Chapter 5 THE NIGHTMARE

CALLUM'S POV

I stopped at the middle of the stairs and watched them go down. Nova and Elias, walking side by side, his hand hovering near her lower back like he wanted to touch her but wasn't quite doing it yet.

Every muscle in my body was screaming at me to follow them. To make sure my brother didn't get too much time alone with her. To remind Nova that I was here too, that I'd been the one who answered her call, that I'd been the one who—

I forced myself to turn away and head to my office instead. Shutting off my thoughts.

My office felt too quiet and empty. I sat at my desk and pulled up the security footage from earlier today, trying to focus on something other than the fact that Nova was downstairs right now with Elias.

The photo someone had sent her kept nagging at me. Someone had been there today, watching her at her lowest moment, taking pictures while she sat in the rain with everything she owned in garbage bags.

I found the right timestamp and watched the footage. A dark sedan slowing down across from her building. A phone extended out the window, pointed directly at her.

I tried to zoom in on the license plate but the angle was wrong and the rain was too heavy. All I could make out was that it was a rental car.

"Working late?"

I looked up to find my father standing in the doorway, leaning on his cane.

"Just reviewing some security footage."

"For the estate or for her?" He asked, like he knew I wouldn't stay this up working for anybody if not for her.

"Both." I replied, ignoring his gaze which was on me.

He walked in and sat down in one of the chairs across from my desk without being invited. "She's caused quite a stir, hasn't she? Coming back after all this time."

"She needed help and we provided it, Dad."

"How noble of you." His tone made it clear he didn't believe that for a second. "Tell me, Callum, what exactly are you and your brother planning to do with her?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play stupid. It doesn't suit you." He leaned forward slightly. "I saw how you both looked at her during dinner. The same way you looked at her six years ago before she ran away. Like she was something you wanted to own."

"We don't want to own her."

"Don't you?" He smiled that knowing smile I'd always hated. "You forget, I was there. I watched the two of you circling her for three years like wolves around prey. I watched her run away because she couldn't handle what you both wanted from her."

"That was a long time ago."

He stood up slowly. "Let me give you some advice, son. That girl is going to tear you and your brother apart if you let her. She did it once before. She'll do it again."

"We're not kids anymore."

"No, you're not. Which makes this even more dangerous." He moved toward the door, then paused. "You should ask yourself what her mother might have taken from this family. What Isabella might have stolen before she died."

"What are you talking about?" He asked, finally looking up at him.

"I'm talking about the fact that your precious Nova might not be as innocent as you think she is. Isabella certainly wasn't." He walked out before I could respond.

I sat there for a long time, staring at nothing.

What the hell had he meant by that? What had Isabella stolen?

And did Nova know about it?

My phone buzzed. Text from Elias.

She's in her room now. Getting some sleep.

I typed back. Good. She needs it.

I should go to bed too. Tomorrow was going to be a long day and I needed to be sharp.

But I couldn't make myself move. Couldn't stop my brain from spinning through everything that had happened today. Everything my father had just said.

Around midnight, I finally gave up on working and headed upstairs to my room.

The hallway was dark and quiet. Nova's door was closed. I paused outside it for just a second, listening.

Nothing. She was probably asleep.

I went to my own room and changed into sweats and a t-shirt. Lay down in bed and stare at the ceiling.

I'd just started to drift off when I heard it.

A scream.

Nova's scream.

I was out of bed and running before I even fully processed what I'd heard. Down the hallway, her door was still closed but I could hear her crying inside.

I reached for the handle just as Elias came running from the other direction.

"Move," he said, but I was already turning the knob.

Her door was locked.

"Nova!" I pounded on the door. "Open up!"

More crying. She was saying something but I couldn't make it out.

"Stand back," Elias said, and before I could argue he'd kicked the door open.

Nova was in her bed, tangled in the sheets, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were open but she looked terrified.

And that was when it dawned on me that she was having a nightmare.

I got to her first, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Hey. Hey, you're okay. It was just a dream."

"No." She was shaking so hard the whole bed was moving. "No, she was there. My mom was there and she was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand and then she just... she just disappeared and there was blood everywhere—"

"Shh." I pulled her against my chest without thinking about it. "It wasn't real. You're safe."

Elias appeared on the other side of the bed. "Nova, look at me."

She turned her head slightly to look at him, still pressed against my chest.

"It was just a nightmare," he said gently. "That's all. Nothing is going to hurt you here."

I felt Nova's breathing start to slow down a little, her body relaxing slightly against mine. She felt so small. So breakable.

I'd forgotten what it felt like to hold her like this.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to wake you both up."

"Don't apologize," I said. "You had a nightmare. That's not your fault."

"Can you both stay? Just for a little while?" Her voice was so small. "I don't want to be alone right now."

Elias looked at me over her head. I could see the challenge in his eyes. See him daring me to say no, to leave him alone with her but —

That was not happening.

"We'll stay," I said.

Elias grabbed the chair from her desk and pulled it over to one side of the bed. I should have done the same thing. Should have let her go and taken the other chair.

But I couldn't make myself move. I couldn't make myself stop holding her.

"Callum?" Her voice was muffled against my chest.

"I'm okay now.” She muttered and slowly pulled away from me, lying back down on her pillow.

I should have left. Should have gone back to my room and let her sleep.

But I found myself settling back into the chair Elias had grabbed for me instead, watching her in the dim light.

She pulled the covers up and closed her eyes, and within a few minutes her breathing had evened out into sleep.

I looked across the room at Elias and found him staring right back at me.