13. Callie

“What do you think he wants?” Bianca pressed the large glass of wine into my trembling hand and sat on the couch next to me.

“I have no idea,” I murmured, only half listening as hold music played over the phone pressed against my ear. “I can’t even think straight. A normal person would never do something like this, right?”

“Definitely not,” she agreed, taking a large gulp of her own glass.

I stared down into the crimson liquid, watching as light tremors danced across the surface from my shaking.

I’d been shaking ever since I left that old facility and now that I was with Bianca, the fear hadn’t faded. If anything, it had gotten worse since I’d been on the phone with the police for the past twenty minutes trying to get someone to help me. The problem was, they weren’t taking me seriously.

“Sorry about that,” came a voice returning to the call. “So, let me get this straight, given the information you’ve provided me with today.”

“Okay,” I nodded.

“You want to file a complaint about a man who is claiming to be your husband moving your mother to a better treatment hospice to give her better care and pay the medical bills?”

When it was listed out like that, it did sound ridiculous and my stomach flipped tightly.

“It’s not as nice as you make it sound,” I replied. “He did this against my wishes. He has taken my mother to a different facility, and I don’t care that it’s better! He also lied and said we were married but that isn’t true!”

“Ah yes. I contacted the other facility, and they told me the paperwork went through without any complaints or revisions from you. So you… didn’t notice that he was listed as your spouse?”

“I… I didn’t look. I ran out of time, and it went through automatically. I’m not married so I wouldn’t even look there.”

“Right.” The annoyed disbelief in the voice only served to heighten my frustration.

“You have to arrest him or something! He can’t just steal my mother!”

“Are you unaware of her whereabouts?”

“No, I know where she is but that’s not the point! How are you so casual about this?”

“Ma’am, please do not raise your voice to me. I am trying to understand the situation so I can best help you.”

“You’re absolutely no help at all. Fucking Eli Talbot kidnapped my mother and all you care about is a marriage box on a form?”

“Ma’am—.”

“No! You’re supposed to help me. My mother has been taken, none of this has been done with my permission and I don’t understand how you can act like this is my fault or that there’s nothing wrong here.”

“Ma’am, I’m not saying that, and I am not judging. I am just trying to get as much information as I can so that we can take the right steps. Currently, it sounds like this isn’t a police matter but more of a marital dispute.”

“We’re not even married!”

My frustration boiled over and in the end, I ended the call and threw my phone against the cushion with a loud grunt of irritation.

Bianca’s hand landed on my back but I shrugged her off as the touch felt molten.

How could they not take me seriously? I knew how it looked. I knew that part of this was my own fault for getting so swamped in work, but it had slipped my mind just once. Once was enough, it seemed. Tears built up in the corner of my eyes and I tried to drown them by drinking the entire glass of wine in my hand.

Deep down, part of my pain was knowing that if the police didn’t believe me then there was no way Sawyer would. I really had no one to turn to, which was much more distressing than I could handle.

“I don’t know what to do,” I whimpered, setting down the empty glass.

Bianca was on hand with the bottle, pouring me another. “Maybe if we can work out why he’s doing this, things might make more sense?”

“I can’t think of any.” Sniffling, I wiped at my tears. “Charity, maybe? It feels more like some twisted mind game. He’s acting because he can, for no other reason.”

“I’m so sorry, chick.”

“Maybe he’s just a weirdo getting his rocks off my playing twisted games with a poor woman.” Another mouthful of wine chased that thought.

“Oh gross,” Bianca winced. “Although for that kind of money, a little sex doesn’t seem that bad.”

“Bianca!”

“Okay, I’m sorry,” she chuckled dryly. “I’m just trying to make you feel better.”

She was trying, and I appreciated it greatly, but right now, it wasn”t the comfort I needed; it was a solution.

Only, there was no solution.

“He always seemed so sweet each time he dropped off his dog. He kept telling me how he valued smaller, family-run places because it felt so personal. It felt like we were really taking care of his dog, and he wasn’t just a number. He was so charming.”

“He’s a snake,” I muttered bitterly, slumping back against the cushion. “He has such a terrible reputation for using people. All he cares about is money but I have none. That’s what I don’t understand.”

“What about your boss?” Bianca shot me a soft look. “Sawyer, is it? He’s rich and powerful, the same as Eli. Maybe he can help?”

“No,” I groaned, and hopelessness washed over me once more. “The police laughed at me. What hope do I have of Sawyer believing me? Eli is a rival, and not only that, he’s an asshole. I can’t even justify how this happened because it’s all my own fault.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks and Bianca’s face swam up and down.

