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“Callie, I can’t promise you everyone will walk away unharmed. As much as I’d love to, I can’t, I’m not God. But I can assure that we’ll fight and protect each other. We’ll watch everyone’s backs and ensure that we bring as many home as possible.”

“That sounds like a speech to deliver to families of soldiers before you left on tour,” Callie replied.

“Who’d have thought bikers would end up defending their country?” Sunny mused.

“Is that what this is? Or just a war over territory?” Callie probed.

“Do you really think that? You’ve been around a couple of years, do Hellfire push for land? Or are they happy being here and building their own world?” Sunny challenged.

Callie regarded him shrewdly, and Sunny felt he’d given something away.

“You said they. Don’t you consider yourself one of them? Are you not part of Hellfire?”

“I am wearing their colours, of course, I’m part of the club,” Sunny defended himself.

“Keep telling yourself that, bud,” Callie retorted and took a sip of her beer.

Sunny watched her as she placed the bottle on the table.

“Thanks, Sunny. I’m going to head back to my hotel, I’ll see you around.” Callie got up and walked towards the car park

Sunny stared after her and then gazed across to where her siblings were standing, laughing and chatting.

Damn, Sunny felt that for Callie. Her sisters hadn’t included her in their group, nor had they even realised she’d left.

How lonely was Callie Dixon, and how distant was she from those who were meant to care about her?

Sunny downed his own bottle and headed out after her.

And he realised exactly how Callie would have felt because not one of his brothers noticed him go.

Callie - Christmas 2022

“Sorry, I’m working.”

“Callie, really? You need to come home,” Polly exclaimed, exasperated.

“And as I said, I’ve got work. The team has been booked from the eighteenth until the second of January to investigate someone’s house,” I replied.

“Beg off, for God’s sake,” Polly demanded.

“And when are you quitting work?” I snapped.

“I’ll be off from the twenty-third until the twenty-sixth,” Polly answered.

“Ah, so it’s okay for you to work up until Christmas, but I am meant to drop what I’m doing and jump to your every whim!” I spat as my anger rose.

“Mine’s a proper…” Polly cut off as Thalia whacked her.

“Say it,” I hissed.

“Callie, what Polly is saying…” Clio began.

“Shut up. Go on, Polly.”

I stared at Polly through the laptop camera and knew she was swallowing her own heated words.

“Mine’s a proper job,” Polly said and lifted her chin in stubbornness.

“Unfortunately, mine is a proper job too, but you won’t acknowledge that because you’re a judgemental, raging asshole. I employ several people, I have shooting deadlines, and as much as you loathe it, I’m a household name. And you fucking hate that, it kills you I’m more famous than you.”

“I did something worthwhile; I represented my country at the Olympics. You run around faking footage for the camera and audiences.”

Thalia and Clio hissed at Polly.

“Yeah, we’re done. I am so sick of your petty jealousy.

All you ever do is take digs. I earn my money honesty and don’t live on the coattails of my former fame.

Say what you will, but I’m so tired of you all.

Judge this, make fun of that, demand and order.

God, I was better off alone. Fuck you, Polly and your snooty claim to fame, and screw Christmas,” I said loudly and cut the call.

Silence reigned.

Had I been too harsh? Who cared? I was sick of the sneers and everything that came along with having those three around. Okay, Thalia and Clio weren’t as bad, but I knew they regarded my job as a joke. And that made me tired. I worked damn hard. We’d made something special and were household names.

The team, called Ghost Seekers, were known for our no-nonsense approach to hauntings. We didn’t make things up nor play to the camera. Sure, the network had tried issuing demands and making us like other paranormal teams, but the viewers responded to our honesty.

They especially liked our screw-ups or when we began laughing at something.

But if they experienced fear, it was because we were afraid.

I rubbed my temples in distress; this confrontation had been coming a while.

Polly had got more and more derisive over time as my fame grew.

There’d been sly digs and quips, and she’d even outright poked fun at me.

Thalia and Clio weren’t as bad, but they had had their own moments asking how we faked some of the footage.

Despite me insisting it was all genuine, they’d just winked and said for me to keep my secrets.

Well, screw them, I wouldn’t be sat playing happy families with them. I’d be with my real family.

“You okay?” Freddie asked.

“Hey, didn’t see you there.” “Couldn’t help overhearing, Callie. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. That’s been a long time coming, and I’m relieved it’s over and done with.

They’ll do as they wish, but I’m going to keep on.

This is going to be a huge investigation, two weeks, and we need to concentrate on it.

This, I reckon, will go three or four episodes,” I replied, pushing my supposed family from my mind.

“Do you want to run over the plan again?” Freddie inquired as she tapped her nails on the table.

“No. I know it inside out. Has Phil managed to get the extra cameras and everything?”

“Yeah, and I have got that creepy music box. But I’ve added a twist.” Freddie grinned.

“Please tell me you didn’t…” I broke off and laughed.

“I sure as hell did,” Freddie smirked.

“Jack will shit himself.”

“I know, serves him right for that damn clown,” Freddie replied, looking angelic.

“Okay. Twenty-four hours till we head out. This one will be great!” I said, clapping my hands together.

The place we were heading to was an old plantation house with numerous sightings of ghosts.

It was infamous for its hauntings, but paranormal investigators hadn’t been allowed in.

Until now. Ghost Seekers were the first going in, and we’d been offered a two-week stay, which was unheard of.

But the hauntings were so rife we would need the extra time to pin each legend down.

It was going to be a huge special, and the network was already dropping hints and drumming up interest for it. We were so excited at having the opportunity and promised to be as professional as possible, even if we had a few laughs along the way.

◆◆◆

A week later our fame increased when Jack had freaked the hell out when a spirit triggered the music box… to the theme tune of Psycho. The clip went viral and made us superstars, not just stars. Callie Dixon and the Ghost Seekers were on everyone’s lips.

I wondered how dear Polly took that!

Sunny

He was laughing hard as Jack nearly jumped out of his skin as the creepy music triggered.

He’d watched the clip three times and loved the look of sheer glee on Callie’s face as Jack freaked out.

Through their laughter and Jack’s terror, Callie and Phil had continued investigating.

Sunny was amazed at how brilliant the show was and how honest the guys were.

They debunked a lot of the rumours about the plantation, but there was activity they couldn’t explain.

Sunny paused the video at the look of happiness on Callie’s face.

She truly loved this. He was happy she was in her element and making a name for herself.

It seemed Callie had found her place and family.

He’d heard of the big fight between her and her siblings and was glad Callie had stood her ground.

Lessons were being learnt as Callie ploughed ahead with her programme, and her team had conducted several TV interviews. Her sisters were bemused until they began realising that Callie was very serious about her career. Experts sought Callie out for her opinion.

Much to Polly’s disgust, Callie Dixon was a household name and famous the world over.

Everyone knew she was a paranormal investigator, which galled Polly when the news leaked about Callie being a quintuplet.

Polly got her five minutes of fame again, and then the focus shifted back to Callie. Which secretly made Sunny smile.