Page 31 of Edge of Heaven (Crimson Edge #2)

Taryn

My head is pounding and it’s so noisy.

I can’t imagine why Callum is making so much noise this early in the morning.

Is it morning?

I pry open my lids and everything is blurry.

What the fuck?

Did we get drunk last night? Why do I feel like I got run over by a truck? I really have to pee but it feels like so much effort.

“Taryn?” A soft voice.

Definitely not Callum’s.

“It’s Ryleigh. Are you awake?”

“Ry…leigh?” My voice sounds weird and I attempt to clear my throat.

“Shh. Don’t try to talk. They gave you a sedative last night so you could rest. Do you need me to get a nurse?”

“I have to pee,” I whisper.

“You have an IV. Hang on.” She disappears and I reach up to rub my eyes.

I’m in a hospital.

And as soon as I move I remember what happened—and why I’m here.

It all comes rushing back and an inadvertent groan leaves me that has nothing to do with physical pain.

“Here we are, darling.” A nurse with a faint British accent and a cheerful tone comes bustling in. “I’ll bet you want to freshen up. Those ribs will be a bit sore but you should be able to navigate the restroom.” She moves some IVs around and lowers the railing on the bed.

“Thanks.” I get to my feet slowly because it’s like every inch of me hurts, but the idea of peeing my pants is worse.

Somehow, I shuffle to the bathroom and sink onto the toilet and close my eyes.

Memories of yesterday come rushing back.

Callum’s hands around my throat.

Backhanding me.

Leaving me without my phone or ID.

Tate finding me in the hallway banging on Mick’s door.

Tate and Ryleigh taking me to the hospital.

Mick showing up and talking to the police.

Callum showing up and…I groan again.

I don’t even know what happened to him.

I do my business and then stare into the mirror.

Yikes. This isn’t good. I won’t be modeling for a while, that’s for sure.

I do the best I can with the toiletries available and then slowly make my way back to bed. The nurse tucks me in and checks my vital signs, saying something about breakfast, and then disappears.

Finally, I look at Ryleigh.

“What happened?” My voice almost sounds normal again.

“I don’t know what went on between you and Callum, but Tate found you banging on Mick’s door.

He wasn’t back from New York yet, but Tate heard the banging and came to see what was going on.

He knew right away you were in rough shape, so he called me.

Me, him, and Angus brought you to the ER. ” She pauses. “What do you remember?”

I frown. “Mick showed up and told the police it was Callum.” I shake my head. “Dammit, why did he get involved?”

“What do you mean?” Ryleigh sounds incredulous. “You can’t let Callum get away with this.”

“I had leverage!” I whisper harshly, blinking away tears. “This was my chance for him to not only pay for Toby’s treatment but also get away from him.”

“Toby.” Her face is neutral. “That’s your son.”

I realize my slip, but then it sinks in that she knows who Toby is.

“Mick told you,” I say glumly.

“What I don’t understand is why you didn’t. He would’ve been a toddler when we were in college…why didn’t you say anything?”

“I wanted…” I sigh.

That part of the story is hard to explain.

“My parents wanted me to go to college. My dad made me promise before he died. And since my mom had custody, I was embarrassed. Embarrassed that I got knocked up at fifteen. Embarrassed that the dad wasn’t in my life—he died in a car accident before Toby was born, by the way.

And embarrassed that I have a child I can’t take care of.

Not then and not now.” I swipe at the tears puddling in my eyes.

“You were a teenager. How could you take care of a child without help? Come on, don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“And then my agent told me it would be better if we kept Toby a secret. An up-and-coming model with a kid might be a turn-off to clients, assuming I wouldn’t be available to go to castings or shoots at the drop of a hat. So I kind of took that on.”

“That’s bullshit. Tons of models have kids.”

“Models with partners and money,” I whisper.

“No one cares about that. Your agent is an idiot.” She shakes her head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I take the tissue she hands me and dab at my eyes.

“What happened yesterday?”

“Callum figured out that I’m in love with Mick. He was cruder in his accusations, but it amounts to the same thing. He told me he wasn’t stupid, that he knew I was leaving him once he made the final payment for Toby and?—”

“Toby is sick,” she interjects. “We only got part of the story from Tate. He didn’t seem to know much and what little he knew, he felt bad betraying you and Mick.”

