THIRTY
Callie

"He'll be fine. Just a graze." Everest speaks out as he finishes stitching up Miller's stomach.

"But how did you get it?" I whisper, reaching forward to stroke his trimmed beard.

Everest chuckles and Miller's face hardens. Now I'm confused.

"Everest, did you do this?!" I whisper in shock, and he nods his head with a prideful smile on his face.

"I sure did." He grins, and my mouth falls open in shock. "I did him a favour. He's got a nice scar, I heard women love scars."

"Everest!" I exclaim and he holds his hands up.

"It was an accident during training, that's all. Miller got a little too big for his boots, so I slashed him." At this point, I have no words.

Here's me thinking someone had attacked my poor Miller on the rooftop when in reality it was just his ego that got him slashed up by his friend.

"Now I don't want to re-stitch for the third time, Miller. So no moving about, and that means no sexual activities." He smirks at me and I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, no chance." Miller scoffs and sits up and pulls me onto his lap.

I instantly jump off.

"Baby, no." He whines and I shake my head.

"You need to heal, Everest is right," I speak out and Miller glares at Everest, who just shrugs with a satisfied smile on his face. "Get some rest." I place a soft kiss on the top of his forehead and grab Everest by the ear, dragging him out of Miller's room.

"You!" I point. "Don't do that again." He nods his head and then wraps his arms around me, trying to distract me from what he's just done. The feeling of his warm skin against mine almost has me doing so.

"Sorry, sunshine. Can I stay with you tonight?"

I can't help but laugh.

"No."

"Get a room." Both our heads turn to see Everest's younger brother staring at us with a disgusted face. "My innocent fucking eyes."

"Hey! Language, you little shit!" Everest calls out as Ellis turns to walk back down the corridor, flipping him off before he turns around the corner. "Come with me." He grabs my hand and pulls me into his bedroom.

We step onto his balcony the cool air prickling my skin. I watch with lust-filled eyes as he shrugs his white shirt off, revealing his toned back. He then takes a seat on a chair and pats his lap.

"No funny business?" I raise my eyebrows and he smirks.

"No funny business." He repeats patting his lap again, and I straddle him, his arms worming around my waist. "I hear you and Nix aren't speaking." He whispers, reaching up to stroke my cheek. His blue eyes stare up at me with his usual glimmer and I can't help but reach up to run my fingertip along the freckles that are dotted over the bridge of his nose.

"We're not," I confirm and he slowly nods his head. "Are you annoyed with me too, for coming outside? I know I should have listened, but I get worried about you three, and sometimes that worry overshadows my safety. I'm sorry." I ramble.

"Baby, I understand, and I won't lie to you, but I was mad at the time. Your safety is a lot more important than us, okay? Always remember that we can look after ourselves, but we won't be able to do that if you keep throwing yourself in danger." He pinches my hip and gives me a teasing smile. "So stop." I nod my head and smile gently.

"Okay."

"That's my girl. So can I stay with you tonight?"

"No."

•••

"It's Monday, you usually go for coffee on your lunch break. Why are you spending it with me? No offence." Poppy questions and I swallow hard, keeping my eyes on the rim of my coffee cup.

"Phoenix and I aren't talking," I whisper, looking up at her to see her eyes widen. She releases a small breath, shaking her head lightly.

"It must be serious if you're not on your coffee date." I purse my lips and nod my head.

"He's annoyed that I didn't listen to him and went outside last night. I nearly got shot in the head." I whisper the last part and Poppy gasps in horror.

"Fucking hell, Callie!" She exclaims and I shush her. "I understand why he's mad now! You should have stayed inside."

"I know, okay! Fuck." I hold my head in my hands and nibble on my bottom lip. "I've apologised to him multiple times today, and he just stares at me and walks away," I explain to my best friend.

This is probably how Everest felt last week. Poor fucker.

The dinging of the lift grabs our attention, and I turn my head to see Phoenix walking out of the lift with files in his tattooed hands. My heart drops when he avoids eye contact and walks straight past the reception desk.

"Wow, he is mad." She watches as he enters his office, slamming the door behind him. "Maybe you should go and speak to him."

"And be ignored again." I scoff.

"Callie, just go and speak to him." Poppy pulls me out of my chair and shoved me in the direction of the men's office.

I turn to glare at her before my eyes fall to the lift for a second time. However, it's not one of my men walking out but a policeman. Hair begins to rise on my arms and my heart starts racing at the thought of why there is a policeman in the building.

"Can I help you?" I question, and he looks around the place with a smug look on his face.

Prick

"We need to close this place down for investigation." He informs me and I furrow my eyebrows.

"Investigation? Do you have a warrant?" I raise my eyebrows and follow his hand as he pulls a piece of paper out and waves it in my face. I step back and glare at him.

"This place is a crime scene." He then speaks into a radio and my eyes widen as men fill the office, alerting all the staff here.

"Crime scene?" I whisper. "You're joking," I mumble to myself and run my fingers through my hair.

"I also have an arrest warrant for a Miller and Mason Langley."

My jaw clenches and all I want to do is slap the smirk off of this man's ugly face. Miller's not even here today, and Mason's locked in a room somewhere in the house!

This is an absolute nightmare!

💙💙💙