Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)(23)

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner then, you sod!” She slaps his stomach, making me laugh.

“I knew you’d insist on coming.”

“Is that the reason why you said I had to come back quickly? To lady sit your fiancée?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“Well, yeah. She would only stay with you, you know her. Besides, I only trust you with her. I know you two have a weird connection, and I’ve come to accept it. I know you’ll be the best one to protect her if anything were to happen.”

“Thank you, brother.” I clap his back.

“This is bromance at its finest.” Nancy giggles and walks inside the compound to go chat with the girls.

“Make sure to stock up on chocolate.” Bennett laughs and goes inside.

I almost forgot how much I love being around my family. It’s easy for me to slip into old habits and shut myself off from the world. I used to do that all the time. It was my coping mechanism. I’m pretty sure that if Bennett hadn’t called me to come back for club emergency, I wouldn’t have come back for a very long time.

I was slipping into the mind frame I was in after Alina and Billy died, and that’s not good for me or anyone around me.

The face of the beautiful redhead I saw at the lake keeps appearing in my mind. Her big eyes and pouty lips. I wasn’t close enough to see the color of her eyes, but they were full of life, and she was having fun with a guy. I don’t know why I have a weird fascination with that girl. I’ll probably never see her again, but my mind seems to enjoy torturing me.

I shake myself of the trance I’m in and get back to work. A beautiful but battered Impala was dropped off by a customer because he didn’t know what to do with it. I gladly accepted it and decided to work on it and make it driveable again. So far, nothing works, but I’ll make it my own. It’ll be a real beauty when I’m done with it.



A few hours have passed since I started working on the car, and I’m in need of a break. The place cleared up as it’s nearing the end of the day. We usually move to the compound once we’re done working on whatever it is that we’re busy with. I’m ready to call it a day when I see another car drive into the parking lot. It’s making weird noises and smoke is starting to come out from under the hood. Whoever is driving it notices and quickly stops the car and gets out of it.

I wasn’t prepared for who came out of the car. The redhead from the lake. Seeing her next to Ant makes me realize how tiny she really is. Five-feet-five at the most, banging body, long red hair, still can’t see the color of her eyes, but I’m mesmerized by her. I’m hidden by the door so she can’t see me. Not that she would know me or recognize me. We’ve never met, but still, I don’t want to be caught ogling her.

She’s talking with Ant about her car and making big gestures as she explains what I’m assuming is wrong with her car. I feel like a creepy old man for spying on a young woman like that.

“You alright, Cal?” Nancy sniggers from next to me, peering outside the same way I am.

“Fuck, you scared me.”

“Big badass Callum scared of little old me?”

“No, you just don’t creep up on people like that.”

“Don’t be so grumpy. She’s cute, a bit young for you but cute.”

“Cute? She’s beautiful.” I sigh and walk to the couches and lie down on one.

“Talk to me.”

“Nothing to say.”

“I know you better,” she says in a singsong voice.

“Saw her at the lake as I was coming back home the other day, that’s it.”

“I’m disappointed. I was hoping you’d at least know her name or something.” She pouts.

“Nope, nothing. Didn’t even talk to her.”

“She reminds you of Alina?” she asks tentatively.

“No, why?” I look at her confused.

“I don’t know, you seem to have a slight obsession with that girl and never met her. I figured she could look like Alina.” She shrugs.

“No, she looks nothing like what Alina did. I don’t know what it is about the redhead. She caught my attention yesterday and again today.”

“Maybe it’s a sign.” She sounds way too hopeful.

“A sign of what?” I try to amuse her and play along.

“A sign that she might be the one for you. What are the odds that she caught your attention yesterday and ended up at this garage? There is a shitload of garages around, why pick this one?”

“Maybe her car broke down in the street, I don’t know. And don’t even go there about the one, you know how I feel about that bullshit.”

“Oh, I know. You’re such a shit liar, Callum. I know deep down inside you long to have what we all have, but you’re too stubborn to let it happen. Look what happened with Le-”

“Don’t,” I warn.

“You could have had something good with her, and you pushed her away.”

“She was a cop, nothing good could have come out of whatever it was she thought we had.”

“Well, it could have if you weren’t that stubborn. You know how much I love you and want the best for you. I want to see you happy with someone. I’ve never seen you content with your life.”