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He rose to his feet and paced into the living room. He turned the television on low, hoping to fill the silence that had never bothered him before. As he lowered himself wearily to the chair, a small vibration in his jeans had him frowning in surprise. Merinus’ cell phone. He pulled the device from his pocket, stared at it a moment, then flipped it open.
“Yeah?”
There was silence over the line.
“I want you to give this phone to Merinus.” The command in the male voice had Callan’s brows lowering, his possessive instincts towards Merinus flaring.
“And may I ask who’s calling?” Callan smirked. As though he didn’t know.
The silence again. The echo of quiet rage.
“Is she alive?” Had he been a lesser man, a shiver would have worked down his spine, Callan thought.
“Of course she’s alive,” he bit out. “Killing innocent young women is next year’s job. This year I’m just stalking asshole soldiers.”
“You have enough of them following after your ass,” the voice snapped. “I sent my sister there with an offer of help, not so you could abuse her.”
Callan came to his feet.
“I have not abused her,” he growled furiously. “If anything, that woman has, at every opportunity done her best to foil my best attempts to keep her from my problems. I blame you, Mr. Tyler, as her older brother, for her willfulness and her total disregard for authority. Your sister is a menace.” Frustration edged a deeper growl from his throat as he allowed his frustrations rein on the man who had most likely caused Merinus to develop such traits.
“Then you will have no problem giving her this phone so I can make arrangements to collect my willful sister,” Kane remarked smoothly, suspiciously. “I’ll be landing at the airport in a matter of hours. I expect her to be waiting for me.”
Callan stilled. “I don’t think that’s possible, Tyler.” He kept his voice smooth, calm. “Regrettably, your influence on her has been detrimental. She is a stubborn, determined woman, but she is now my woman.” Silence again. Callan imagined the man was fighting for control himself, a way to ease his sister from whatever danger he believed she was in.
“Don’t make me come in and take her,” Kane warned silkily. “You wouldn’t like it, Lyons.”
“And your sister would not survive it,” Callan answered him quietly. “Do not make that mistake.”
“Harm her—”
“I could no more harm her than I could harm myself,” Callan bit out. “Your sister is not in any danger from me. But she can’t leave me now, for her own safety, it’s out of the question.”
“She’s in more danger with you.” Kane bit out.
“She is tied to me now, Tyler, in ways you do not understand,” Callan sighed. “You may see your sister.
You may speak with her, but at a time that is of my choosing.”
“And you expect me to calmly accept your decision?”
“No, knowing Merinus must have learned her willfulness from somewhere, I would suspect I had better be watching over my shoulder for a while now.” Callan grimaced. “But never fear, Mr. Tyler, I have grown quite used to that habit anyway, so it will be no hardship.” Callan happened to glance up at that moment, Merinus’ scent drawing him, heating his blood. She stood in the doorway, her arms folded across her breasts, a frown marring her expression
“You’re wasting your time,” she told him patiently. “If that’s Kane on the phone, then you won’t convince him of anything.”
“Who says I wish to convince him at all?” he asked her, allowing a smug smile to tip his lips. “I merely grew bored with my own company.”
“Let me talk to her, Lyons.” Tyler’s voice was suddenly imperative, coldly furious at his ear.
Merinus stood patiently in front of him, her hazel eyes suspicious, hopeful. He sighed roughly. He should have never answered the damned phone.
He covered the mouthpiece carefully, watching her.
“I won’t mention the others,” she said softly. “But if you don’t let him talk to me, he’ll become dangerous, Callan. I don’t want you or my brothers hurt. And you can bet Kane’s not alone.” Callan snarled softly. A complication they of course did not need.
“Talk to him, but Merinus, remember. My Pride would give their life for yours. Don’t betray them.” He didn’t think she would, but they hadn’t survived this long on faith alone.
