Real Love
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 13
“How could you do that to me, Landon?” Callie burst out, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and relief.
“It was necessary,” Landon said calmly. He was wearing an FBI vest and handing a high-precision, long-range rifle back to another agent. The agent nodded and stepped away. A few feet off, Derek Hayes chatted with some agents, then waved at Callie. She waved back reflexively.
“Necessary?” she repeated, louder. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe you could have told me what was going on?”
Landon studied her for a beat. “I don’t think so,” he said finally. “You’re just not that good an actress.”
“Oh, so this was about my acting skills?” she snapped. “Well, guess what—I knew about the GPS. And I suspected you were listening to my phone calls. I almost died hoping I was right.”
“Take it down an octave, Callie,” he said. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to let you go like that? Riding off on my restored Harley on a solo hero mission?”
“Okay, okay,” she said, cutting him off. “Am I right? Were you tracking me?”
“Yes, you are,” he admitted. “Agent Anderson got a warrant to monitor your calls after Dylan was kidnapped. I warned him that you might pull something reckless—like coming here alone if Sutton reached out. Anderson already had reinforcements in place. Once we confirmed where the meeting was happening, all we had to do was set the trap. Derek, Sheriff Thomas, and I know the area, so it didn’t take long. I almost didn’t make it in time, though. You were right about the red dot on Sutton’s chest.”
He gave her a wink.
Callie’s voice softened. “I knew you’d have my back, Landon. So, whose brilliant idea was it to use me as bait to catch Sutton? Wait—don’t tell me. It was Anderson, wasn’t it?”
Landon smiled. “We really need to work on our communication skills, Callie,” he said, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “You were never in real danger. Anderson and I planned for every possible scenario.”
It had been a swift and decisive victory—driven by Callie’s guts and the perfectly timed intervention of her allies. A wave of relief washed over her.
Anderson walked up to them. “Hey, tough cookie. Mind if I join you?”
“I’m not a tough cookie,” Callie said, smiling. “But yes, please join us.”
“I just came to say goodbye and wish you luck.” He extended a hand, but Callie ignored it and hugged him tight.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. It’s been ... fun.”
When she finally let go, she asked, “By the way, what is your first name?”
“Ash. Short for Asher. It means ‘happy’ in Hebrew,” he said with a wink.
Landon stepped forward and shook Anderson’s hand. “Take care of yourself, Anderson.”
“You too, Landon,” Anderson replied. “It’s been an honor.”
The EMTs had arrived at the scene and were taking care of Dylan’s wounds.
Callie walked up to her boyfriend.
“How are your wounds? Are you going to be all right?”
“Fine ... I’m just sore. They said I’ll be all right in a couple of weeks.”
“We can compare scars later or something. I have an awesome one on my back.” A weak smile peeked from her lips.
“Is that an invitation?” He wiggled his eyebrows, but stopped and grimaced, touching his swollen eye.
“You wish, you pervert.” Callie had a big smile when she said it.
Those big green eyes turned him inside out.
“Did you mean it when you said ‘I love you’ on the phone, Dylan? Or it was something you said because you thought you were going to die? Because I love you. So much. Could you believe that, despite everything I’ve put you through? You don’t have to say it back but—”
“I love you, too,” Dylan blurted out.
“You do?” she asked with wonder, a smile curving her lips.
“Of course, I do. You’re perfect. How could I not love you?”
“I’m not perfect,” she said at once.
“You’re perfect for me,” he assured her. “You’re beautiful, sexy, smart, brave...” He shook his head. “You’re all I could have wanted and more, Callie. I’m happy when I’m with you. I love you. I’m in love with you. But you already knew that.”
“It was different, hearing the words.” Callie’s chest felt warm, and tears blurred her vision. “Say it again,” she whispered.
“I love you,” he said. “So much.” His hand slipped behind her neck, and he brought her lips to his. She kissed him softly. His lips were swollen and they hurt when he pursed them.
“There’s something else I wanted to tell you, too.”
“Better than ‘I love you’?”
“I hope so. I wanted to tell you that whatever life you want, that’s the life I choose. I’ll go wherever you go.”
“You’d truly go anywhere with me? Wow!”
“For us,” he said. “I want to do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“I won’t travel forever,” she said. “When I get discharged from the army, I want nothing but a quiet life. I’ve had enough emotions for a lifetime.”
He brushed the hair back from her face. “Middletown looks like a great place to settle and raise a family.”
“Is that a proposal?” She pushed a dangling lock of hair behind her ears.
Dylan thought for half a second. “Sure. Sure, yes it is. Will you?”
Callie carefully threw her arms around him. “Of course, I will. Whenever you want. It’s been a long day. A hard one. But I want you to know that you’re extraordinary, and I love you,” she said, unable to stop herself. “I’d kiss you again, but it might be too painful.”
“I don’t care.”
They kissed again until a small laugh burst from her, and she smiled against his lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just happy. We’re a good team.”