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

One of them sat down with me the day I was leaving and asked me my life story, and I told her everything. She understood why I did what I did and said she hoped I’d find happiness. That I was a good man and deserved the best things in life. That was the first time anybody showed me love and compassion. I soaked it up because I had no idea when it would happen again.

I had no idea what to expect when I joined the Marines. The first few weeks of training were rough, but it got better and I could do what I wanted. Serve my country. It brought me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to do what I was set to do. What I wasn’t ready for was to witness the men, the brothers I made, die in front of my eyes. We were on a mission in Bosnia when our Jeep suddenly burst into the air, bodies being tossed from the vehicle. We’d hit an IED and only two of the ten men in the vehicle survived. I was badly injured and brought back to the country as soon as it was safe to fly me back home. I stayed in their Dallas facility until I could walk again, but it took some time.

I was still grieving the loss of my brothers when I was discharged from the Marines. I was suffering physically and mentally. I took the little belongings I had left and was on my way back to Louisiana. I didn’t have anywhere else to go so I just settled in New Orleans again. It was the only place that brought me any peace and happiness.

My life was a mess. I wasn’t doing much besides drinking and wallowing in self-pity until a beautiful blonde caught my eye as she refused to pour me another shot.

Alina.

She was my angel sent from above. I took one look at her and knew I would marry her someday. It took me three days to get her to go out with me, two weeks for her to move in with me, and three months for her to marry me. Everything was so quick, but we knew it was the right thing to do.

We were in love and happy. Life was good, and I was able to let go of the past and enjoy the present without constantly letting my past cloud my vision.

Almost a year after the wedding, she gave birth to our beautiful baby boy, Billy. He was the perfect little bundle of joy, and I felt like I had it all. A beautiful wife, an amazing and healthy son, and a house paid for. I didn’t have to worry about a thing, or so I thought.

Four years later, we were happy as ever. Alina was pregnant with a baby girl this time, and things were perfect. I found a job at a garage to make more money and to pass the time. There’s only so much a man can do at home when he has too much time on his hands.

Alina was getting in her car with Billy to drive him to school as I was getting on my bike to ride to work.

In a split second, my world shattered again. A buzzing noise resonated in the car as Alina turned the key in the ignition, and the car burst into flames with Alina and Billy inside.

I climbed off my bike and rushed to the garage to get the fire extinguisher. Time seemed to slow down. As I made my way from the garage and rounded the car to break the passenger-side windows, I saw Billy and Alina pounding against the glass as the flames were burning them alive. I got closer to the car, ready to break the windows to put out the fire, but the windows exploded before I had the opportunity to do anything. The force of the explosion shoved me backward. I was knocked out for a minute but pushed through the pain of shards of glass lodging themselves into my chest. I crawled closer to the car.

The only sound I heard was the blood pumping in my ears. Alina and Billy were in the car, burning alive, and there was nothing I could do. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and doused the inside of the car, but I knew it’s too late. I knew they were dead.

I called 911 but didn’t wait. I wanted to be the one to bring their bodies outside of the car. I don’t know why but I had to do it. I picked up Alina first. Her body was blistered and burned in almost its entirety. Her baby bump revealed through what was left of her clothes. I laid her burned body in the grass and opened the door on Billy’s side. It broke my heart to see his little lifeless body. He never did any wrong; why did he have to die so soon? Why did they both have to die? Alina was an angel. She never wronged anybody.

Both the cops and fire department showed up, and I was questioned. They looked into what could have caused the fire and according to their experts, it was a default in the car wiring and a deplorable accident. I didn’t buy it then and still don’t buy it now. I’ve worked with cars for a long time and there’s no way they just catch on fire like that. It’s not possible.

After that, I packed my stuff and left, riding around the country, needing to get away from what brought me so much pain. I only came back to Louisiana six years ago and settled down in New Orleans.

I hoped New Orleans would be better for me, that it would bring less heartache. While I was right for the most part… It still managed to f*ck with me on more occasions than one.





Annabella

January 22, 2012

I got the call that I was waiting for two days ago. Could I start working at the café today? Of course, I said yes! I desperately need the money and an occupation. I’m a bit wary exploring a new city by myself. Even if I’ve been to a couple of big cities on my own, I didn’t do much exploring. Not that I wasn’t curious, but it’s already dangerous enough to be traveling to the other side of the country on my own. I don’t want to add more chances for something to happen to me on top of that. And I have to think of the baby, too.

Working in a friendly and inviting environment is going to be just what I need. I’ve been trying to keep my spirits afloat, but it’s getting hard the closer I get to giving birth. I’m scared shitless of what I’m going to do once my son is here.