Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)(79)

What worries me the most in all of this is that his father has a recording of him saying that. How did he get it? Surely Callum couldn’t have said those words to him so who was he talking to? How did his father get that close to him without Callum noticing him? Is his past coming back to haunt us once again?

Just when I thought we were past all the drama, it comes right back to bite you in the ass and it just won’t let go. It’s like a scab you keep picking at. It keeps going deeper and deeper. This is exactly what’s happening.

Realistically, I could overlook it and confront Callum about it. That’d be the sensible thing to do, but I don’t have any proof that he actually said it besides the recording his father made me listen to so I can’t just go up to him and tell him about it. It would f*ck him right off or worse, he’d come clean about it and it would crush me. Instead of waiting for him to come home, I do the last thing I thought I’d ever do. I go upstairs and pack mine and Elijah’s belongings. I can’t possibly pack everything quickly, so I take as much as I can. I can’t face Callum right now, and I know he’s going to come back home soon.

Taking a minute to write a note for Callum, I gather my thoughts as to what to say to Elijah. It’s going to crush him to leave Callum, but I don’t have any other choice.

“Baby?” I kneel next to him after putting our bags in the car.

“Yes, Mommy?” He looks at me smiling.

“We’re going on a little trip.” I smile to him.

“Is Daddy coming with us?” he says excitedly at the prospect of going on a trip with Callum and me.

“He’ll join us soon.” I hate lying to him, but I have to do this, or so I keep telling myself.

“Okay,” he says, sounding sad that he’s not coming on the trip with us straight away.

I hate myself.

I hate the fact that I put a frown on my son’s face.

I hate the fact that I’m too much of a coward to face Callum and tell him what happened.

In my head, I’m telling myself I’m doing this to protect us so that his father can’t threaten or hurt us anymore.

In my head, I’m doing the right thing when I’m doing the worst thing I could ever do. I’ll forever regret this decision.





Callum

Walking through the door, I immediately know something isn’t right. The alarm isn’t engaged. Smoke is coming from the kitchen, and the entire house is in darkness. I turn on the light and rush to the kitchen. I turn off the oven and take out what was supposed to be a pasta bake. It’s burnt to a crisp.

Where are Elijah and Bella?

It’s not like her to let food burn or the oven on unattended.

“Bella?” I call out, but there’s no answer. She’s not here and neither is Elijah.

Going through every room in the house, I quickly notice that her clothes are gone and so are Elijah’s. Where the f*ck are they? My heart shatters all over again. I feel numb. I knew allowing myself to get too close to them would end up breaking my heart. I had no idea how badly it would be.

Rushing downstairs, I notice a slip of paper on the kitchen counter. I dread opening it. Either someone has them or she left. There are only two possibilities. I don’t know which one I’d rather see.

Callum,

I’m sorry you think I’m just after a sugar daddy.

I’m not.

I’ve been taking care of myself and Elijah for years without your help, and I’ll keep doing so.

I wanted everything with you.

I wanted us to be happy and have a family together and maybe more kids.

You’ve ruined it all.

You won’t hear from me again.

AB.

She left me.

She’s gone.

She took Elijah away from me.

She wanted it all with me.

I’m going to f*cking kill Bennett. He’s the only one who knew about the sugar daddy stuff. I lock the house and get back on my bike. Rage and heartache consume me as I’m speeding to Bennett and Nancy’s house. He promised he’d never tell her. That my words were safe with him, but he backstabbed me a few hours after saying it.

Parking in his driveway, I get off my bike and pound on his front door. Nancy opens, looking shocked to see me in such a state.

“What’s going on?” she asks in her soft voice.

“Where’s the f*cker?” I below.

“Who?”

“Bennett, who do you think?” I yell at her.

“Calm the f*ck down, don’t talk about my man that way. What the f*ck has he done?”

“What’s with the yelling?” Bennett comes toward us, and I lose it. I punch him square in the jaw, making him fall backward.

“Callum!” Nancy yells at me and pushes me backward.

“This has nothing to do with you, Nance. Don’t get in the middle of this.” I glare at her.

“You shut your mouth! This has everything to do with me. What the hell happened?” She glares right back at me.

“Don’t you dare yell at her.” Bennett gets up rubbing his jaw and stands in front of Nancy.

“You promised you wouldn’t tell her!” I yell at him, ready to fight, but I don’t want to hurt Nancy in the process.

“What are you going on about?” he asks sounding confused.