Page 16 of Tone Deaf
“Callum, look at me. We don’t want to alarm your mother in case nothing is happening with her. But if she doesn’t answer, then I’ll call Dean and he’ll get someone to her right away. Okay?”
I stop fighting his hold. “Alright.” Then I grab Dante’s phone and call my mother.
She answers in two rings, and her sweet melodic voice eases the pressure in my chest and I begin to tear up. “Mum?”
“Hey, my boy.”
Her calm endearment alleviates my worry as I begin telling her what happened to me.
Chapter Seven
Pen
As I pace the waiting room, Detective Faller walks in and goes straight to Dom. I’m glad it’s him and not his callous partner.
“Mr. Rossetti, Mr. Gallagher, I just want to reiterate that if you remember anything from today, I don’t care how minor the detail might seem, call me,” he says evenly.
“Do you have any leads?” Dom asks, his body taut like he would break in half if I touched him. So I keep the little distance I have between him and me.
“There might be something, but Longe and I are working on that.”
“There’s only one person,” Danny chimes in as he straightens in his seat and a sneer slides into place. “Brian Fitz.”
“He’s on the list,” Faller admits, then turns back to us. “Like I said, think of anything, let me know.” He glances around the room, smirks and then leaves.
“Did everyone see that?” Bobby asks as he unwraps a new sucker and sticks it into his mouth. If the band’s keyboardist keeps up with the sugar, his mouth will be full of cavities.
“Yeah, I’ve seen that look before,” Raef says, scratching at his scruffy jaw. “Appreciation.”
“Maybe he knows who we are and likes our music,” Danny adds with a half-cocked grin.
“No, Raef’s right,” Connor weighs in. “Appreciation of eye candy. And we are a handsome bunch.” The drummer chortles while his hands air drum to an imaginary beat.
“Babe.” John slides his hand around the back of his lover’s neck and squeezes. “Behave.”
“What?” Connor asks in mock innocence. “I’m only speaking truth. We’re hella hot.”
Soft chuckles echo around the room before quiet descends upon the space again, as we each reflect on the true reason why we’re here. Callum.
Then Tobias walks into the room, with Dante right behind him, and announces, “Callum’s asleep.”
“And you two left him alone?” Dom hisses as he takes a step toward the door.
Tobias’s eyes sharpen on Dom’s face. “No. The nurse is with him.”
Dom’s shoulder relaxes. “Sorry. It’s just that…”
“I know,” Tobias says knowingly, which confuses me. Does he know Dom and I have feelings for Callum? Does he know about the three of us?
“Do you really think Callum’s dad is involved in this attack?” Connor asks as he leans into his boyfriend.
“Anything is possible,” John says, squeezing the drummer’s hand.
Bobby drops down next to Raef and looks at the lead guitarist. “I didn’t get enough sleep in Vegas.”
Raef smirks. “Sleep? What sleep? I was at that damn poker table all night. I’m surprised I had enough energy to get to the condo before we got the call.”
“I ran out of money long before you,” Bobby gripes and looks away, pulling the sucker out of his mouth with a pop.