Page 200 of Stolen Voices

With her safe in my arms.

forty-four

Callie

Epilogue

Thecrowdroarsasthe band behind me plays the intro riff for my songBurn for You. I meet my dancers in the middle of the stage as the purple spotlights fade from indigo to violet, to lavender, illuminating us as we move in sync to the beat.

I’m unsteady, shaky,

Then your hand lands on my hip

My heart stalls in my chest

the fire from your tight grip

Mismatched eyes struck by a black abyss

Drop your hold, leave me cold.

What is this?

Did you feel it spread, or is this all in my head?

I don’t know, here we go

I never thought a song I wrote to express how I feel about Eli would become my biggest hit to date. But he has been my muse since I’ve known him, so it’s not surprising.

The last couple of months have been a whirlwind, but even injured, Eli has been by my side through it all.

Word about Silla quickly spread after her arrest, and I had to do a few interviews to quell the public’s curiosity, but they weren’t too bad. The best part of being free from my evil half-sister is that everyone now knows me as Callie Cartwright, Andrew Cartwright’s daughter.

Thankfully, Silla won’t go to trial. Capturing her confession on video was a genius play. She pleaded guilty and received a fifty-year prison sentence for her crimes. Novak received a life sentence for his part in my father’s murder and for other various other crimes he committed. With them behind bars, I never have to think about them again.

But Silla? I hope that bitch remembers me every day for the rest of her life.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch the man I love standing stage side, watching me with a proud smile. He looks extra hot tonight, wearing a navy suit and matching tie with a white dress shirt. Hmm, maybe we can put that tie to use later.

Your touch is a fire

burning, scorching, flooding desire

Do you want my body?

it’s yours to keep, if you dare

Dropping onto my knees, I open them in time to the music, glance over at Eli, and blow him a flirty kiss. He sends me a smoldering grin as I stand and start singing the chorus.

A while back, he mentioned this move got his blood flowing south during all the rehearsals he sat through, watching me in my sparkly leotards. It’s why I kept the costumes. I enjoy turning my man on. Besides, they aren’t so bad as long as I’m on the ground.

Just make me yours

Take me in your arms, you can pull me closer to your heart

My body’s calling for you

Your sacred touch, your undying love, you got me in your web