Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Eddie

Normally I love the sound of skin hitting skin, but the slap she gave me stung like a son of a bitch, and now Callie's words are ringing through my head over and over. I've never stopped to consider maybe she's been through something like what I have—a colossal fuck up on my part. But I also won't deny her stripping down did things to the monster I shouldn't have felt in that moment, and I can't help that she fascinates me. A woman immune to my charms—I've only met three, and one is my mother, given she hates me. The other two were Sasha and Amelia.

Once I've kicked out the last of the women, I make my way to her room to apologise, even explain myself. I know I acted like a jealous boyfriend, and I hurt her, something I never wanted to do. I like to frustrate her a little because she's funny when she's mad. But tonight, she wasn't mad at me—she was beyond furious and that's a kick in the gut.

Her door swings open as I lightly knock, and I see most of her things are gone. She really didn't mess around. I thought I'd be able to talk her into staying, as I realise I really can't do this without her. Sitting on her bed, I run my hands through my hair. What did I do? I ruined another good thing in my life. Normal people learn from their mistakes. How many times do I have to repeat the same shit over and over before I get it through my thick head? I'm not invincible, and I'm certainly replaceable.

Her keys are sitting next to her bedside lamp. One thing people say about me is how impulsive I am, and I've always considered it a good thing. I swipe up the keys and run out to the car I bought her. The thought of her driving the death trap of hers scares the hell out of me. Robert, the security guy at the gate, sees me coming, and I click the button on her keyring to open the gate. When Marcus finds out I left by myself, he's going to kill me, so I want to get away quietly.

Pulling up to the curb in front of Callie's sister's house, I see the death trap parked in the driveway. I instantly lose all my nerve and contemplate simply driving away. She won't want to talk to me, so why upset her even more? I need a cigarette so bad, and I scramble around in her car, opening the console where I find an unopened pack. She even thinks about buying me smokes; I truly am an arsehole. Reclining the seat back a little, my nerves calm with each draw. The passenger door swings open, and a shorter version of Callie jumps into the car. The shock of how much she looks like her sister has me lost for words.

"Eddie, I presume. You should put that thing out because you wouldn't want a pregnant woman inhaling second-hand smoke."

"Sorry," I say, flicking it out the window.

"You've really done a number on my sister. I knew when Sasha came to me it was a bad idea, but she convinced me you two would be able to heal each other. It must have been a lapse in judgement on my behalf."

"Sasha?" I ask.

"Yes, Sasha is, or was, our sister-in-law. She was engaged to our brother before he was killed. For a rock star, and someone who really should look into who works for you, you don't seem overly careful."

"You're Amelia's aunt?"

"Yes, welcome to the conversation, genius. Amelia is our niece."

"How come I've never met you before then?" I ask, sceptical. How could Callie be Amelia's aunt and I not know?

"When Amelia was sick, Callie's drug addiction was possibly at its worst. She blames herself for our brother's death. I saw how happy Sasha and Amelia were with you around, and I had to focus on saving my sister, or at least try. I couldn't lose another sibling, and I couldn't let a little boy grow up without his mother."

"Did she try to commit suicide before or after Amelia?" I ask. All this information is so much to take in.

"I've said enough. But I can tell she cares about you a lot more than she admits to herself—she wouldn't have stayed longer than the first day if she didn't. She risked her sobriety for you that night at the club. Now, I'm going to sneak back inside, and what you do next is up to you." And with that, she's gone.

What am I supposed to do with all this information? I thought I was messed up, but Callie... my heart breaks for her. The pain she's had to endure is more than she should have to in a lifetime. I'm a man, and I should have acted like one. Climbing from the car, I try to run through my head what I'll say to her if she agrees to speak to me. I ring the doorbell and wait. Her sister answers and smiles, and my heart does a backflip—her smile reminds me of Callie's.

"Callie, you have a visitor," she says and invites me in. I take one step inside the door and wait.

"Oh, it's you. Go away. I have nothing left to say to you." I watch as she turns and walks back through the doorway she came from.

I look towards her sister, hoping to get non-verbal permission to follow her. She nods her head and I push through the door. Who knows, maybe acting like me will ignite the fire I see in her eyes every time we're around each other?

"I'm sorry. I didn't know about your brother and Amelia."

"Don't you dare feel sorry for me. I don't want your damn pity!" There is that fire. "I spent five years clawing my way back to normal. It was hard and so many times I wanted to give up, but I never did. But since I met you, I'm drowning, and it's too much," she says through tears as she falls to the floor and covers her face.

"I don't pity you, Callie. For the first time since we met, I'm getting to see the real you. Maybe it's not a side you wanted to show me, but I'm sorry for the way I acted." Sitting beside her, I place my hand on her shoulder, and she shrugs me away.

