Chapter 9

He couldn't tell if she was having a seizure or in a state of repulsive shock. Either way, something was terribly wrong when he saw the trail of vomit from the corner of her lip.

The moment her body stopped moving was the moment her breathing returned to normal, but her skin was pale, and her lips were purple from the lack of oxygen.

"Everyone, take a step back," he ordered the staff. He took Callie into his arms and pressed her against his chest, shielding her away from Agatha's body as two paramedics stormed over from the lift. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't know you'd be seeing this."

"I'm okay," she assured him, peeking over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the body that was hardly moving. "Is that the woman from the bar?"

He nodded, squeezed her body tighter. "Let's go downstairs, grab something to help you relax."

"I have to talk to Clyde," she said, taking his hand in hers as they walked across the elevator landing. "I hate to tell you this, but if you can't fix things with Clyde, I have to choose."

"And who will you choose, love?" he asked almost challengingly.

"I don't know yet," she honestly answered. She stepped onto the lift and stared impassively straight ahead, refusing to meet his gaze. "No matter what my choice is, it'll only hurt us all."

• • • • •

"You can't fall into that bad habit again" Teddie commented as he wiped the inside of a glass cup. "It took me two years to quit the first time, and I still wish I hadn't started again."

Clyde wordlessly offered a cigarette to Teddie and lit it for him.

"You're pissed for no reason," Teddie said, exhaling the smoke.

"Maybe so," was all Clyde said in response.

"He's a good guy to her, and if I were to close my eyes and blindly pick, I bet my life I'd still land a perfect."

Clyde furrowed his brows at this and then shook his head in disbelief. "Choosing blindly is a shit way to choose the man my sister gets to love."

"You're saying your sister doesn't get to love Ryan?"

"I can't stop them even if I wanted to."

"Montgomery," Ryan shouted from across the bar. He spotted him immediately and approached, his face etched with anger. "Stop fucking around. At least pretend you and I can get along because Callie is boarding a plane right now."

Clyde turned to him with wide eyes and dropped his cigarette into his glass. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"Because I'm meeting her in Vegas," he replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. "We're getting married."

"When the fuck did you plan this?"

"Yesterday," he curtly said. "After Agatha was taken to the hospital, she threatened to choose between us."

Ryan could remember their conversation that would always be fresh in his mind.

"I might leave for London," Callie had told him as they stepped off the lift together. He had seen the tears in her eyes, but he couldn't give her an exact comfort.

"That's what you're choosing to do?" He remembered that his voice had cracked a little. He was falling apart.

"I said I don't know yet."

"But you're choosing to run, Callie."

"Then stop me," she nearly screamed. She just couldn't stop sobbing, and that was when he took her into his arms and kissed her so hard on the lips that they both trembled in fear.

"Get on a plane," he had said. "I'll have tickets waiting for you at the airport. You and I are getting married so no matter what happens, we will all be a family."

"This won't solve anything. A family is supposed to love each other."

"And I love you," he told her almost sternly. "I love Clyde like my brother. I'm going to fix this, so please just say you'll do it."

"Marry you in Vegas?"

He nodded. "Clyde will be our witness. That'll prove that this doesn't come between us."

Clyde gaped at Ryan as he unfolded the events for him and scoffed. "You're marrying my sister in Vegas. What makes you think I'll hate you less?"

"She only thinks we're getting married," Ryan explained to him. "You and I will meet her there, and I'll properly propose. Then what you do to me after that is your choice. I'm ready to take the blow. Just come with me now."

Clyde didn't even have to think twice when he got off his stool and followed Ryan outside. In all honesty, he supported his best friend's relationship with his sister more than he wanted to admitted, but betrayal was a painful game.

• • • • •

Callie paced back and forth in front of the bed in the hotel room and held her phone to her mouth, waiting for Ryan to call her. It was a spur of the moment decision agreeing to marry him, but she would do anything for the love of her brother and lover.

"Room service," a voice called from behind the door.

"I'm not interested," she said, her voice slightly quivering.

"Room service," the voice echoed.

Callie rolled her eyes, checked the peephole then opened the door for the man who stood behind a cart of fruit. "Leave it there. I've got it from here."

"I don't think so," he said, smirking. He grabbed the silver fork and handed it to her, urging her to take it. "You should try the papaya."

"Leave her alone, Check," Ryan said from behind the man, pulling him back by the shoulder. He grinned at Callie and held a ring out to her her. "Callie Montgomery, I did not come all the way to Vegas to barbarically marry you."

She quirked a brow, her gaze faltering on the glistening diamond beneath the light fixtures. "What are you up to, Worthington?"

He smirked, stepped into the room and captured her lips in a kiss as he slid the ring onto her rightful finger. "That'll be your last name very soon, love. Will you properly marry me in London where I first loved you?"

"You're crazy," she said, rolling the ring with her thumb. "I was sixteen when we were in London."

"Doesn't mean those feelings weren't real." A small smile met his lips when she nodded. "Can I hear a yes, my love?"

"Yes," she whispered. "I'll marry you in London where I first loved you."

"You're the crazy one," he teased, chuckling. "I really love you, Callie, and I never want you to have to choose between me and your brother, so we made the decision for you."

Clyde stepped into the room just then, his hands buried in the pockets of his jeans and his gaze dead set on the ring on his sister's finger. "You have my blessing to be together. I won't let it come between us as long as you promise to love Callie and love her damn well."

"I swear," Ryan told his best mate. "I'll cherish her as if she were my last breath."

"Okay," Clyde said, giving them the briefest nod. "Let's go celebrate.