Stripping Callum (Last Hangman MC Book 6)

by Muriel Garcia

  “Loud and clear,” the kid answers and catches his friend when Ant pushes him into his arms.

  “Good.” Ant walks toward me and gives me a nod to move to follow him. I comply because he’s the Prez, and we’re supposed to listen to him even if we don’t agree. We’re all moving out when out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the Satan’s Inferno draw out his gun. I don’t think twice, I shoot him which causes all hell to break loose.

  Gun shots are fired from all directions. There aren’t that many of them so it’s easy to get them all down with all of us, but I’m saving their Prez for last.

  When they are all down, only him and the kid are on the ground, holding each other scared. I hold my hand up to the others and they stop shooting. I walk toward them and stop a few feet away from them.

  “Who should I kill first?” I ask with a sadistic smile on my face.

  “Please, don’t kill us!” The Prez begs.

  “See, I can’t do that. I remember you now. Jordan. You were the one who was always following Richard and doing whatever he wanted you to do. You were the one who was seducing the women to lure them into your whorehouse. There was too much heat on a van kidnapping women that you had to be crafty. I remember you now. You’re the low life piece of shit who was raping a young girl, barely legal to ‘break her in’ for the other clients. I fucking wish I had killed you when I had the chance,” I tell them coldly.

  “I…”

  “You nothing. You have no fucking excuse for any of this,” I yell at him. Scaring him and the kid.

  “Kill me if you want but not my brother. He has nothing to do with this,” Jordan begs.

  “Oh, but he does, he’s here with you, isn’t he? He’s wearing the club’s cut. He’s as much a part of this as you are.”

  “Please!” Jordan yells.

  “Any last words?” I smirk at them. The kid is scared for his life, or so it appears until he tries to get his knife from his belt. It only fuels me to just blow his brain out. I fire one single shot and he falls limply into his brother’s arms. Jordan screams holding his brother. “You two brought it upon yourself.”

  “He had nothing to do with any of this! I forced him to join us because I needed more men! Your Prez let us go freely, why did you start firing?” he cries.

  “See, one of your men drew his gun out and was going to shoot, I didn’t want any of our men to be hurt so we fired first. Just like now, your brother was going to stab my leg. I move the knife that was in his hand with my foot. “I’m not going to let a little kid hurt me,” I scoff.

  “You asked if I had any last word? I do. Nancy was the best pussy I’ve ever had,” he says with a sadistic smirk on his face, and I see red. I forgo the gun, I’m on him in less time than it takes to say it, and I’m bashing his skull in. Punch after punch, hearing his bones crack under the repeated blows. No one talks about my friends in such way, no one. I won’t allow it, and I won’t allow anyone who’s hurt any of us to live. Not now, not ever.

  A hand placed on my shoulder makes me stop mid-way.

  “He’s gone, brother,” Ant says.

  “I know,” I say coldly.

  “Come on.” He taps my shoulder, and I reluctantly get up. I wasn’t done with him, but he’s right, even if he were still alive, there’s nothing he could ever do.

  We walk out of the place, going back to our bikes. I’m glad we got this done, but Jordan’s last words are going to fuck me up for the rest of my life. I’m only glad that Bennett wasn’t here with us. He didn’t mind as much to be put on the backburner now that Nancy is pregnant. He was gutted he couldn’t be there to end them but knew better than to come. Either one of us would have kicked his ass, and hearing what Jordan had to say would have messed him up more than it has with me.

  “Ride it off before you go back to your woman,” Ant says, and I just nod. By now, they all know that I’m with her, and I’m done hiding it. The fuckers messing with her are gone so now we can finally breathe and forget about this ordeal.

  Ray brings a van around and talks to the women, convincing them to get in so they can be returned back to their families. A few hesitate, but they comply with their newfound friends. These women will be scarred for a portion of their lives because some little shit thought he had balls to follow in the footsteps of who he thought of as a God. They are possibly going to push their men away and it’ll ruin relationships, all because some guy thought he knew better.

