Page 192 of Override

"Callum Rizzoli."

Callum? I know Callum. Everyone knows Callum. The connection doesn't make sense,

I stare at him. He adjusts his glasses. It is such a normal movement that it feels completely absurd in the middle of this conversation.

"Callum hired me to investigate Ronan."

My thoughts stumble. "What?"

"Technically, he hired Grayline."

"Your team."

"Yes."

I try to put the pieces together. "Why?"

"Because Ronan is involved in things Callum wanted to know more about."

"What things?"

"We don't know all of them yet."

"That's not reassuring."

"I know."

He says it so seriously that a small, broken laugh nearly escapes me. Nearly.

My eyes are burning too much now.

Keaton notices. His entire expression changes. "I wasn't telling him I was taking you back."

"You just said you would."

"If you want me to."

I shake my head. I don't understand why that makes the tears fall. One slips down my cheek before I can stop it.

Keaton's hands curl into fists at his sides.

"You would take me back there?"

His jaw tightens. "Yes."

Another tear falls. I see the anger then. Even behind the thick frames of his glasses, I see it. It flashes through his eyes so quickly that I almost step backward.

But it isn't directed at me. I know that somehow.

His voice is carefully controlled when he speaks again. "If that's what you wanted, I would take you back."

"Why?"

"Because Rachel said I have to trust you."

I blink. "What?"

He pushes his glasses higher on his nose. "Apparently, there is a significant difference between removing you from a situation and deciding what happens to you afterward."