Beautifully Mine

by Tara Lee

  I’ll admit it felt pretty damn good knowing I could calm her even in her sleep. My own nightmares are a reality, and now I know hers are too. The pain of seeing her so broken, so fragile, is a pain I never want to experience again.

  Callie is different, and I know in reality we can never be. Fuck, with my past, and more, who was my past, she’ll run for the hills as soon as she knows, but I’m going to hold on to her for as long as she’ll let me. She has no clue what kind of man I’m about to become.

  Something happened at her parents’ estate, that much I know. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something went down and it rattled her.

  She jumps in her sleep, and my hands spread further over her hip, putting enough pressure there for her to know I’m here.

  I watch as she moves like she’s fighting someone off. I lean over her and observe as her face is tortured and panicked. A single tear slides down her cheek.

  What the fuck?

  “Callie?” I softly run my fingers down her cheek.

  She lets out an audible gasp and shoots up. My hands enclose, around her shoulder, stopping her from forcing us both from the bed. I force her to look at me, my hands wrap around her cheeks and neck holding her in place.

  “Hey, it’s just me, you’re safe. I’m right here,” I whisper.

  Callie breaks and slams into my chest, folding her arms around my waist. I hold her as loud sobs break free.

  “Shh.” I comfort her by running my fingers down her shoulder and across her cheek.

  Fuck, this isn’t like her. What the fuck happened?

  “Piccolina.”

  She digs her face deeper into my chest and buries herself as far as she can.

  “Talk to me.”

  She shakes her head but doesn’t attempt to move.

  Fuck, I’m not used to this, a woman crying like this. I’ve never had anyone steady, so this is new territory for me.

  Callie slowly pulls herself free from the confines of my chest and wipes her face. It’s splotchy and red from her tears, but damn if she never looked more beautiful than she does now.

  Knowing she’s hurting and I have no way of fixing it, not without her hightailing it out of here screaming, hurts.

  “Let me fix this?”

  She shakes her head, and fresh tears fall down her cheeks.

  I sigh, knowing despite what I do, nothing will change this. Our future is doomed regardless. I’m due to take my father’s place any day now, and Callie will be God knows where living her best life without the Mafia prince to control her every move. Because even though my life is no life for her, she would be heavily guarded every day, under danger constantly, and have no one but me to confide in. She would lose Luna because no way will Ethan let Luna anywhere near me once he knows the truth.

  I will lose Ethan, my closest friend, my only friend once he figures out my place in this world will soon be my father’s.

  Knowing revealing the truth will make me lose the two closest people in my life makes the regret of bringing them into my life all that more powerful.

  I'm truly fucked. Why did I have to be his son?

  I let Callie cry on my shoulder, waiting her out. My teeth clench as I think of what she went through. What he did to her, he will pay for with his blood for ever touching my piccolina.

  It sickens me to think her parents let this man into their home and he took from Callie simply because he knew he would get away with it. Well, not anymore. This man will pay, and I’ll make sure he suffers before I end his life.

  I had to make a phone call.

  Callie’s fingers grip my shirt as she sobs into my chest. It rips my heart knowing I couldn’t protect her, I couldn’t save her from him.

  “Ssh, I got you piccolina.” I don’t speak a lot of Italian anymore. It makes me think of my mother. She used to speak it to me all the time. But Callie brings out that side of me. I find a lot of the times when I’m angry my Italian awakens inside me.

  “I’m so sorry.” She cries, and my hold on her tightens.

  “Never apologize, baby, mai- never.” I grind my teeth, almost certain I’m going to need a dental appointment after this.

  “I can’t do this.” The way she says those four words guts me.

  “Please don’t give up, you are so much stronger than you realize. I will fix this, Callie. I swear to you he will pay.”

  I see the moment it registers on Callie’s face. She pulls away from me. Her grip loosens as she drops her hands.

  Callie stares at me for what feels like hours, but I know it’s mere minutes, slowly blinking her eyes.

  “Bishop I—”

  I wait with bated breath, eager for her to tell me to fix this for her.

  Fuck, I’ll do it, I don’t need her permission.

  “Callie?”

  Her pained expression is enough to kill me. The very thought that she can’t stand the sight of me, even when she doesn’t know my darkest secret. I need her to see the truth. To see how fucking good we look together.

  Nothing will stop me from being by her side, nothing will stop me from protecting her until I take my last breath.

  Of course, sometimes it only takes three little words to shatter your entire universe, bringing your entire world crashing down.

  “You should go.” I peel myself from him, even with my body screaming at me to lie back down and take what he’s offering.

