Crimson Bound (Blood Oath #7)

3. Gabriel

3

GAbrIEL

T he car is quiet as we drive through the dark city. Soft rock plays through the Escalade’s sound system, but I’m more focused on the erratic beat of Calla’s heart. She’s still on edge—understandably so—and it only gets worse when Atlas pulls into the driveway and opens the garage door. He parks between my vehicle and Kade’s, cutting the engine, while Calla glances around like a deer caught in headlights. Gone is the fiery woman who was determined to fight her way to freedom back at her apartment. She’s been weighed down with the realization that she can’t escape this—escape us.

Atlas is out of the car, opening her door in seconds. “Calla.”

She flinches before dropping her gaze to her lap, sighing softly in defeat, then jumps when Kade slams the passenger side door on his way out of the car. He and Lex head for the house, while I hang back in case Atlas’s cold approach doesn’t go over well; I’ve never known him to be much of a people person.

Calla gets out of the back seat, shouldering her book bag as the three of us walk through the cool, quiet garage. Calla’s pulse leaps at the sound of Atlas locking the car, and my hand immediately goes to the small of her back, wanting to calm her nerves. I have half a mind to glamour her to relax, though considering how she took to Atlas doing the same less than an hour ago, I refrain. She has every right to feel every emotion warring in her chest, but I don’t relish the thought of her suffering.

“You’re okay,” I tell her in a gentle tone, reaching past her to open the frosted glass door to the house.

She walks inside ahead of me, and I watch her—we all watch her—as she stops to take in the modern decor. Our house is certainly more elevated than what she’s used to at her apartment. Atlas designed every inch of this place, from the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool at the back of the house, to the marble slab kitchen islands across the room. Our kitchen, living, and dining rooms aren’t separated by walls, giving the main space an open concept feel. There’s a formal living room down the hall across from the first floor bathroom, but it’s rarely used. This is where we spend the majority of our time together, though Atlas tends to stick to his office or the gym above the garage.

“You don’t need to stand by the door,” Kade says to Calla from the kitchen, leaning against one of the islands.

“This place is ridiculous,” she offers from beside me in an unimpressed tone, her gaze continuing to wander from the kitchen to the full dining space next to it. “Evidently, sunlight isn’t a concern.” She starts moving further into the room, and her heartbeat finally slows to a somewhat normal pace.

Lex answers her from where he’s already lounging on the couch. “That’s right. We don’t burn…or sparkle, in case you were wondering.”

When she doesn’t respond, I move to her side once more and say, “I’ll take you to your room and show you around on the way.”

She doesn’t miss a beat. “I don’t need a tour of my glorified prison cell.”

Lex whistles from behind the book he swiped off the coffee table, and Calla’s face twists into a scowl.

Atlas does a subtle scan of the room before walking away without a word, no doubt going to work in his office.

Kade leaves the kitchen, coming closer as he says, “You can have anything you want here. Anything at all. I certainly don’t think you would receive the same in prison.”

Calla’s back is ramrod straight and a muscle ticks in her jaw as she glares at him. “I want to go home.”

Kade smirks. “I do enjoy your sharp tongue.”

“Fuck off, Kade,” Lex chimes in with an amused tone. “Give the girl a chance to get in the door before you start tormenting her.”

Kade keeps his eyes on Calla. I’m about to step in when he finally leaves her be, and her attention shifts to me as she lifts her bag onto her shoulder.

“Let’s go,” she says in a low voice that hints at the exhaustion she must be feeling.

I lead her through the living room to the hallway off the kitchen, letting her take in the high ceilings and the formal living room we rarely use before opening the door to her suite with a smile. She walks inside, peering around the space. It was empty until a few days ago when we arranged for the delivery of several pieces to furnish it, including a queen-size bed and a lounge chair with a glass side table. Her gaze gets stuck on the vase of white orchids—her favorite flower—and she wraps her arms around herself, her pulse ticking faster again.

“It’s pretty plain,” I say in an effort to distract her nerves. “If you want anything to personalize the space, let me know and I’ll have it delivered. And there’s a library in Atlas’s office if you’re looking for something to read. I know you enjoy books.”

Calla nods without a word.

“There’s a bathroom around there.” I point to the break in the wall on the far side of the bed, and she sets her book bag down beside the duffle Lex brought in earlier and heads into the other room. I hang back to give her a minute to herself. I can’t imagine the adjustment this will be for her—different from how it’ll be for us. I find that I want her to be comfortable, as much as she can be in this situation.

