Page 102 of Shadows Within

“Things are changing. We need to meet. I don’t want to talk about this over the phone, I don’t know who’s listening or watching.” He hesitates. “You should be careful too.”

I’ve lived this life longer than anyone knows—hidden meetings and bugged phone lines aren’t new to me.

“Where do you want to meet?” I ask.

“I’ll send you the location,” he says. I know he wants to keep details limited.

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you soon, Callum. Stay safe.” There’s a softness in his voice I’ve never heard before.

Before I walk to the kitchen, I turn to the sight of Scarlett through the sliding door, lying in bed. Stirling is already awake. He sits at the kitchen table and sips on a coffee. When he sees me by the balcony door, he gets up and lets me in.

“It was Leo.”

He looks at me with hesitancy.

“Where’s Harrison?” I ask him. Although I trust Leo, I can’t see him alone. I will have to bring Harrison and Stirling.

“What is it?” Harrison’s raspy voice asks from behind me.

I turn to look at him. His knee is healing well—the antibiotics we had in the bathroom cupboard paired with rest must have sped up the process. He’s able to walk on his own again.

“Leo wants to meet with us.” Stirling doesn’t miss a beat.

“Can we trust him?”

“Absolutely, he is one of us, Harr.” I answer without hesitancy. Harrison needs to trust him, especially now.

My phone buzzes with a text from Leo. I look at the location, and another text comes in.

Leo:9pm. Tonight.

“He wants us to meet him at one of the old industrial warehouse buildings just on the outskirts of town. The one by the water, not far from the Burger Bar,” I say.

We all look at each other.

“I’m not ready to fight, Callum. I’m not strong enough yet,” Harrison pleas.

“There won’t be a fight Harrison, not yet.”

Silence fills the room.

“Who’s fighting?” Scarlett’s face pokes around the corner. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a bun, and she wears my boxers and an old t-shirt. If we weren’t plotting against The Society right now, I’d take her back to the room and show her just how much pleasure pain can bring.

“No one is fighting.” I roll my eyes at Harrison.

We spend the day around the cottage. There’s more small talk than I’d like, followed by a few card games. Later, Sophia and Scarlett prepare dinner from what they find in the cupboard, while we pretend there’s some normalcy in our routine. Just after we all clean the kitchen like a well-rehearsed dance, Harrison, Stirling, and I get ready to leave. Although I don’t want to leave the girls alone, I can’t take a chance by bringing Scarlett. I know she’ll be safe out here, and we’ll be watching them from our phones.

Scarlett walks me out to the car. I pull her close and inhale, taking in the scent of her. I know this goodbye is only temporary.

“I’ll be back later.” I kiss her forehead as Stirling gets in the driver’s side and Harrison gets in the back.

“Don’t do anything stupid Callum,” she says. I give her a shit eating grin, she knows that I can’t help it.

“Always, Angel.” She holds onto my hand as I step toward the car. Our fingers linger for a moment before she lets go. Sophia’s head pokes out from the front door and she waves at us. She walks out of the house and wraps her arm around Scarlett’s waist.

I don’t want to look back as Stirling shifts the car into drive, but I do anyway—either I’m a masochist or I fucking love her too much.I watch Scarlett get smaller and smaller as we drive away.