Page 138 of The Twisted Beats

“Wake up.” I shake Callum. “Something’s wrong.”

With a sleepy and confused expression, he glances around the room. “What’s going on?”

Shooting pain stabs me in my gut and I grunt. I squeeze my eyes shut and curl into a ball.

“Callum…” I meet his concerned gaze. “Oh my… It’s so painful.”

“Lily…” He tosses the covers back, searching for my wrists.

I shake my head and he scans over me. His face drains of color when he notices the blood on my sheets coming from between my legs.

“Fucking hell, Livianna. You’re bleeding all over.”

“Call your mom. I think something bad is happening.”

Callum calls his mom and explains what’s going on. He speaks in a rushed, panicked tone. She talks to him for a few moments, then he hangs up.

“My ma said to get you into a warm shower.” He cradles me in his arms and carries me to the en suite. “She’s on her way over to bring you some things, help me clean, and change your bedding.”

“Callum, it hurts.” I rest my head on his chest.

“She said she’ll bring some painkillers for you.” He places me on the built-in bench in the shower. “I’m gonna need to undress you.”

“I can do it.”

“You’re pale and weak.” He steps out of his boxer briefs and turns on the water.

He adjusts it so it’s not directly hitting me. As he lets it warm up, he raises my T-shirt and removes it.

I lean back against the stone wall and moan. My cramps are terrible and the shooting pains keep shocking me every few minutes. They steal my breath.

He tucks his thumbs in the waistband of my bloody booty shorts. “Can you lift a little so I can remove these?”

“Yeah.” I shift so he can take them off.

Once I’m naked and the shower is at the right temperature, he helps me stand. I hold myself up by extending my arms and pressing my palms on each wall to keep my balance. I’m dizzy and weak, so his help is appreciated.

The clear water runs over me but turns rusty red as it goes down the drain. As Callum cleans me, his jaw twitches and his muscles are tight. He pretends to be calm as he gently runs the cloth over my skin, but his erratic breathing gives him away.

He tries to hide the anger spinning in his eyes when he sweeps the washrag over my stomach and between my legs. I shrink inside, thinking it’s because of me. Then I look down and see the swollen red and purple marks on my lower abdomen.

This happened because of what his uncle did. My ribs tighten as my disdain for him grows, but he’s Callum’s family and business manager. I’ll never be free of his presence. At least not if I want to be with Callum.

He continues to care for me, washing my hair and rinsing me off while continually whispering he’s sorry. I don’t respond, but not because I believe it’s his fault. I just don’t know how to feel.

Right now, I can only focus on the physical experience. In a weird way, it helps. It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as dealingwith what comes up when I think about the fact I’ve miscarried a baby Callum and I made.

He guides me out of the shower and is drying me off when his mom enters the en suite. She gives me a gentle, sad smile.

“I brought you some pads to wear.” She approaches as if she’s tiptoeing to us. “I don’t think you can use tampons when…this type of thing occurs.”

“Thanks. I don’t have any, so that’s helpful.” I sit on the side of my bathtub. “Callum, can you get me some underwear from my closet? They’re in the second to top drawer in the corner.”

“Sure. I’ll grab some clothes for you while I’m in there.” He hesitates as he looks me over, then turns and disappears into the closet.

His mom joins me at my side. “Livianna, I spoke to my doctor’s office. They said if you are bleeding too heavily, you may need to be seen.”

“Okay. I don’t know what’s normal, but my pain doesn’t feel right.”