The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife (Blair and Grayson) novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245

CHARLOTTE-

Marco walked me out of the bar.

I had stopped crying. Mostly. My face still felt swollen. I kept my head down so staff would think I was tired, though I was sure half of them had already seen me crying my eyes out earlier.

We turned the corner toward the lifts.

I bounced into someone.

I slowly looked up and froze.

Callum.

My brother.

He took one look at me and frowned.

I pulled back in shock.

“What are you doing here?”

“Why are you crying,” he said. Not a greeting. A demand. “Who made you cry?”

“I lost an earring.” I lied.

He stared at me.

“You cannot be serious. Lie better than that.”

I swallowed. “Why are you here?”

Callum’s jaw flexed. He looked at Marco, then at me, then at the smeared makeup I had not fixed.

“Luca’s parents called me,” he said. “They think their son might be fooling around with my sister. I had to come see for myself.”

I stiffened.

So did Marco.

His parents had called my brother. They had gone that far to keep me out of their son’s life.

The corridor suddenly felt too narrow.

Callum was the only family I had. Both parents abandoned us young. He had taken care of me better than they ever would. I was grateful for him. He had always supported me, even dropping everything so I could support Luca’s career.

Callum kept going.

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“When I agreed for you to join Luca, it was only because you promised me you were just friends. That Luca would never overstep. But judging by the interviews with you in the background, everything his parents told me and now this-” he gestured at my face”-it’s obvious there’s something going on. I want to see Luca. Immediately.”

My mouth went dry.

“Callum-”

“Don’t.” He held up a hand. “Don’t lie to me again. Don’t act like it’s nothing. You look like someone put a hole in your heart and I am not going to pretend I’m fucking okay with that.”

Marco shifted half a step closer to me. Not blocking. Making himself known.

Callum noticed.

“And you are…the brother?”

“Marco Vescari,” Marco confirmed. “Luca’s brother.”

“Even better,” Callum said flatly. “The whole family can explain themselves.”

“It’s not what you think,” I tried.

“Then tell me what it is.”

I could not.

He would not be happy about the deal.

If I said any of that out loud, Callum would put Luca through a wall and it would not end well for anyone.

“I had a small fight,” I said. “That’s all.”

“With who.”

I hesitated one second too long.

Callum’s eyes went cold.

“With Luca.”

It was not a question anymore.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know. I left. I didn’t-”

“Suite,” Marco said quietly. “I’m sure he’s still there.”

Callum looked at him like he wanted to dislike the help.

Then he looked at me again.

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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife

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“You swore. Friends. Professional. Best friends. You told me I didn’t have to worry, and I trusted you. I let you live in his world because you said you could handle it. I am not watching you get used by a player. If

hurt you, he will explain himself to me.”

“He is not using me.”

“You’re crying in a hotel bar.”

“That isn’t the same thing. I could be crying over something stupid.”

“You don’t cry like this over something stupid. I raised you. I know that face.”

My throat tightened.

“Callum, please. If you go up there angry, you’ll make it worse.”

“Worse than you shaking in a hallway?” he shot back. “Worse than his parents calling me like I’m supposed to collect you? They talked about you like you were a problem he picked up on the road. I listened to that and then I walked in here and found you like this. So no. I am not going upstairs calm.”

Marco’s voice stayed even. “If you want to talk to Luca, I’ll take you. But you should know he crashed recently and isn’t in the best shape. Everyone is not in the best state right now. Adding a fight in a suite is not going to help Charlotte.”

Callum turned to him.

“I didn’t ask for a briefing on your brother’s weekend. I asked where he is.”

“And I’m coming with you,” Marco said. “I’ll take you there.”

Callum’s mouth flattened. “Why?”

“Because he’s my brother, she’s my friend, and I am not sending you into that room alone when you look like you want to harm my brother.”

The two of them stared at each other.

The lift chimed.

Nobody moved for a second.

“Lift,” Callum said. “Now. You can hate me later. I am talking to him right now.”

Marco glanced at me.

If Callum went upstairs alone, it would be worse.

We walked.

I knew my brother was not going to take no for an answer.

My hands were shaking.

Luca’s parents had called him. So much for hiding anything from the people around us.

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The lift doors closed.

Tum stared atthe numbers.

“If he hurt you,” he said, without looking at me, “I don’t care how many races he wins. I’m not a fan of any man who hurts my sister.”

“He didn’t hit me. He didn’t shout at me or insult me. We argued.”

“About what?”

“Callum.”

“About what, Charlotte.”

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