Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)(67)

“Go figure. Why did I even bother asking?” She chuckles.

“I’m not sure.” I shrug.

“How are things?”

“They are good.”

“He’s totally rubbing off on you. Before you’d have told me at length how things were. Now, ‘they’re good’.” She shakes her head.

“He woke me up teasing me and sucking my nipples, then we had sex, and then we said I love you to each other.” I grin.

“Okay, TMI, but that’s awesome! Especially coming from Callum.” She hugs me.

“The way you react it seems like he proposed.”

“Close enough. It’ll happen eventually anyway.” She grins at me.

“We’ll see.”

“So, besides this morning, how are things?”

“They are good. He watched Elijah last night, had the girls and some of the guys come to the strip club and make sure no one else would get in. We had a blast.”

“I’m sure he was happy about that. How is he doing with Elijah?”

“He’s doing amazing. These two really bonded. I’m surprised. Elijah doesn’t seem to like men very much. He doesn’t like Gail’s brother but loves Callum. When I got back to his place last night, he was asleep on the couch with Elijah on his chest.” I swoon again thinking about it.

“Aww. Our Callum has a heart!” She chuckles.

“He does. It’s all just a front. He’s a big softie.” I smirk.

“Doesn’t surprise me. I knew it was all an act.” We laugh and catch up on what’s been going on and start making a list for the Christmas party at the compound. Just at that time, the other girls join in and it’s a big deal that we started without them.

We all sit down around a table with coffee and donuts and get to work planning. It’s a big tradition for them to celebrate Christmas together as a family and have some fun, even weddings and babies! I don’t care much if I get married or not, but if I do a winter wedding is what I want. A white wedding would be amazing, as in a lot of snow and outside, but I doubt New Orleans sees much snow. Hell, we’re nearing the end of the year and it’s not even cold. It’s still in the eighties. Which I’m not mad about. I either like really warm weather, which I had this summer here or really cold, which I haven’t really had since I left Seattle.

As we’re about to dive into the Christmas menu preparation, I get a text from Callum with a picture attached. I’m sure he’s about to send me a dick pic or something stupid like that to tease me as a payback for what Nancy did to him last night with the pictures and video chat.

Mindlessly, I open the message as we’re talking food, and my face falls quickly. There is a picture and a vague message attached.

Callum: If you want to see him alive, you’ll know what to do. You have twelve hours or he’s dead.

The picture is one of Callum. He’s bound to a chair and has been beaten. His left eye is swollen shut. His lip is busted open. His jaw is bruised. His right shoulder is at a weird angle, and he has scrapes and blood wherever skin is showing.

“What’s wrong?” Nancy asks me. No words come out of my mouth. I know I probably shouldn’t show this to a pregnant woman, but I know she’d want to know when it comes to Callum. I turn my phone to her and she gasps in horror. She instantly gets up and paces the floor trying to call Bennett I’m assuming.

My phone is passed around, and the others react the same way Nancy and I did. I’m shaking. Worried sick about Callum and what could happen to him; well, on top of what happened to him already.

The note didn’t threaten only me, it threatened Callum, and neither of us thought that he would actually be the target. They mentioned that he’d suffer watching me die, but he’s the one who’s been taken away.

In no time, Bennett is here along with Jase and Ryan.

“You know the drill,” Jase says, sounding fed up.

“Sadly,” Ayden says, and they all pack up their stuff.

“What’s going on?” I ask, confused. This is a first for me, and I don’t know the protocol.

“We’re taking them to the safe house along with the kids. Ant is on his way there with the kids, and he’s picking up Elijah from school so you don’t have to worry about him.” Bennett tries to reassure me.

“What about Callum?”

“You’re going to help us. Nothing will happen to you. We’ll protect you. But we need you,” Jase says looking at me intently.

“Give me a gun and let’s go kill those sons of bitches,” I say through gritted teeth as I show them the picture of Callum.

“Not sure if I trust you with a gun,” Bennett jokes.

“So, you’d want me to go in there unarmed?”

“She’s got you.” Jase chuckles, and I can’t understand how they can joke in a moment like this.

“Damnit!” Bennett exclaims.

“Alright, have you ever used a gun?” Jase asks me as we get into a pickup truck.

“Yes,” I say looking out the window.

“You’re lying.” Bennett accuses.

“No, I went to a shooting range a couple of times.”

“That’s good. Hopefully, you won’t have to use it, but just in case.” Bennett hands me a gun and I’m nervous about what’s to happen.