  Bishop never cuddles. Like ever. For him to hold me like this has to mean something, right? But my heart is stupid because as much as that bitch wants to lie by Bishop and never let him go, my brain knows it’s a temporary thing, and he’s just being friendly.

  “Callie.”

  Not brat. My heart sinks at him speaking my actual name, not the nickname he’s given me. Who knew I would hate my name leaving his lips.

  “I can’t, Bishop. I just need—” I don’t know what I need. I thought being with him last night would erase it all, make me forget, but even now with Bishop’s scent all over me, I can still smell Eric, still feel him on my skin.

  Nothing will ever erase that. He took from me, and no amount of Bishop will erase what he did.

  “I’m not leaving when you're like this.”

  “Like what?” I feel overwhelmed. I need him out of my space so I can think.

  “Fuck, Callie. Upset, confused, and fuck, I don’t know, like the sight of me makes you want to puke.” Bishop’s raised voice makes me jump a little, and I see the hurt response on his face at my body’s reaction to it.

  “Callie, I would never.”

  He tries to grab my shoulders, to pull me into him, but I place my hands on his chest, forcing him to let go.‘I know.’ I want to whisper, but it doesn’t even make it out.

  I wrap my arms around myself, shielding my body from him.

  Bishop sighs and runs his hands through his messy locks.

  “When you’re ready to talk, you know where to find me.”

  He brushes past me, and the slight touch almost makes me turn and scream ‘don't go,’ but I know I have to let him.

  The slam of the door has the first tear sliding down my cheek. I fall to the floor in a heap and crumble.

  I’m not sure how long I’ve been here, for it’s not until I feel arms wrap around me that I jump from my zombie-like state.

  Luna hugs me tightly, never letting go. I cry all over again for a whole set of different reasons.

  By the time Luna helps me to the couch, I’m a splotchy mess as my hair sticks to my face and my eyes feel like they will explode.

  She hands me a glass of water and hugs me to her side.

  “Wanna talk about it?”

  I let out a soft laugh and stare at my best friend.

  “You should be with Madden.”

  She waves me off like it’s nothing, but that little boy is her everything. He may be adopted, but don’t let that fool you. She is fiercely protective of him, and I’m surprised she left Ethan alone with him. Yeah, she hates being away from him.
I guess one day I'll know that feeling. Maybe.

  “You think I couldn’t figure out my best friend needed me more right now? Besides, he’s with Ethan, and they are enjoying some much-needed Daddy and Madden time.”

  I remember she was supposed to come last night but I found Bishop in my apartment.

  “Why didn’t you come last night?”

  She locks her lips between her teeth, struggling to hold back a smile.

  “Luna?” I tug her hand in mine, forcing her to look at me.

  She giggles and covers her mouth to contain herself.

  “I came, but as soon as I went to knock on the door I heard...” She trails off, avoiding looking at me.

  “What?”

  “I heard you and Bishop.”

  My eyes go wide at her confession.

  “Oh.” My mouth hangs open as Luna tips my chin up to close my mouth.

  We both hold back our laughter.

  “Yeah, oh, I mean, don’t get me wrong, it sounded hot as hell, but you guys were going at, and it was like wild monkey sex, I practically ran home and jumped Ethan, unable to control myself.

  “Wow, lucky Ethan.”

  We both burst into a fit of hysterics unable to contain it any longer. We fall back together on the bed, staring at one another.

  “You guys are good together, even Ethan’s rooting for you guys,” Luna says.

  I slowly nod, not really focusing on her words, but the thought that Ethan is on our side makes me smile. He was a good husband and father.

  I will admit watching Ethan with Madden had me all mushy, and when he holds him, God, my ovaries explode. I mean, not that I like or see Ethan like that at all. But the man’s hot, and I for sure won’t deny it.

  Luna giggles.

  “Are you thinking of them together and it’s making your ovaries explode?”

  I nod, and she bursts out laughing.

  “Can’t help it when your husband holds that tiny boy, I just don't know it makes me feel things.”

  Luna lays her head on my shoulder.

  “You and me both, sister. Sometimes I’ll sit there and watch them together, and Ethan feels me staring and calls me on it. I can’t help it either, he looks damn sexy holding our son.”

  Luna turns serious, and her look says ‘spill,’ so I do.

  Half an hour later, I’ve broken down another three times and realize my feelings for Bishop are more than I even knew. He may push me away or keep me at arm's length, but deep down he cares about me.

  Maybe not in the same way I care about him because men sometimes have trouble working out their feelings, but Bishop has secrets the size of Gods know what, cause he won’t tell me even a little bit.

  “You care about him, don’t you?”

