"I've already put out a statement," Tori said. "It was a simple, please give us privacy while we deal with this tragedy. We pray for Thea's family and hope they find the peace they deserve."
"According to the reports, she didn't have much family," Oliver noted. Even from his hospital bed, he'd checked up on the investigators. "But she definitely hired two men to follow and kill Tori. They've been arrested in London. We shouldn't have to worry about them a moment longer."
"The coroner's report showed she'd never been pregnant," Rory said. "The papers are now reporting that she was lying about the pregnancy all along."
Tori gave Callum a wan smile. "That will help restore your image immensely."
He didn't care about his image. He cared about her. He cared about how she felt about him. He'd done what he had to, but he'd hurt her in the process. He was the reason Oliver had been shot. Because of him all her fears had bubbled back to the surface.
The driver made it through the throng of press at the gates and turned down the long drive.
Callum risked a glance at Tori. He had to get her alone. He needed to explain everything he'd said to Thea, make sure Tori wasn't spooked enough to leave them again. If he didn't, he feared she would build up those walls until they towered, unscalable. A bit less than two weeks remained in her concubine period. If she decided to leave them, he and his brothers would have no recourse. Talib would shut them out. She could well vanish inside the palace, and they would be unwelcome.
"When we get to the house, I was hoping we could talk, Tori," he murmured.
She frowned as though the idea wasn't pleasant. "I'm awfully tired. Aren't you?"
She hadn't slept much. Still, the idea of going to bed without resolving anything didn't sit well with him. "I think we should talk about what happened. I would like to explain to you."
She gave him a tight smile. "That's not necessary. I'd just like to pick up where we left off and move on."
He knew that wasn't possible. "I think there are things we need to say."
"Oh, Cal, leave the poor girl alone. She's tired. She's had a rough day. Let her get some sleep. We'll deal with all the fallout tomorrow," Oliver said.
"As you will." Callum turned to look out the window as the car stopped. Claire was waiting for them as the door was opened.
She wrapped her arms around Tori and then Oliver, fussing over him.
"What's wrong with you?" Rory asked as they walked toward the house behind the women and Ollie.
Callum glared at him. Was he kidding?
Rory slapped him on the back. "Fine. I'll reword. What's wrong, besides the fact that your psychotic ex nearly killed your brother and the woman we love? Because I, for one, am happy to have the whole situation resolved."
There was nothing happy about what had happened. "Don't you think all that shit will set Tori back? She's terrified of losing someone she loves. She would rather not love at all. She watched Oliver nearly die."
"And she's processing what happened. Pushing her on it won't make that better," Rory said as the front door closed, leaving them standing outside. "She's been good with Oliver, very affectionate. I think she's all right."
"You weren't there. You didn't see what happened." He wasn't sure he would ever be able to forget it.
Rory studied him for a moment. "I saw enough. I know something happened that made Thea decide to shoot. I know Oliver saved Tori. I know you tried to get to them. I shot her before she could get you. She had that gun aimed at you."
And in that moment he would have gladly taken the bullet if it would have spared his brother and their wife. He'd stared at that gun and known it was likely over, and all he'd wanted to do was hold Tori one last time.
"She said if she couldn't have me no one could. I think she meant to turn the gun on herself after she killed me. She wanted to be with me one way or another."
"She was crazy, Cal. The shooting wasn't your fault. Anyone who came in contact with her could have become the center of her psychotic fantasies. If it hadn't been you, it would have been an actor or some other man she viewed as wealthy and powerful. We're all alive and we'll be stronger for it."
"And if Tori decides to leave?"
"She won't." Rory sauntered to the door. "It's going to be all right. She gave us her word and she'll honor it. She's stronger than she seems. I think once she makes a decision, she doesn't go back."
"Even when everything goes to hell?"