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“Like I said,” I eyed him. “We only have half stories.”
“Well, let's look at what we do know.” Kane sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Eli is the CEO of PRISM. PRISM got a hold of our patent but it was the old design that we never went with because it was a legal nightmare.”
“Which means it was stolen from my computer,” I added. “Since all the details of the new design were kept with you.”
“Yup,” Kane nodded. “Eli attends Bianca’s vet clinic and then gets her fired over some bogus claim.”
“And according to Bianca, Eli was always sweet with her so it doesn’t strike me as a personal attack. So, did he do it to hurt Callie?”
“But why?” Kane prompted. “He has the patent and he thinks he’s won.”
“He moved her mother and used his wealth so that no one blinked, but according to the nurse, Callie had been asking about the cost of moving her back.” My lips pressed together and I groaned. “She must have been so twisted up.
“You think he’s using her mother against her?” Liam asked, his own leg starting to rock back and forth. “Acting like some savior by getting her help and then using it to hold something over Callie?”
“I think so.”
“Oh fuck,” Kane balked suddenly and we both looked to him. “The patent countersuit was with the old version and was not viable. And our lawyers would have let his lawyers know that yesterday when I worked it out. So Eli doesn’t think he’s one.”
Something cold crawled over my shoulders, and realization crashed hard into my chest. “He thinks he’s been set up. He’ll think Callie set him up.”
“Oh my god,” Liam breathed. “We have to find Callie!”
30
CALLIE
The Crane Enterprises building stretches before me like a gigantic statue, utterly stoic upon my approach. For years it was a symbol of comfort. A sign that I would soon be at my desk, ogling my hot boss from a distance. I never could have dreamed I’d end up like this back then.
Never did I dream that I’d know what his lips tasted like. What his cock felt like. Nor did I ever think I would bag two other insanely attractive men also interested in me and not have to choose which one I wanted to be with. That kind of acceptance was glorious.
Each step closer is weighed down by the understanding that this was the last time I would ever walk through those doors. The last time I would ever think of this company, or those men, with fondness in my heart. I needed to ignore the love blossoming in my heart, and ignore the sharp ache that was slowly taking its place.
Once Sawyer read my letter, it would be all over.
No more secret smiles. No more kisses and touches. No more love.
I prayed Bianca would be okay. The men I loved had good hearts and I was certain they would do something to help her, even just because it would mean getting one over on Eli. I was partly curious if Bianca would end up telling them everything, but in the end, I was sure it wouldn’t matter.
I’d already said goodbye to my mother, and the last tear-stained portion of my letter was a plea for them to try and help her. If Eli punished her to hurt me, she would have no idea what was going on. She didn’t deserve to suffer for that.
I was going to jail, wasn’t I? What I did was definitely illegal and I wouldn’t be surprised if Sawyer did everything he could to see me locked away for spilling company secrets. I think I’d always known that somewhere in the back of my mind. I just hadn’t cared.
My fear of Eli and my desire to protect my mother had always been stronger.
My attempt now to do the right thing was too little, too late. But I couldn’t keep quiet any longer, not when Eli was targeting the innocent people in my life.
As for the baby… I had no idea what to do there either. I left that part out of the letter. Confessing my love for Sawyer and the others is the last pain I can inflict on them. They went from crushes to such strong pillars of support in my life, caring for me in ways I had never experienced.
Telling them I’m pregnant felt like too much, so that secret I will keep.
For now.
The building draws closer and my steps falter. Each one is slower than the last and the backs of my thighs start to tremble. My life, as I knew it, was about to be over.
Suddenly, something solid collided with the back of my head, sending me crashing forward onto my hands and knees. A yelp of pain tore past my throat but when I tried to take a breath to gather myself, something rough was thrust over my nose and mouth.
My next breath was dragged through the rag, and the pain flaring at the back of my skull dulled instantly. The sharp pebbles digging into my palms faded to a dull ache and darkness washed over me in seconds.