  Her hand is wrapped in mine, and I nod at my best friend. There is no point in denying it, Luna has already figured it out. She sighs, and I know there is a speech coming.

  “Bishop is a complicated man, Cals, he has so much he keeps inside, stuff I’m sure Ethan doesn't even know. He hides himself well and he makes sure to never let anyone close.”

  “I know.” I exhale.

  “Does he know about Eric? I mean about the forcing you to marry him part?”

  “No, no, he can’t know, Luna.” The panic in my voice must sway Luna because she moans and pulls me in for a hug.

  “Bishop should know it all, Cals, maybe he can help?”

  I shrug, not really knowing what to say. All I feel is hopeless.

  “I feel like him knowing would be worse not better.”

  “Why?” Luna questions me.

  “Bishop is complicated, like you said, and I have a feeling whatever he’s hiding may just be what ends us.”

  “Oh, Callie babe, you can’t think like that. The only way you two will sort anything out is by talking. And I mean really talking.”

  Luna is right, my emotions and feelings are getting the better of me right now. But will Bishop even talk? Will he expose himself in such a way that will leave him vulnerable?

  Bishop is a man full of secrets, ones I’m not so sure I want the answers to.

  So why do I want him to let me in so bad?

  Luna grabs some wine from my fridge, even though she will only have one glass with me. I'm glad she made the effort of leaving that beautiful little boy of hers to come check on me.

  “Callie.”

  I can feel the pain in her voice. She knows I’m hiding more than just my feelings for Bishop.

  I place my face in my hands as I cry again. Luna holds me and waits until I'm ready to talk, and I do I tell her everything. This time not leaving out any details. It only makes her grasp me closer and that much tighter.

  “He’s an asshole, Callie, and he deserves to have his dick cut off. Who the fuck does he think he is?”

  I just about giggle at the use of the word ‘fuck’ coming from Luna’s mouth.

  “Bishop will kill him if he ever finds out.”

  I almost get whiplash as I look to Luna for anything but to let that slip to Bishop.

  “I’m not going to tell him, Callie, I’m just saying even though Bishop is an enigma, he’s a great guy, and I don’t think he’d take someone doing that lightly. He has a dark past, one worse than Ethan’s.”

  She sighs, and the small smile spreads across her cheeks.

  “I know he cares about you, even if he doesn’t show it very well. He's protective of the people he cares about, so what do you think will happen when Bishop finds out Eric forced himself on you and makes you terrified?”

  I bite my lip because I know as much as I want to deny it, she’s right. I may not be anything to Bishop, even though he continues to say I’m his. I know he’s not good at controlling his anger. I don’t think I’d like to be on the wrong side of Bishop Stanton.

  Callie forcing me away may be for the best. Seeing her like that did something to me. I know us being apart is the best option.

  The bell above my door brings my attention away from the cash I am currently counting. It’s who steps into my shop that has me doing a double take.

  “Get the fuck out.” I point at the door, making my demand obvious.

  He chuckles slowly and takes a few more steps, putting him right up to the desk.

  I clench my hands, turning my knuckles white.

  “Come on now, Bishop, we both know I’m not walking out of here until I get what I came for.” He gives me a slight smirk, letting me know he’s not planning on leaving anytime soon.

  I reach for the brass knuckles I keep under my bench just as Brantley lifts his jacket aside to show me the pistol he has sitting on his hip.

  “Come on, man, let’s not do this, yeah.”

  “What the hell do you want?”

  “Your help?”

  I let out a sinister chuckle as I see how serious he is.

  “Why the fuck would I help you?”

  “Look, Bishop, I’m guessing that sweet piece of ass you’ve been tapping has no clue as to who you really are, am I right?” His eyes shine with an almost darkened light.

  “Leave her out of this, cazzo- dick.” It’s a warning and the only one he’ll get. Callie has no reason to be brought into this.

  “Looks like someone went and caught feelings. Did little Bishop Demetrius fall in love with his sweet prize?”

  Brantley using my birth name shows he has no problem with letting that slip in front of Callie, guessing how he knows I’m seeing her and knows who she is.

  “What’s in it for me?”

  “To be known as someone not to mess with.”

  I step around the front counter, coming face to face with the man I hate second to my own father. For what he did to Ethan, he’s lucky he’s even standing here right now. After last night and this morning with Callie, my anger is standing on a fine line—a very fucking fine line.

  I stand toe to toe with him, get right in his face and grin.

  “I won’t flinch for a second to take you out.”
/>   “I know.” He smirks and holds his hand out for me.

  I watch as he waits, waiting for me to make my decision.

  After what feels like an entity, I place my hand in his.