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Tiny was rubbing his throat, but his own temper was also up. “Come on, I’ll beat the shit out of you. I ain’t no rat!”

“Liar, you just admitted that was yours! It was found on Callie’s body. You attacked her!” Sunny hollered.

“It was lost years ago! Banshee, Chatter, and I bought them as gag gifts, and mine went missing. I recognised it because mine had the red stone, Chatter’s had blue and Shee’s had green. I’ve got no idea how it ended up on Callie!” Tiny shouted back.

Sunny was beyond reasoning. “You would say that! You’ve been caught. That’s our damn rat!”

“Sunny, we need to ask—”

Sunny turned to Chance in hate and fury, and Chance stepped away in surprise.

“We need to ask Shee and Chatter to confirm his story. I always fuckin’ knew you didn’t believe me, and when confronted with the truth, you’d falter.

Take my cut because I am nothing to do with Hellfire anymore.

You are a traitor, too, Chance, to Enigma, Bullet, and Slash.

That cunt there is the man who set me up to be shot, and you’re automatically protecting him,” Sunny raged.

“Tiny, I’m going to have to ask you to come to the station. You’ve identified this as belonging to you,” Lio said.

“You arresting him?” Chance demanded protectively.

Sunny snorted in disgust.

“Not yet, but I will if Tiny doesn’t make his way there. This was found on an assault victim. Tiny needs to answer some questions,” Lio replied.

“Bullshit. Uncuff me, Lio. My woman’s unprotected. And as her fiancé, Hellfire is not allowed near her. Am I clear? That includes your bitches too,” Sunny stormed. His gaze swapped between Chance and Tiny. There was no denying the hate and anger he felt.

“You calm now?” Lio demanded.

“Let me out of the bracelets, Lio. Callie needs someone watching over her. One of these cunts might decide to shut her up permanently if she fingers Tiny,” Sunny snarled.

Lio studied him for a bit and nodded. No sooner than the cuffs were off, Sunny spun on his heel and ignored everyone. As he walked away, Clio called out to him.

“I’m her sister, you can’t stop me seeing her!”

“Watch me. Your fuckin’ dumb cunt of a husband believes a man whose cross was found down your sister’s top.

Unless Callie is cheating on me and fucking Tiny, there is only one way that got there.

So, fuck you all, you’re all a danger to her, and none of ya is allowed to be admitted.

Jesus, to protect him… I wouldn’t put it past you to bully, blackmail and threaten her not to identify Tiny,” Sunny seethed and left them behind.

He approached the desk as the receptionist stared at him wide-eyed. “I’m Callie Dixon’s fiancé. Her life is in danger from those people. Do not allow anyone to visit her. Just the police.”

The woman nodded.

“What room is Callie in?”

“I’m not sure if I should give her number out.”

“Lady, I am having a real shit day. I want to see if my girl is okay. Do not push me,” Sunny growled.

“I’ll take him,” Lio said from behind.

“Thanks. But you got a traitor to investigate.”

“Gold is meeting Sunny at the station. Sunny, the allegations you just spat out there need investigating. Callie needs protection.”

“Yeah, and my team and I will provide it.”

“Your what?” Lio asked, confused.

“My team. The team that’s been looking into finding the rat. They’re all ex-army and perfectly capable of protecting my family,” Sunny retorted. He was in a hurry to reach Callie.

“We’re gonna talk,” Lio promised.

“Whatever. Get me to her.”

Callie

I woke up snuggled in two strong arms and red hot. I tried throwing the covers off and instead hit a chest. What the hell? Confused, I opened my eyes and stared into Sunny’s worried face.

“Hey, kitten,” he murmured as he kissed my forehead.

“Where am I?”

“Hospital. You were hiking, do you remember?”

“Yes. I went to clear my head. It was a beautiful day… what happened? Did I fall?” I asked, puzzled. I rubbed my temples as a headache pounded at me.

“What do you remember?” Sunny inquired carefully.

“Just hiking. Sunny, you’re scaring me,” I murmured as I tried to recall the hike. As soon as I did, pain shot through my head, and I cried out.

“Hey,” Sunny pressed a button, and I sighed in relief as the pain faded.

“Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Callie, you were injured in a fall. You dislocated your shoulder and have a bad concussion and laceration to the back of your head. Your wrist is broken, and you sprained an ankle.”

I frowned. Flashes of looking at a waterfall came to me, followed by sitting down and taking in the view.

“Someone else was there,” I muttered.

The room door opened, and Detective Lio entered.

“Callie remembered something,” Sunny said to him.

“Hey, how you doing?” Lio announced as he sat on a chair. He looked relaxed, but his eyes and shoulders betrayed his tenseness.

“I hurt. What happened to me? I wasn’t alone, was I?” I asked, worried.

My memories seemed fragmented, but something was bothering me.

“Can you tell me what you remember?” Lio asked.

“You’re both scaring me. Sunny, please…” Please what? I didn’t know what I was begging for.

“Callie, the doctors have found injuries consistent with somebody pushing you. They’ve also discovered finger bruises on your arms,” Sunny replied, drawing me in close.

“Someone did this to me?” I asked.

Sunny rubbed his hands up and down me, trying to soothe me.

“We believe so, do you remember anything, Callie?” Lio questioned, sending Sunny a warning glare.

“Somebody else was there, but my memories are scattered. Sunny, did something else happen?”

“Evidence was found on you leading to a Hellfire member. Callie, I can’t tell you who, because that could affect what you remember. We can talk tomorrow as it’s very late. Maybe you’ll be able to make a statement then,” Lio said and rose to his feet.

“Okay.” I didn’t feel secure and clung to Sunny. A terrible thing had happened, I guessed that, but I was unsure what.

“Sunny, do not put words in Callie’s mouth.” On that, Lio took his leave.

“What does that mean?”

“Callie, it means Lio doesn’t want me to explain what we do know. But I’ve banned all of Hellfire and their old ladies from being allowed near you. Shit’s hitting the fan, and I have to protect you,” Sunny replied.

“Even against my sisters?” I gasped, horrified.

“Against the damn world, Callie. I love you, woman, and I won’t lose you.

Whatever it takes to ensure your safety, count on me to do it.

When this… asshole was confronted, Chance immediately moved to take his side.

That means we can’t trust Chance. If we can’t trust Chance, the same goes for the rest of Hellfire,” Sunny elaborated.

I heard his words, and a part of me took them in, but I was stuck on his I love you. The words hit me deep in my heart, and a small smile crossed my lips.

“I love you too,” I replied, and Sunny squeezed me.

“You had better. Because you’re stuck with me,” Sunny teased. He kissed my forehead again. “Close your eyes, kitten. I am guarding you. Rest is important right now.”

I did as ordered, but my eyes flew open moments later. “Cherry and Liv!” I exclaimed.

Sunny’s face softened. “They’re safe. My team is with them.”

“I’m so sorry it’s come to this. I never doubted you, but I can’t believe none of Hellfire trusted you.”

“The club and I are done. Chance doesn’t have my confidence or trust. He automatically jumped to… the brother’s defence, despite the evidence. Chance is blinded, and that’s only going to lead to further trouble. Don’t worry about shit, woman, just go to sleep and heal.”