Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)(48)

“I do, and it’s not as easy as it seems. I know I’m putting her life at risk with the way I live mine. I should stay away from her, but I can’t. I’ve tried, and it nearly killed me.”

“How so?”

“Can’t tell you, it’s club business.”

“Tell me.” He crosses his arms over his chest and sizes me up. Probably trying to figure out the best way to attack me if I try anything.

“After we finished club business, my head was in a bad place–nothing to do with Bella. I realized I was bad for her and tried to distance myself. Longest f*ckin’ week of my life. I may be bad for her, but she brings out the good in me. I can’t live without her.”

He snorts. “Never thought I could make a biker confess to anything. I’ve got some street cred alright.” He chuckles and lets me in.

“Only because I don’t want to lose her,” I tell him and walk in. I stand by the doorway looking into the living room.

Watching her play with her son is doing things to me I wish it didn’t. It makes me happy that she’s reunited with him again, but it also brings back memories of Billy. Of when he and Alina were alive and playing. Their bond was indestructible, and it lasted until the end their last breaths. I can see so much of Billy in Elijah, it’s taking my breath away.

Bella looks up and gives me a soft smile. I know she feels bad for hiding the fact that she has a son, and I can understand why. It’s not the easiest thing to say to someone, but it makes me wonder what else she could have been hiding.

I need to step away from all of this, but if I do, I fear that I’ll never see her again. I can’t. Whoever trashed her apartment was looking for something, and they’re still out there. They could come after her and kill them both.

It makes me wonder if it could be the guy who killed Alina and Billy. The cops never did a proper investigation, claiming there were no leads and what little evidence that may have been mistakenly left behind went up in flames. If it’s the same killer, why target Bella? She never did anything wrong and if it’s linked to me, he had his revenge long ago. It makes no sense.

“Are you okay?” Gail’s mom asks me.

“I’ll get there.”

“You were worried,” she presses.

“Yes.” I look at her and nod.

“There’s something else. You’ve lost a son,” she whispers, and I look at her, confused. “The way you look at her and Elijah, so much sadness. You’ve suffered a great loss.” She pats my arm.

“It was long ago.”

“Time doesn’t heal all the scars. Some wounds are left open and will never close. You just have to learn to deal with the pain they bring you.”

“How?”

“I’ve lost a kid, too. Probably not in the same circumstances as you, but I did. She’ll help you heal if you let her in.” She disappears in what I’m guessing is the kitchen.

Elijah gets up and waddles over to me. He tugs on my jeans and I kneel down.

“Hey, little man.” I smile at him.

“Hi, fwiends with mommy?” he asks me in his little voice.

“Yes, I am.” I stroke his round cheek, and he hugs me. I wasn’t expecting this. The wave of emotion taking over me is hard for me to control. I hug him back and tears start streaming down my face. The memories of Billy are bringing me down to my knees. I could control them for a while now, but with Bella and now Elijah in my life, the wounds just opened up again, and I’m not sure I’m ready to face that.





Annabella

Holding Elijah and knowing that he and Gail are okay is such a relief, but something inside of me breaks for Callum. The way he’s looking at me and Elijah isn’t normal. He doesn’t look mad, he looks sad and heartbroken. I suddenly realize that I don’t know anything about his past life either. We’re very intimate, as intimate as any couple would be, but we both have been avoiding talking about what we’ve been through. I know he’s not a saint, far from it, but there’s something big he’s been hiding, and I want to figure out why. All in due time, I guess.

Elijah pulled away from me and waddled in his cute way to Callum who is now a crying mess and none of us know why.

I get up and walk to him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders, embracing him and Elijah who’s comfortably cuddling into his big arms.

Callum sits on the ground and just holds Elijah and me.

“Are you okay?” I stroke his cheek, wiping away the tears.

“Later,” he says softly.

“Alright.” I kiss him softly and he kisses me back, so he can’t be that mad at me.

“What happened?” he asks, looking at Gail.

“I spent the evening here; we had dinner as usual, and around eight I went back to our place. The door was ajar and I could hear someone was trashing the place. The noise alone was enough to make me back away and come back here,” Gail says, still shaken up.

“Why didn’t you call the cops?” Callum asks.

“Well, it could be a stupid reason, but knowing that the cops don’t do shit anymore around this town and that you’re in an MC, I figured that maybe you could deal with this…” She gives him a sheepish smile.

“Smart thinking.” He nods at her.