Callie
The Carter house had always been familiar, safe—or at least, it had been. That illusion shattered the moment I saw him.
Jude. Standing in the living room like he owned the place. His gaze swept over me slowly, deliberately, lingering on the curve of my neck, the line of my jaw. The kind of look that had once made my heart race, but now… now it sent ice straight through my veins.
“Callie,” he said, casual—but there was a danger hidden behind the charm. “We need to talk.”
I froze. My chest tightened. Every instinct screamed at me to retreat, to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Grayson’s hand found mine immediately, gripping tightly, pulling me back.
“I don’t think so,” Grayson said, voice low but every word carried warning.
Jude’s brow lifted, almost amused. “Really? You are