"So you should be," she says, looking up at me.

I place both my hands on her face, and she tries to pull away, but I don't let her.

"Stop fighting me for a second and look into my eyes." She humours me and looks, but I can tell she's only doing what I say so she can get rid of me. "What do you see?"

"What should I see?" she says, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"The soul of a broken man, Callie, begging you to give me another chance and help me. I acted that way out of jealousy. I, Eddie Diamond, was jealous. I have never felt like this before, and I was confused."

"I can't, I'm sorry. I never expected to fall for you, but I did, and I can't watch you do this self-destructive shit any longer. You need serious help, and I can't be the person for you now that I care so much," she says, pulling away. "Whatever this weird thing is between us, it's toxic. We're two fuck ups who can barely get their shit together."

"I don't accept that—we could be so good. I'll go to rehab for you and get clean, and maybe we can at least be friends and see what this is between us?"

"Rehab won't work unless you want it. And I don't want to be this person. I don't want to be dragged back to that place I was in."

"I'll prove it to you, I promise. You wait and see," I say, leaning in and half expecting a slap across the face, but she surprises me and doesn't move as my lips almost touch hers. "You're worth fighting for."

Though I feel her exhale against my lips, I pull away, leaving her breathless. I walk away before I do something I'll regret, like screwing her. To get her back in my life, I need to prove to her how serious I am. And to do that, I need to follow the damn rules.

Walking from Callie's house, I see Marcus standing beside his car. It didn't take him long to find me. He doesn't say anything, but I'm sure he witnessed my not-so-fine moment back at the house. The keys to her new car are in her room; she is keeping the damn car. Then I jump in with Marcus and ask him to take me to Fontaine Records. I need to speak with Oliver, and I know he will be there working late. I take out my phone and hit Mickki's number.

"What's up, bro?" he says when he answers.

"Did you know?"

"Did I know what?" he questions, and I expected that answer.

"About Sasha and Callie knowing each other. That she's Amelia's aunt."

"Yes."

"And you didn't think I should've known that?" I shout.

"Would you have worked with her if you'd known?"

"No, but that's not the point. You're my brother, the one person I should be able to trust."

"Then trust that when Sasha called me and I met with Callie, I could see the potential in her that Sasha could. Trust we did this for you. I want you here by my side, doing what we love. I don't want to do this without you, so I fought for you, Eddie. If you were gone, so was I. That's how we got this chance."

"What if I no longer love what we do? What if I love her, and this life could destroy her?"

"Then we walk away. We had a good run, but you're my blood, and we're in this together."

"I can't let you give up your dreams for me—you're the face and heart of Black Diamond. The guys need you. But it's come to my attention, my brother, that I'm replaceable, and I think I'm okay with that."

"Don't do anything rash yet. Sleep on it and see how you feel tomorrow. I'll support you, whatever you decide."

"I love you. You know that, right?"

"I love you, too."

We pull up at Fontaine Records and I go find Oliver; he and Alex are already in his office. The sneaky bitch was just at my house, and now she has run straight here. Maybe they have a thing, or maybe her being at the poker game was some sort of test so she could report back to Oliver that I'm a fuck up. Either way, I don't care.

"Sorry, he just stormed in," stutters out his feisty little assistant, or whatever she is. She's adorable, and I normally would have tried to get her into my bed, but not today.

"It's okay, Rach, Eddie doesn't follow the rules. You can go home now—it's really late," Oliver says to the little redhead before she leaves the room.

"What can I do you for tonight?" he asks, directing his attention to me.

"I want to quit. Get me out of my contract."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," he says.

"Why the fuck not? I want out, and I can always drug and booze my way out—I know daddy won't be happy if that happens."

He looks pissed, and so he should. I didn't want to pull the daddy card, but I'll do whatever works. Alex just sits and watches us like a fly on the wall.

"What caused this change of heart?" he asks.

"A certain busty woman with an arse to die for, I presume?" Alex says.

"Callie has nothing to do with this, so leave her out of it," I spit out.

"Two can play your game, Eddie. I can always drag Callie through a media frenzy."

"Arsehole," I mumble.

"I'm a businessman, Eddie, and I know if you go, so does Mickki. He's made that clear. Now, maybe we can come to an agreement. If you don't fuck up at this charity event Alex has set up, I'll think about a way to get you out of your contract."

"Deal," I say, before I turn and leave.

I never imagined someone like me would ever deserve someone like Callie, but I want to try. I want to be the type of man she deserves, and when I am, I'll come back and win her over. Honestly, I've never wanted anything as badly as I want her.