  I’m glad he never got to one of our women.

  I’m glad I was the one to end this fucker’s life.

  I’m glad he could never hurt Bella.

  Annabella

  A Week Later

  As much as Callum can be overprotective and a bit annoying with his overprotectiveness, I do miss him. He always has to be in control of everything, and he proved it once again when he asked Ryan, one of his club brothers, to lady sit me as he calls it. It could be worse, he’s around my age, funny, easy on the eyes and always has something to say. While Callum is a man of few words at times, Ryan makes it up for it.

  Having Ryan around at all times was an adjustment for sure. I never expected Callum to actually have someone watch over my every move. I guess it’s better than to have notes left randomly to threaten me. Thinking of it, they stopped a week ago, and Callum has been gone for two weeks. I don’t know if it has anything to do with it but it’s good.

  Gail was delighted to have Ryan around and so was Josie. They know each other so it made it easier to explain to Josie what was going on. Gail found it hilarious that someone was actually lady sitting me. I think she has a thing for Ryan, but he’s apparently taken with the number of times he’s talked about the nurse he’s been seeing.

  I’m still surprised that Callum asked Ryan to stay with me. He’s hot and around my age. Despite the fact that Ryan wouldn’t betray his brother or his ‘woman’, I could fall madly in love with him. I’m not, but I could. Besides, I’m not really Callum’s woman, and as much as I wanted to avoid a relationship for the past couple of years, now it sounds more and more appealing, but Callum isn’t into defining things between us.

  The worst part of Callum not being here is when I go to the strip club. I was so used to having him there, watching me when I danced on stage and giving him a lap dance after, even now that we’re closer. He was what I was focusing on while on stage and with him not being here, I had to find something else. It’s been hard, but not as hard as when I have to give lap dances.

  Those gross men, trying to cop a feel as you’re grinding on them disgust me. With just having Callum for so long, I didn’t realize how much I despise this job. It really has lost its appeal big time, and I don’t know what to do. Lawrence said I could quit anytime and he wouldn’t try to fuck me over, but it’s easy money, especially the tips. They are getting bigger every time. I could also work full time at the coffee shop, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much money as what I’m getting in just tips here. I really don’t know what to do.

  “Ruby, you’re up in five,” Carlos, the emcee, tells me poking his head through the door.

  “Thanks.” I half smile at him and put the finishing touches on my makeup. My ruby red lipstick.

  “Cheer up, buttercup.” He chuckles.

  “I’m alright.”

  “You don’t look or sound it. You okay?” he asks, sounding concerned.

  “Yes, I’m alright, just tired.”

  “I don’t buy it. Your performances have been a bit less spectacular than they’ve been.” He sits next to me.

  “I know, I’m sorry.” I blow out a breath.

  “It’s that guy, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.” I chuckle softly feeling ridiculous.

  “Don’t let him mess with you. You’ll be okay. Go get them.” He pats my shoulder and walks out. I hear him announce my name, and I walk on stage to do my thing.

  Stepping on stage, I feel eyes on me. Not everybody’s eyes, but someone special. Whenever he looks at me, I know it and righ
t now is no exception. He’s not in his usual spot, but I spot him instantly, sitting at the bar. He looks at me with his dashing smile and lifts his beer bottle at me.

  My smile wide and my confidence comes back for me to do my thing on stage. While he was gone, my confidence had gone with him. I hate admitting it, but it’s true. He’s my security blanket, and without him around I was lost. I was still making more than good tips, but with him back, it’s like I’m a new person and the tips just show that. Money is raining on the stage and men are cheering me on.

  While it’s a nice confidence boost, I have eyes only for my Callum. Not that he’s really mine, but he’s still my Callum.

  When the song comes to an end, I pick up the money and rush backstage to get dressed. I’m sure Lawrence will understand that I want to skip my lap dance for tonight. I gather my stuff and rush out, but Callum isn’t where he was sitting. Actually, he’s not there at all. I stop mid-step and sigh. Did I just imagine him being there? Am I missing him that much that I saw him at the bar and smile at me?