“Plus, I don’t want to bring this kind of drama. I fucked him, his business partner and his friend. Eli is right. I don’t have much of a leg to stand on for those reasons, not the ones he thinks.”

“Oh sweetie.” Bianca gripped my thigh. “Are you sure there’s no way he would understand?”

I shook my head slowly. “Even if he helped, I’d then be in debt to him or he’d fire me because I’ve betrayed him. Plus, with everything that’s happening at work right now, how is it going to look if I turn up with complaints about the one man who has been at odds with Sawyer for years? Hanging out with the enemy? Then I’m back to less than square one. No, I’ll have to…”

Sitting up, I wipe at my cheeks and force a deep breath.

“I’ll go to the new facility and just cancel everything. I’m her daughter. I can do that.”

“I don’t want to be a downer,” Bianca said, “but as your voice of reason, what about the bills? Eli could drop you into a lot of debt.”

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?” I turned to her, frustration rising once more but upon seeing the sympathy all over her face, I sank back down. My anger was misdirected, and she did not deserve it.

“I don’t know, honey. I really don’t.”

After another glass of wine, I called the new facility and was somewhat surprised to find a pleasant-sounding woman more than happy to speak to me.

“Your mother is settling in so well,” she said sweetly. “You’re welcome to visit her any time you like, although we recommend letting us know in advance so we can ensure your visits don’t overlap with any activities your mother chooses.”

“I understand.” I held out my glass, and Bianca topped it up as I spoke. “I wanted to discuss payment because I don’t want her to stay there.”

“Well, as I said, your account is down as the primary bill payer, and while another party took care of the first month, the second bill will be more expensive due to upkeep and the like. Especially if you’re thinking of changing facilities so soon.”

“And if I want to leave immediately?”

“It’s ill-advised this early. Changing facilities again this soon will be detrimental to your mother’s health.”

“But what would it cost?”

“Given how slots work here, we will require three months’ payment as well as the leaver’s fee.” The voice turned a little more snippy. “I’m sure you understand, given that this facility is for long-term care, not a holiday resort.”

The call ended and the tears welled up once more. Bianca was right by my side to hug me through it while I dialed the number of the old facility to see how willing they would be to take my mother back.

They had a similar reaction to my questions and told me to discuss things with my husband before they’d be willing to even consider allowing my mother back.

I was completely lost.

It was hopeless.

Luckily, my glass was empty by the time I sank into Bianca’s arms and sobbed my heart out. Any plans I had didn’t have any substance to them and no matter which way I turned, I didn’t have the money or the support to dig my way out of this.

Eli was right; money and power were everything. I had none.

Once again, I contemplated talking to Sawyer but deep down I knew I couldn’t face him. I didn”t want to lose the only good thing currently in my life, not him or Liam or Kane. I had to solve this myself, and until Eli revealed what he wanted in exchange, I would just have to suck it up.

Bianca held me until the tears dried and there was nothing left inside me but the occasional dry sobs and gasp. She poured me another glass of wine and tucked my hair behind my ear.

“I know it feels hopeless but I’m here for you, okay? Hell, I’d even take your mother here and care for her myself.”

“I could never.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t ask that of you. You have your own life. This is my mess.”

“That may be so, but you’re not alone, okay? We’re going to fix this.”

I drink deeply, savoring the fruity taste that seeps past my dulled, cried-out senses. Bianca was my rock and already I was asking too much of her just putting up with my absences.

“You know,” Bianca continued, pointing at me with her glass. “Maybe we need to look at this differently. As an opportunity more than anything.”

Rubbing my eye, I yawned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Eli clearly has some weird, fucked up reason for doing this and whatever that is, it’s beyond both of us, right?”

I nodded.

“So, maybe you need to take advantage of it. Your mother is getting the best possible treatment right now which is a godsend for all of us. And he’s taking care of the bills which means you’re free to save up to pay him back. Letting her stay there can’t hurt.”

“Maybe. But what about what he wants in return?”

“Well, granted, he could ask for anything, and given his track record, I can’t even begin to guess what it is, but…” She took my hand and squeezed. “Your mom is getting care, and he’s taken a debt off your shoulders for now.”

“So I should focus on the positives?”

Bianca shrugged, laughing dryly.

“I don’t know, chick, but maybe, yeah. After all, what’s the worst he could ask for?”