. Carried me to bed. Tucked me in.”

“Who knew the devil had such a sweet side,” Alex teases.

“He was gone before I woke. I don’t think he wanted me to know.”

“So, how do you?”

“His little helper ratted him out,” I say, a small smile pulling at my lips as I think about Jocelyn and her desperately needed advice this morning.

“Helper?”

“He’s got Jocelyn wrapped around his little finger, it seems.”

“Okay, wow,” Alex breathes. “I guess that makes a lot of sense.”

“Talking to her helped. It made me see things from a different angle.”

“And?” Alex asks as we step into the grand room where the party is being held.

The ostentatious gold and purple decorations pass me by, as do all the people who are already in here, ready to celebrate another year of my mother trying to control my life.

Yet, the only thing I see is him.

I swear, my heart stops at the sight of him. My stomach knots, my hands shake, and my chest aches as if someone just slid a knife straight into it.

He’s dressed like all the men here in his black Cirillo suit, and he looks just as hot as I knew he would.

“They’re only friends,” Alex whispers, as if the girl pressed right up against his side is the reason for me stopping the second my eyes landed on him.

“I-I know.” Isla pressing her tits against his arm is literally the least of my worries right now.

But despite knowing it’s the truth, it doesn’t stop the green-eyed monster popping its ugly head up as I continue to watch them talking together.

They’ve always been close, but I’ve never seen it quite like I am right now.

“Cal,” Alex warns, sensing my inner turmoil. “It’s you. He doesn’t see—”

“I know,” I assure him, squeezing his arm. “It’s just not that easy.”

“But it can be. You two just need to talk, clear the air. He needs you, Cal. And I suspect you need him too.”

Right now, like you wouldn’t freaking believe.


Tags: Tracy Lorraine Knight's Ridge Empire Dark