I make my way over to the bathroom, leaning in the doorway as Calla stares into the mirror above the marble vanity.

“Do you need a minute?” I ask in a soft voice.

She sucks in a breath and turns toward me. For a split second I see the anger in her gaze and fully expect her to snap at me, but instead she just says, “Several.”

I hold her gaze for a moment longer before nodding toward the cabinet next to the vanity. “There are towels and about a hundred different soaps and conditioners in there.” When she arches a brow at me, I shake my head and fondly add, “Kade takes hair care very seriously.”

She doesn’t laugh or even so much as crack a smile, and I can’t blame her. We’ve quite literally stolen her away from her life. And while she might’ve known this was coming, that doesn’t make it easy to face. With one last look, I move away from the doorway and leave her to it. I backtrack through the bedroom, closing the door behind me. Pausing in the hallway, I hear Calla’s shaky exhale before the shower turns on and a strangled sound escapes her. It makes me frown at the sudden urge to bring her comfort. I know going back into the room won’t help things; she needs to be alone, so I return to the living room, where Lex is still sprawled on the couch.

“Everything good?” he asks, glancing at me over the book in his hand.

I release a sigh, lowering myself into the chair across from the couch and drumming my fingers against the armrest. “She’s quite upset.”

Lex rolls his eyes. “She’ll get over it.”

“Perhaps.” I tip my head back. “She’s putting on a strong front, but the poor girl is terrified.”

“Oh, come on, Gabe. We’re not that bad.”

“We are to her,” I tell him.

He closes his book, tossing it onto the coffee table as he sits up. “We could’ve disrupted her life much sooner.” When I offer him a tired look, he rakes a hand through his white hair and continues, “She’ll come around—especially when it comes to you.”

A short laugh escapes me. “How do you figure?”

“You’re a giant teddy bear, Gabe. It’s impossible not to love you. It’s like your superpower.”

“It’s fucking true,” Kade says as he comes in from the hallway, walking to the kitchen and opening the fridge. “I’m starving.” He closes the fridge and turns to us, tapping a finger against his lips in thought. “Who else wants a cheeseburger?”

I arch a brow, shaking my head. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“Wasn’t asking for the time.”

Lex snorts. “You’re always fucking hungry.”

To be fair, Kade is the most muscular of our lot—with Atlas as a close second—so his constant need to eat makes sense.

Kade rolls his eyes, grumbling, “You guys suck. I bet Atlas will go with me.”

“He’s still in his office,” Lex says.

Just then, a door slams.

“Sounds like he’s done.”

Atlas appears in the living room, his eyes blazing with anger. “She’s gone.”

Lex and I stand immediately. The shower is still running upstairs, but Calla’s heartbeat—it’s gone.

How the hell did we all miss that?

“Marcel got an alert to movement on the security camera along the side of the house.”

“How long ago?” Kade asks, irritation filling his features as he crosses his arms over his broad chest.

“I just got off the phone with him,” Atlas mutters, “She can’t be far.”

“What’s she going to do?” Lex chimes in. “Realistically? Wherever she goes, we can track her. She can only run for so long.” He shrugs, a dangerous glint of amusement in his gaze. “I say, let her. Let her think she got away. It’ll make it all the more entertaining when we bring her back.”

“This isn’t a game,” I say in a level tone.

Kade laughs. “Isn’t it?” Atlas shoots him a look, and he adds, “Fine. I’ll go get her.” He moves toward the garage door, but Atlas shoots in front of him and blocks his exit.

“No, you won’t,” Atlas says plainly.

“Why the fuck not?” Kade pushes, his eyes narrowing.

Atlas cocks his head to the side, holding Kade’s gaze. “Tell me you will bring her back here without any of your usual bullshit, and by all means, you can retrieve her.”

Lex and I don’t move from the living room as we watch the exchange between them.

“You truly enjoy stealing the fun from every situation, Atlas,” Kade says, backing down.

Atlas offers no further response save for a flat smile.

Kade grumbles, “Whatever.” He crosses the room and drops onto the couch before turning on the TV, while I exchange a glance with Atlas.

“I’ll be back shortly,” he announces.

I nod, getting to my feet. “Do you need a hand?”

“Not this time.” He opens the door, disappearing into the garage, and I head into the room we set up for Calla to turn off the shower. I stand in the quiet bathroom, exhaling a soft sigh.

I’m not sure any of us fully realize what a challenge she’s going to be, but I have a feeling we’re going to find out very fast.