  Feeling defeated, I walk toward Lawrence’s office to let him know that I’m going home, that I don’t feel good, but someone stops me in my tracks just as I was about to knock on the door. Hands cover my eyes and that deep sensual voice whispers ‘guess who?’ in my ear.

  A jolt of electricity courses through my body at the contact of his lips with my ear and his voice. I fucking missed him.

  Turning in his arms I jump in them and wrap myself tightly around him. He chuckles and holds me close.

  “I missed you, too.” He kisses me softly.

  “I thought I was going crazy! I knew I saw you then you disappeared.”

  “I had to take a leak.” He chuckles.

  “Did you at least wash your hands?” I frown.

  “Yes, don’t worry.” He kisses me deeper this time, backing me against the wall. I’ve never known Callum to show any PDA so this is a very welcomed first. “How about we get out of here?”

  “I approve of that idea.” I smile, and we walk out. I quickly tell Carlos that I’m going, and he shoos me off laughing that I got my smile back. “Can we stop by my place? I want to drop this bag off and get my stuff for tomorrow?”

  “Of course.” He kisses my lips over and over, making me laugh.

  “Someone really missed me.”

  “I did.” For some reason, him confirming that he really missed me and showing the world that we’re together does funny things to me. Maybe it’s time I tell him the truth about what happened to me and what I’m hiding. I know he’s bound to figure it out sooner than later, especially now that Ryan knows. And if we want to build something serious, I have to come clean with him.

  “I’m glad you did, and I did, too.” I kiss him before he places the helmet on my head and helps me on the back of his bike.

  The drive to mine and Gail’s place sadly isn’t long enough for me to enjoy the ride.

  “Want me to come up with you?” he asks as he parks in front of the building.

  “Sure, I’m just realizing that you’ve never been in.” I chuckle.

  “I’m starting to wonder if you’re hiding another man in your life.” He kisses my head and chuckles as we walk in the building.

  “You’re more than enough to handle, I don’t need another man.” Not really, I have a tiny man in my life, but I can’t bring myself to tell him just yet. Maybe if he sees Elijah he won’t be so upset. I don’t know my reasoning behind that but in my head, it’s better if he sees him than if I just tell him I have a son. It also could be the worst idea of my life knowing Callum and his short temper.

  “Are you trying to say that I’m a pain?” he sounds offended, and I laugh. Callum joking around is something I haven’t seen much, but I’ve missed it a lot.

  “Yes! I didn’t know how to tell you, but you’ve said it.” I shrug, and he pinches my ass. “Hey! No pinching!”

  “It’s mine, I can do as I please with it,” he murmurs seductively in my ear.

  “You can fuck right off with that kind of thinking. This is all mine. You can borrow it at times, but I remain the sole owner of all that.” I move my hands around my body. Callum remains silent, but he has a massive smile plastered on his face. I don’t know what he’s thinking of my outburst, but I’m guessing it can’t be that bad.

  As we round the corner to the apartment, something is off. The door is ajar. I rush to the door, but Callum moves me back.

  “Do not go in there until I tell you to come in,” he says in a serious voice, and I nod. I’m not about to mess with him right now that he’s gone into protective mode. I’m scared shitless of what he’s going to find inside. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or terrified that he just drew out his gun and walked into the apartment.

  A part of me wants to walk in behind him and see the extent of the damages and if Gail and Elijah are okay, and the other part is terrified of what’s in there. The terrified part wins and I slide down the wall, hugging my knees to my chest.

  With the lack of notes, I thought that things had died down and that it was just someone pulling a prank on me or as Callum said, some rival MC trying to mess with women. From what Ryan had told me, they had stopped the other MC so there wouldn’t be any danger from them. That’s around when the notes stopped, too.

  “It’s clear,” Callum says kneeling next to me.

  “Clear?” I look up at him.

  “Yeah, there’s no one inside. The place is trashed.” He sighs and helps me up.

