Page 32

Callie

S unny smuggled me out of the hospital the next day. He’d had a few shitty messages through the night, which really pissed me off.

I was surprised when Sunny picked me up in an SUV and drove me back to his rented house.

“We’re going to collect Mom and Liv. Someone tried to get into the house,” Sunny said. He sounded calm, but I knew he was anything but.

“Are they okay?” I asked immediately.

“Mom’s furious, and Liv’s shook up, but yes, they’re good. My team was with them. Whoever it was got a nasty shock. And funny enough… a certain person was released last night,” Sunny snarled, and I saw his temper.

“But I thought evidence was found leading to him?” I was frightened. Someone at Hellfire had attacked me. I hoped Clio and Thalia were safe. Actually, they probably were. It was Sunny that this traitor wanted dead.

“Yeah, seems the fucker has an alibi, which Lio checked out and confirmed. What a fuckin’ surprise,” Sunny bit out.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, and Sunny’s face twisted.

“You didn’t sign up for this shit, Callie. If you want, I can drop you at Chance and Clio’s, and I’ll walk away until this is over,” Sunny offered.

Anger welled up inside me. “That isn’t what love or a relationship is about! We’re in this together!”

Sunny sent me a worried look. “Kitten, someone tried to seriously harm you. It is not acceptable. It’s hard enough living with what happened to you, and you’ve got relatively minor injuries. If you got hurt badly, I couldn’t handle that.”

“Learn. Because I feel the same way about you. Sunny, you’re the only person who actually gets me and wants me for myself.

You don’t want to change anything about me or hide me away.

Or even worse, poke fun at me to make yourself feel better.

Nobody cared to search for me, how do you think that makes me feel?

You and the team are my family. And one day, I hope your mom and Liv will also encompass part of that as well. ”

Sunny reached out and squeezed my leg hard. “I am fuckin’ proud to be on your arm. You wanna call me Mr Callie Dixon, go right ahead.”

That forced a reluctant laugh out of me. “I’m quite happy with you being Sunny Barlow. I know you’re distracting me from what happened to me and your mom. Start talking,” I demanded.

Sunny sighed and sent me a sideways glance. “They took a brother into custody yesterday after finding an item of his on you. It had slipped down your tee…”

“A cross, a tacky-looking thing,” I murmured, interrupting. “It hit me in the face.” I touched my cheek and winced at a bruise there.

“You remember?” Sunny asked, stiffening.

“That, yes. But I can’t see a face. I don’t know who it was.” My head hurt as I tried to see past the fog and who it was.

“Do not force yourself, kitten. Stop thinking about it. It will come to you eventually,” Sunny said, squeezing my leg again.

“I need to know.”

“Tiny, he was the one who identified the cross as his and was asked to speak to Lio at the station. But Lios says he has a solid alibi, even though I doubt it. Tiny claims he lost the cross years ago.”

“I thought you couldn’t tell me,” I said dryly.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t have, but I could not handle that look of fear on your face,” Sunny replied.

“What else happened?”

“I believe that the rat approached you on the trail, and you fought back. You have defensive wounds on your hands, Callie. I reckon he pushed you over, and you ripped the cross from his neck. When you weren’t home by five, I began to get worried.

Sailor and I looked for you when nobody else seemed bothered.

Finally, a park ranger sounded the alarm. ”

I made a mental note to send Ranger Gary an expensive bottle of alcohol. At least he had taken my disappearance seriously.

“You came for me?” I asked, and Sunny remembered her saying that once before.

“I will always come for you. Not even the devil could stop me.”

“That is a promise I’ll expect you to keep,” I said.

“Not a hardship that Callie,” Sunny promised.

“Why didn’t my sisters send someone out looking for me?” I murmured. That was one of the burning questions.

“They just believed you were out hiking.” Sunny’s jaw clenched.

“That’s not the full story.”

Sunny sighed. “They did not appear that worried. They thought I was overreacting.” The words were dragged from him reluctantly.

The pain I expected to surface didn’t. I searched my feelings, and while I loved my siblings, I accepted they had major faults.

Where Sunny had accepted me completely, their lack of consideration and courtesy concerning me didn’t bother me now.

Sunny had filled all my empty spots alongside my team.

A smile crossed my lips despite my situation, and I honestly felt loved.

“What happened with Cherry and Liv?”

“Diaz intercepted a prowler last night. He broke the glass in a window and was trying to force his way in. Diaz did not get a good look, but she said he was tall and built. He dropped a gun. The police now have it and are checking for fingerprints, but I doubt they’ll find any.

