Page 21 of Shadows Within

“Don’t mention it.” He shrugs and pulls a cigarette out of his jacket. I watch him bring it to his lips and light it.Who knew smoking could be so sexy. His eyes meet mine one last time before he walks away, leaving me speechless.

Liability

Callum

As I watch her walk away, I exhale a deep drag of smoke. Something urges me to follow her—not because I think she needs my protection, but because I want to give it to her anyways. With Chase, she’s clearly harbouring feelings she isn’t ready to face yet. I just need to make sure she’s safe.

We’re close to her car when she looks back at me.

“What, do you tail every girl who gets harassed or am I just lucky?”Sassy.Where’s the thankful Scarlett who was just speechless a minute ago?

I smirk and look to her.

“You’re not like them, Scarlett.” I love watching her squirm when I say things she doesn’t expect.

Her cheeks turn red.

“Like who?”

I hate that she thinks this is normal.

“Like the ones who expect to be watched. The ones who don’t flinch anymore.” My tone comes across cold.

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she tilts her head, like she’s trying to get inside mine.Good luck, Angel.

“He won’t touch you again,” I say. It’s not possessive, more territorial, laced with anger and charged with the guilt of failing to intervene earlier. I knew she could handle him—I just didn't want her to have to.

She smiles and leans on her door, as if I’m just saying something nice, not promising to protect her.

“Are you going to follow me all day now?” She looks me up and down, there’s nothing subtle about it.

“If I did, you’d never know.” Her lips part slightly, as if she thinks I might be serious. She tilts her head back and laughs.

“Good luck, Callum.” She smiles and gets into her car.

That fucking mouth.

I don’t move as she drives past, clenching my fists with the desire to touch her. I walk over to my car and open the door. I can’t sit down. Instead, I slam the door harder than I mean to and lean against it, like a child throwing a tantrum. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Harrison.

He picks up on the second ring.

“Oh, you’re alive?”

“Chase Booth.” I skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.

There’s a brief pause.

“What about him?”

“He touched something that’s mine.” I follow with a longer, heavier pause.

I don’t need to see him to know that his body language has changed, like he knows what’s next. “How far did he push it?”

“Far enough.” I bark out. “He put his hands on her.”

“Fucking hell,” Harrison mutters.

I try not to let my rage take over while I recall everything that happened.