  “Fuck.” If the place is clear that means that Gail and Elijah are missing. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” I exclaim as I walk through the apartment.

  “What’s wrong? All of this can be fixed or replaced.”

  “You don’t understand!” I yell at him and walk into Elijah’s room. Even his room is trashed. Everything is ruined. Whoever did this really wanted to fuck with us.

  “No, I don’t, care to explain?” He glares at me and in that moment, I realize he’s figured out that I have a kid.

  “Elijah and Gail are missing.” Saying it out loud, I realize it’s really happened, and I break down. I fall to the ground crying in Elijah’s room.

  “Hey,” he says softly wrapping his arms around me. “We’ll find them.”

  “How? We don’t even know who’s got them or where they are!” I yell, pushing him away.

  “I will find them,” he promises me. “Talk to me.” He strokes my cheek, but something in him changed. He looks at me with so much sadness in his eyes, it’s disconcerting.

  Callum

  I knew Annabella was hiding something. Deep down inside, I knew it was going to be something big, but I never expected for it to be a kid. I’m trying to handle it as best as I can, but the memories of Billy come back to mind, bringing me back to a dark place. Mainly because I don’t want her to go through what I had to go through.

  I’ve never met the kid, but I hope he’ll be safe. For him and for his mom. I don’t think she’ll overcome such a loss. I have to find him at any cost.

  It’s hard to keep my cool in a moment like this. I don’t want to lash out at Annabella because she hid the fact that she has a kid but fuck, it’s something big, a huge part of her life. How could she do it? The way I found out is really fucking with my head.

  “We don’t have time to talk right now! We have to find them,” she says frantically.

  “Calm down, ba—”

  “How dare you tell me to calm down when my son disappeared!” she yells at me. I can’t blame her. She doesn’t know what happened to me—to Billy and Alina, but this cuts me deep.

  “Look, I’m trying my best here. Do you have Gail’s phone number? I’ll try to call her and if she doesn’t answer, we can try to locate where her phone is with the GPS.”

  She reaches into her pocket and gives me her phone. She has countless missed calls from Gail so I’m guessing wherever she is, she still has access to her phone.

  “She’s tried to call you ten times,” I sa
y, ringing the number back.

  “That’s a good sign, right?” she asks, sounding hopeful.

  “It should be, yes.” I hold her as someone picks up, but it’s not a woman’s voice and I see red.

  “Hello?”

  “Listen to me, you motherfucker, you’re going to let Gail and Elijah go or I swear to god I’ll fucking kill you with my bare hands!” Annabella looks at me with wide eyes.

  “Easy! I’m Gail’s brother. She’s here with Elijah.” It’s been a while since I fucked up, this is one major fuck up.

  “Where is here?” I groan.

  “Gail’s mother. Ask Anna to give you the directions and come here,” Gail’s brother says before hanging up.

  “So? Where are they? Are they okay?” Annabella holds onto me standing up.

  “They are at Gail’s mom’s,” I mumble, feeling like a jerk for threatening her family.

  “What?” It takes a few seconds for it to dawn on her, but she bursts out laughing at what I yelled down the phone.

  “Are you done?” I sigh shaking my head.

  “You are just brilliant.” She jumps into my arms and kisses me. “You did say you’d find them.”

  “I did. I always keep my promises. This is going to be really awkward.”

  “Oh, it will, for sure.” She giggles and leads me out, not wasting any time.

  We get back on the road, and she gives me the directions to Gail’s mom’s place. She lives in a good, quiet neighborhood; they should be safe there, whoever is after them.

  Considering the fact that we ended every last one of the Satan’s Inferno, I highly doubt that it’s their doing. But who could be sending Bella notes then? It makes no sense.

  The drive is short enough that Bella doesn’t go insane behind me. I’m fucking relieved that they are both safe and sound.

  As soon as I park in front of the house, Bella is off the bike and rushes to the door, banging on it. I park and walk behind her. A man opens the door, and if the glares he’s giving me are anything to go by, he’s the guy I threatened over the phone.