I sigh and tell her about Toby’s illness.

“Oh my God, Taryn!” She stares at me. “Angus has more money than fucking God. He’s literally going to be a billionaire before he’s forty. Ten or twenty thousand dollars is nothing for us… I mean, it’s his money but he would do this for me. For you. For Toby!”

“You and I haven’t been close in years. Yeah, it’s mostly because of Callum, but I didn’t feel right asking for money.

I didn’t want everyone to see me as this pathetic loser who can’t take care of her kid.

Not even when he’s sick. Here I am, partying with my rock star boyfriend, on tour, living my best life, while my kid is sick. ”

Ryleigh frowns. “That’s not what we’d see.”

“It’s what my mom sees. It’s what the attorney I talked to about custody said the judge would see.”

“You’re trying to get custody?”

“Not actively. I didn’t have the money to retain the lawyer, but I was saving up.

And being on tour with Callum was perfect.

He was fun at first, and the sex was good.

I didn’t need to rent an apartment, I sold my car, and I was getting work.

And Callum didn’t start to change right away.

In the beginning, I could manage him. I’d laugh off his misogynistic remarks, put him in his place when he went too far, and sex was a great way to distract him.

“Somewhere along the way…” My voice trails.

“I was leaving him. I literally packed up my shit and told him I was done. I was in the lobby waiting for a cab to take me to the airport when my mom called and said the funding for this experimental treatment fell through. And he swooped right in, offering to pay, saying he’d be better, if I just gave him another chance. ”

“Classic words from an abuser.”

I nod miserably. “And as time went on, things got worse. He got meaner and rougher and more demanding.”

“And then you started falling for Mick.”

“I was always crazy about Mick. We spent three days together four years ago and it was magical. But I was moving back to L.A. and he was busy with his music. There didn’t seem to be a way for us to be together so it seemed easier to just let it go.

Then, when I saw him again, I tried so hard not to think about everything, but it was hard.

And when I found out he felt the same… it got impossible.

But I didn’t want to run from Callum to Mick, the perpetual damsel in distress.

On top of that, I basically sold my body to Callum like a fucking prostitute. Gross.” I shudder slightly.

“It’s not gross. Your kid has cancer . I would beg, borrow, steal, or fuck whoever was necessary if it was my kid.

And shout it from the rooftops. I don’t care what anyone thinks.

People rob banks and commit murder to pay medical bills—and you were already dating Callum. No one will think anything like that.”

“Is Callum in jail?” I ask after a moment.

“You’re damn straight he is.” Both of us jump at the sound of Mick’s voice.

“Good morning.” Ryleigh gets up. “I’ll leave you two to talk. I’m going to go get some breakfast. I’ll be back.” She reaches over to squeeze my hand and then disappears down the hall.

Mick is standing in the doorway with a bouquet of flowers and a weird combination of ferocity and contrition on his face.

“Thank you.” I take the flowers as he leans over to kiss my forehead.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m sore,” I say.

“Liar. Three broken ribs have to hurt like a bitch.” He brushes warm fingers along my cheek. “I can’t believe he did this to you.”

“What did you tell the police?” I ask quietly.

“The truth as I know it, which is things he’s done in the past. Obviously, I wasn’t there when this happened.”

“I told you not to get involved,” I whisper.

“There was no way in hell I was going to let him get away with this,” he says, scowling. “And anyway, no matter what I said, he gave himself away when he got here.”

“But you gave the cops his name. Why would you do that when I specifically asked you not to get involved?”

He cocks his head. “Seriously?”

“I had a plan! I was ready to get out and now I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“You had a plan?” He stares at me. “Did your plan include getting your ribs broken and your face busted up? Was that the plan?!”

“Don’t yell at me.” I’m on the verge of tears and panic again.

Callum getting arrested again is bad.

For him and for me.

“Sorry.” He takes a breath. “But Taryn, what are you talking about?”

“It wasn’t intentional, I didn’t know what was going to happen yesterday, but because of what he did to me, I finally had leverage. It was my way out! And now…” She shakes her head. “Where is he? Is he still in jail? Was he at the show last night?”

“No. Tate filled in for him, and we don’t know what’s going to happen after this. I don’t know what happened after they arrested him.”

“Can you find out?”