Their Virgin Mistress (Masters of Ménage #7)(115)

"What's he doing here?" Thea glanced Oliver's way, and it stopped his attempt to flank her.

He went still, lifting his hands as well.

"Oliver came to collect Tori," Callum explained patiently. "He and Rory are going to marry her."

Thea frowned. "I don't like her. She kept us apart."

"She's going to be my wife," Oliver said, his voice deep. "I won't be happy if you hurt her. Neither will Rory. Do you want to alienate Callum's brothers if we're going to be family?"

Callum seemed to take up his idea. He moved to her left, a couple of steps closer. They needed to back her into the corner, preferably near the east window. From that position, Rory would be able to see Thea through the hunting rifle. Their father hadn't believed in playing fair. When he'd hunted, he'd used a scope. Oliver could still hear his father saying if the buck wanted a fighting chance, the deer population should have developed technology. He hoped it worked on Thea.

"Thea, the last thing either of us wants is for our baby to be born in jail." Callum's voice was perfectly soothing.

Tori's face twisted up in a mask of rage. "You're a liar. You said it wasn't yours."

Oliver took over. "Tori, love, let's get out of here and leave them to it. It sounds as though they have a lot to talk about."

"Yes," Callum said. "Let Oliver take his wife. You and I will talk."

Tori's back bowed and she hissed as though in pain.



       
         
       
        

"I don't think you mean that, lover." Thea's lips thinned, and she pulled Tori's hair, tugging her back. "I think you're trying to save her."

"I'll be alone with you if you let her go," Callum pointed out. "Just you and me. For as long as you want. Thea, we can close the doors and nothing else will matter but us, just like old times."

"I hate you," Tori spat at Callum. "I really hate you. You lied to me. You bastard!"

She fought against Thea's hold, and Oliver could see her struggle was working. Tori was far stronger than ultra-skinny Thea. Unfortunately, their wife wasn't stronger than a bullet.

"Stop," Oliver commanded. In this case, Tori needed to wait for them. She needed to trust them to talk her out of this situation. "Be still."

Tori stopped. "I don't want to talk to him. He lied. He's an asshole."

Callum physically flinched. "I'm sorry. I was trying to do right by my brothers, but I have to do right by her. I have feelings for her."

While Thea was watching Cal, Oliver inched to her side.

She snapped the gun up to Tori's head. "You should listen to the one man here who loves you. It isn't Callum. He's mine. He always loved me. He always wanted me."

"Yes," Callum said. "You're the one I wanted all along. I got a bit put off by how you talked to the press. I'm very private. But I know you only wanted what was best for us. Our union   and our baby."

"We can be private." Thea stepped back, keeping her hand on Tori.

Oliver noticed the way the gun in her other hand quivered. Thea was rapidly losing strength. Maybe her adrenaline was draining out or she never ate any damn protein to build muscle. He didn't care which as long as Tori survived.

The sun was filtering in behind the mad woman, temporarily blinding him. But that was all right because Rory could likely see Thea quite well. He needed to move her back a little more. The windows were open, allowing the sweetness of the summer afternoon to flood the room.

"Let me take my wife." If he could only get Tori away, maybe they could trap the bitch inside this room. He didn't want to leave his brother. They were a family. They weren't as strong if they weren't together. He was fairly certain Tori would kick his arse if Callum died. "Really, you two should talk."

He held his hand out as though it was his right. It was, damn it. Tori was his. She belonged to them and he was representing his brothers right now.

Tori sent him a pleading, tremulous stare, reaching out for him. "Oliver … "

"Stop!" Thea shouted. "You're not going anywhere. I don't know what to do. I want Cal, but I don't trust him." 

"We have a baby, Thea," his brother tried.

She sniffled. "We should. We would make beautiful babies. Wouldn't our baby be gorgeous?"

"He will be." Callum was playing to her crazy, but he was doing a damn fine job.

Tori teared up.

Thea shifted, inching ever closer to the window. He needed her back just a little further …

Oliver leaned forward. "Thea, you can't have Callum if you kill her. If you're in prison, Callum won't have anyone to keep him warm at night."