Marrying my husband's greatest rival

Makeup.

Calliope's P.O.V

All I could remember was someone coming into the room, one of Reece's men and telling him that they had got the container. I've been in and out of consciousness for God only knew how long... I was in my room lying on my bed, my body stiff, my head pounded against my sculp and every inch of my body protested whenever I tried to move.

My lips were caked with dried blood when I tried to wipe away the dryness from it, but I pushed myself up and out of bed, barely making it to the bathroom. I opened the shower tap and didn't even bother to remove my clothes. I stood there under the scalding hot water and let it wash me clean.

I stared down at my feet as the red tinted water washed down the drain and I wished I could wash away with it as well. My hair had started to get hard in certain places because of the blood that had dried, but I couldn't bring myself to cry... This is my life now, whether I liked it or not.

It wasn't just me there was to think about anymore. I couldn't just run away. I had to think of Karson and, besides, Reece would find me no matter where I went. I also had to think about the family I left behind. If he didn't find me, I had no doubt he would go after them, but now that they had gotten the container, at least I knew I'd be getting my son back soon.

It's been a few days since I've had the s**t beaten out of me, and I'm doing much better. I still looked like I'd been run over by a truck, but I was in much better spirits, especially when I had overheard that Reece would be making the trade tonight. I couldn't wait to hold my baby boy in my arms again.

"Can we talk?"

I asked as soon as he stepped into our room. He stopped in front of the mirror and removed his tie.

"I have business to attend to."

He states.

"I'll be quick."

He finally turned to face me, but he wasn't looking directly at me.

"Speak."

"I would like to accompany you when you get Karson back."

"I don't have time for this Cal, I'll bring him home as soon as I get him."

"Please, I won't get in the way, and you can have someone bring us right back home as soon as you get him."

He sighed and seemed to be thinking it over before nodding yes.

"Put some makeup on your face. For God's sake, how do you expect people to look at you when you're looking like that?"

That's a f*****g cheap shot coming from him, especially when he ws the one that did this to me, but I nod my understanding anyway. If I started some kind of fight now, I wouldn't get to go, and he would just beat me senseless again.

Ironic, isn't it? He lays his fist and tramples on me with his feet, yet he can't stand to look at me after. I doubt it has anything to do with shame or guilt. He just doesn't want people outside this house to know what a f*****g woman beating coward he is... I hurry up, cover the marks and bruises on my face and get dressed.

I'm surprised that he sat down on the bed and waited for me to finish... Sometimes Reece sets out clothes for me like he has just done. It mostly happens when he hurts me. He laid out black skinny jeans, a white tank top with my brown high-heeled boots and brown leather jacket.

Next, he comes up behind me and pulls my hair over my shoulder. This may seem like a romantic gesture, but it's not. On the left side of my neck there is still some very dark bruising, and he uses my long hair to cover it up. Once I'm done, he looks me over, checking to see if I had missed any spots before taking my hand in his and leading me to the car that had been waiting for us.

I don't know much about the plan but what I do know is that Reece asked Fraser to meet at one of Reece's buildings to make the trade. Reece had men hiding all around the building just in case things didn't go as planned, but Reece looked on edge, he seemed nervous and not once did he let go of my hand.

His nervousness rubbed off on me. If he had a reason to be nervous about this, then I should, because Reece never let anything shake him...

*** 1 hour later ***

"Stay behind me and say nothing."

Reece told me as soon as we made it into the building.

His shoulders were tense, his breathing was fast, and his hands were clenched tightly by his sides... I heard cars pulling up outside the empty warehouse, the doors of the cars closing and then heavy footfalls of men as they made their way inside. I gripped Reece's shirt from behind. The tension was growing and so was my anxiety.

But things didn't go as planned. One minute I was standing behind Reece holding onto his shirt and the next I was in the arms of another man while Reece sat on his knees on the ground with his hands behind his back and a man stood behind him with a gun to his head.

His eyes are on me, I wiggle in the man's arms and try to make a run for it, but he had a firm hold on me...

"Let her go, we can deal with this man to man."

Reece says, although he was nervous moments before, it doesn't show now.

"Let her go? You took my container with the help of her, and you want me to let her go?"