Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)(62)

A few years ago, I’d have been ashamed if I had caught myself feeling the way I feel and thinking the way I think, but I’m just ready to embrace the new man I’ve become. She has changed me for the best, even if I’m not ready to admit that just yet.

Bella slams the door as she walks in with Elijah. She just went to pick up Elijah from school, and she looks pissed.

“Are you okay?” I kiss her before picking up Elijah.

“Don’t start,” she groans.

“What’s with your mom?” I ask him.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs looking at her as if she’s crazy.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong. A kid was being nasty to Elijah and the teacher was there and did f*ck all to stop it. The kid was pushing him around and nobody said anything. I yelled at the teacher, and then she attacked the MC. I lost it. Everybody around was staring and laughing at me. I hate those people. And to top it all off, Suzie has a date, Gail has been asked to work because two other girls are sick and her brother is in Vegas with his friends for a wedding, so I have no babysitter for tonight.” She lets herself fall onto the couch and groans into a pillow. And I have to try really hard not to laugh.

“And that all just happened in the past thirty minutes?” A laugh is bubbling up in my throat and I know when it comes out my ass is grass.

“Yes!” she whines, and I lose it. I burst out with laughter and Elijah joins me, finding his mom ridiculous, too. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you two!” She throws a pillow at us, and I catch it.

“I’m sorry, Bella. I didn’t mean it.” I try to sober up but fail.

“Yeah, right! You’re evil to me!” She crosses her arms over her chest and pouts like a petulant child.

“No, really. I didn’t. You’re just a bit over dramatic when you explain it.” I chuckle and sit by her. “Thank you for standing up for us and the MC. It means a lot to me that you’d defend us even if it’s to some judgmental mom.”

“You’re welcome, they were being so nasty! And that kid. I swear I was ready to kick the teacher’s ass if she didn’t do something. And she dared blame Elijah for starting the fight!”

“Did you start it, little man?” I ask him, and he grins sheepishly. “Tell me what happened.”

“Steven was being a dick to me, telling me that I’d end up like you, a bad man. I punched him.” He shrugs, and I refrain from laughing this time. It’s one thing to laugh at how overly dramatic Bella is, but this could get Elijah in trouble later on. I don’t want that.

“Watch how you talk about people. You’re a kid, there are some words you’re not supposed to say. That kid was wrong. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I’m not a bad man. I’m defending what I love. Punching him wasn’t the way to go about it, but at least you got your point across. If someone bothers you again, tell your teacher and your mom or me, and we’ll handle it. As a kid, you should be playing, not fighting, even if it’s to defend your honor or your family’s. Got it?” I hold my fist up for him to bump it.

“Got it.” He does and looks at his mom who is staring at us in awe.

“You alright, love?” I chuckle.

“Yeah,” she says on a breath. Apparently, she likes me going all parental-like on Elijah. I never got to do any of this with Billy, and it’s a bit weird. I don’t know if my advice is any good, but I could tell Bella wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.

“I’ll watch him tonight if you want.” I smile at her.

“I heard you wrong.”

“No, I’ll babysit tonight if you want. I don’t want you stressing over this. Besides, we have to finish watching something we watched the other day.” I shrug.

“What’s that?” I can tell she’s trying to hold her laughter.

“SpongeBob SquarePants movie,” I mumble, and she loses it.

“This is gold!” She laughs holding her tummy.

“Mommy is crazy.” Elijah giggles.

“She is.”

“I am, but this is pure gold for whenever I need it.” She smirks at me. “Thank you for doing this.” She kisses me and sighs happily.

“You’re welcome. Anything for you.” What she doesn’t know is that I’m going to have most if not all the girls there to watch her. It might be weird, but I don’t want any man to watch her while I’m not there. The guys will be waiting outside.

With the threat hanging over our heads, I don’t want to risk her safety at all. She’s too important to me.





Annabella

Bennett and Nancy came to pick me up to go to the strip club. That was the second shocker of the night. The first being Callum offering to babysit Elijah. I never expected him to want to watch him for the night, but apparently, those two have really bonded. It’s so heartwarming to see that they are both accepting each other in their lives. It makes me feel all funny inside.

What I wasn’t expecting tonight, though, was that Callum actually had all the girls rounded up and at the strip club. Their respective men are also there, watching the outside for any threat but also not to let any male customer come in. Lawrence wasn’t too happy at first, but Gabe talked to him and handed him an envelope and everything was fine. I’m assuming it was a large amount of money to cover the loss they would suffer from not having other customers tonight.