Page 66 of The Broken Keys

Fuck it. Maybe talking to him will help me waste time.

“Hi, Callum.”

“Hey, vixen. I just wanna see if you’re…we’re okay.”

“Of course we are.”

“You sure?”

I glance toward the stairs where the answers to my future sit on the counter in my en suite. The circumstances splinter in my head.

How do you expect to pull this off, Livianna? If I’m pregnant, can I keep the baby safe?

That frightening thought just occurred to me.

Callum…our loss.

It’s enough to send me into overdrive. Adrenaline spikes in my veins, and my heart thumps. My breathing quickens.

The space around me blurs. “Shit. I can’t do this.”

“Lily, what’s wrong?”

“I… Callum… I can’t breathe.”

“Are you having a panic attack?”

I see spots. “Yes… Help me…please.”

“Where are you?”

“Home.”

“I’m not far from you. What’s the gate code and I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

But I think he’s already too late.

Chapter Fourteen

CALLUM/CASH

Now

Beautiful Hero & Delicate Denials

The moment she breathes wrong, nothing else matters.

“Stay with me, Lily. I’m close to your place.” My pulse is already racing. “Keep talking to me, love. Focus on my voice.”

Her breathing comes in short, jagged gasps through the phone. “I can’t... Callum, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You’ve done this before. We’ve gotten through this before.” I curse under my breath.

My car is in the shop. After I dropped her off last night, it broke down. I spent three hours trying to get someone I trust to pick it up and get me a rental. I’m in a loaner. It’s some electric thing my assistant insisted I take.

“Lily, listen to me. Count backward from ten. Can you do that?”

“I... I don’t…”