Page 199 of Stolen Voices

I nod before giving her finger another nip. It’s so fucking hot when she takes charge. She’s always had this fire with me, but I’ve never seen it come out with others. It makes me feel so fucking proud because I know it’s a piece of Callie no one else gets, but I hope she channels that fire into her everyday life. She deserves to be heard, to live her life how she sees fit. Based on the way she looks right now—lighter, taller, and freer than I’ve ever seen her—I think that’s changed, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Callie deserves everything. And I plan on being the one who hands her the pieces that make up everything, for the rest of her life.

She curls into my side and threads our fingers together before starting her story. “I was sitting here, watching that machine help you breathe, and I was just so angry. Angry at you for protecting me, angry at myself for not doing something, angry at Silla for … so much stuff. And I just keep thinking about what you said when you gave me this.” Like she’s done since I gave her the necklace, Callie fingers the diamond bluebird at her throat.

“And what did I say that seemed so poignant?”

“You said that sometimes you’ll be supporting me and other times lifting me up. And I thought to myself … if I don’t pick myself up, then what kind of person am I? Am I weak and helpless? Or am I strong and capable?”

“And what did you decide, princess?”

“I’m strong. I was before you, and I survived. And now that I’m with you, I’m an even better version of myself. Stronger and more capable of anything because I have you to fight with me. You made me see how resilient I am. I know I can do anything because I have you. But we are also a team, and sometimes that means I need to fight for you too. So, I concocted a plan to get Silla to confess.”

“We had enough stuff to go to the police,” I reiterate. We had the Jenkins file and the security footage.

Callie looks up at me. “Eli, our evidence was circumstantial at best. We needed Silla to confess to all the horrible things she did so that she could pay. But really, I needed to hear her say the words. To admit what she did to me, to my mom, and especially my dad. It was the only way I could find peace and move on. To forget all about her, so we can start our life together.”

“And did you?”

“Hell yeah, I did.” She gives me a toothy grin, taking my breath away—bloody shirt, messy bun, and all.

I listen to Callie explain how she gathered my brothers, Hudson, and Boone in the waiting room and told them her plan to stage a confrontation with Silla. Callie had Boone and Hudson source stunt equipment for a fake shooting, she had Mason set up cameras and audio, and she asked Jace to stand in as her legal counsel. Cameron refused to be left out and went as back-up.

“Then, I waited for Silla to enter my trap. I knew there was no way she would just confess. She had to think I was dumb enough to let her get the drop on me. Would you like to see it?”

I hesitate, crunching on my peppermint.

Do I want to see it? Even though I know she’s acting, the idea of watching Silla shoot her makes me sick to my stomach. Callie must read the answer on my face.

“You don’t have to. Even though I think it’s some of my best acting.”

“You want me to watch, don’t you?”

She shrugs and cutely scrunches her nose. “It’s up to you, but if you don’t, Cam’s probably going to call you a little bitch.”

I bark a laugh but quickly groan in pain. It feels like hot pokers in my chest and ribs. “Aww, fuck. It hurts to laugh.”

“Elijiah,” Callie gasps with worry. She tries to jump off the bed, but I grip her thigh, keeping her in place.

“Nope.” I breathe through the pain. “You stay right there. I feel better with you right here at my side, princess. Please stay.”

“I’d like that very much.” She lies back down beside me and curls into my side. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Never. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a car crash to get rid of me, Callie.”

“How about no more crashes and no more crazy sisters out to kill me?”

“Sounds like we are going to have a pretty boring life.” I chuckle.

Callie sighs and smiles up at me, her big dark eyes shining with what can only be described as love. “I know. Doesn’t it sound wonderful?”

“Abso-fuckin’-lutely.”

We simultaneously lean in, our mouths coming together in an electric kiss. Our lips part in unison, and large volts of energy zing through me as our tongues touch, sliding against one another in a deep, tender kiss. Our kisses taste like Callie’s sweet flavor and peppermints.

I never thought I could love someone as much as I love Callie, but I do. She came out of nowhere and turned my life upside down. It used to piss me off, thinking it was wrong to want her and telling myself I’d never be able to have her. I was wrong. Being with Callie is the rightest thing in my life.

I’m going to spend my life making Callie happy, watching her eyes light up when she smiles, listening to her laugh and sing, and while she would hate to hear this, I’d take a million car crashes for her a million times over if it meant we’d end up right here together.