Although, any idiot that drops his piece and runs might just be stupid enough to leave evidence. ”

That didn’t quite tell me anything, but I recognised deflection when I heard it. “Sunny.”

Sunny blew out his cheeks. “Whoever it was only had one thing in mind. They were armed. They meant to kill Mom and Liv. We’re moving all of you to a safehouse, and I’m ending this tomorrow.

I am going to leave the club, and they can all fuckin’ hang for all I care.

Chance wants to protect a traitor over a brother, then fuck him.

Kitten, I won’t ask you to stop seeing Clio, Thalia, and the kids, but I do ask you don’t do it on Hellfire land. ”

“With the amount of travelling planned, we will not be around a lot anyway,” I said. While I didn’t want to lose contact with my sisters, not seeing them as much didn’t bother me. Grandma, on the other hand, travelled frequently, and we met up often.

As we approached Sunny’s house, I saw three cars outside and frowned. “Sunny.”

“That’s the team. Don’t worry, they’re here to protect us.”

I nodded as Sunny parked. He hunched his body over me as we entered, and I was engulfed in a warm embrace.

“Callie, my dear!” Cherry exclaimed.

I hugged her back and winced.

“Mom, remember Callie’s injured,” Sunny chided, and Cherry relaxed her grip on me.

“Oops, sorry. Come sit down,” Cherry said, guiding me into the living room.

“How are you?” I asked, remembering that Cherry had also been attacked a few days ago.

“Don’t mind me. Son, Liv and I have packed our cases, and Ashford has taken her to the safehouse already. I’ve not done your case, lord knows what I might find in your drawers! The fridge and freezer have been emptied, and everything is turned off.

“Do not hang around. Pack and get Callie to the safehouse. I know every instinct in your body is screaming to make someone pay. You have to fight that and put her first,” Cherry said.

Sunny nodded. “We won’t be far behind,” he promised as he pulled me in close.

“Callie, I know you’re probably scared and shocked.

But trust in him, sweet girl, and he’ll get you safe.

Liv took liberties earlier and went to your house and packed a case for you.

Freddie helped her, and the team knows Sunny’s taking you away…

supposedly to recover from your fall,” Cherry explained.

I nodded as Cherry kissed both Sunny and me and hurried out the door.

“Callie, let me grab a bag, and we’ll head out,” Sunny explained.

“I’ll come with you,” I said and followed him to his bedroom.

Sunny packed in silence. It didn’t take him long.

Jeans, tee’s, a couple of hoodies and a jacket.

There was a telling moment as he fingered his cut, and I thought for a moment he was going to leave it behind.

Instead, he picked up his duffle and walked downstairs.

Sunny headed into the lounge and put his head up the fireplace.

“What are you doing?” I asked, confused, as he pulled a small bag out.

“No safe in this place, and the fireplace isn’t exactly the best hiding spot, but it did its job. This contains money and my spare weapon.”

“You had a run bag,” I said.

“It’s called a go bag, but yes, baby, I’m taking you off the grid, and we won’t be using cards for the next few days. Come on, kitten, let’s get you to the car,” Sunny replied.

“It feels like we’re running.”

“Yeah, and we are. For good reason. Whoever the traitor is, they have no qualms in hurting the women in my life. The priority, Callie, is getting you safe and the team around you. Then I can handle Hellfire.”

I decided there and then not to cause Sunny further strain. It was clear he was severely stressed out and needed to do what was best. Allowing Sunny that wasn’t a hardship.

Sunny – four days later.

Sunny was using a burner phone to stay in contact with people. Callie, Cherry, and Liv had all turned their phones off, and Sailor was using a burner, too.

“The club is freaking. Clio is furious and hysterical at the same time. She’s not talking to Chance and making his life hell. Thalia isn’t much better. Chance has called in allies to find you, and I’ve been questioned several times,” Sailor updated Chance.

“Do you need an extraction?” Sunny demanded.

“Nope. Chance has spoken to me, but no threats have been made. They are also asking questions about the team, like how many of us there are, what are our skills, and so on?”

“Fuck, they are not really worried about Callie at all. Are they even looking for the traitor, and who hurt her?”

“Tiny has a cast-iron alibi. I checked it myself, brother. He was in front of people all day teaching a self-defence course.”

“Doesn’t clear him. Tiny could have hired someone,” Sunny responded.

“Sunny, I’ve searched his financials. Tiny is clear of the attack on Callie. Trust me,” Sailor replied.