Chapter Bliss
Bliss
Callum
The roof’s dark peaks come into view as I pull up the driveway.
What used to be a beautiful place, is now so tainted.
Dead leaves crunch under my car as I pull into my usual spot.
I walk into The Society and up the stairs to the lounge.
I have to find Harrison and finalize the details of the drug run.
It’s the middle of a weekday, so I don’t expect to see many people here.
I spot the parlour door cracked open. Harrison sits on a chair in the corner with a drink in his hand.
“Callum,” he says. It’s not an unusual way for him to greet me.
“What’s the plan?” I walk toward the bar and pour myself a drink.
“We just have to run a few bricks into the city. It shouldn’t take too long.” My back faces him as I move over and stand beside the bookshelf.
I hope this drink will calm my mind.
“Usual spot?” We drop drugs off to a house in Boston. The drive up is nice, and the drop has a low chance for anything going awry. We’ve dealt with the same guys there for almost six years, so they know the chain of command.
“You bringing someone next week?” I ask and sit down in the chair next to him.
“I don’t know. You still not sure either?” I know that I can trust Harrison, I just don’t want to bring him into my shit.
“Yeah, I’m not sure if Scarlett should come. I don’t know if she’s safer out there or here with me.” I take a large sip of the dark liquid in my glass.
“I get that man. But I don’t think anything will really happen that night. There will be lots of eyes on everyone.”
He’s right. A couple of the sororities will be here, and we can’t risk anything. Plus, all the Highers and their flavors of the night will be present as well. That reminds me... Scarlett’s Mom.
“Do you see Vanessa Voss often at the parties?” I look at him and hesitate. “Should I be worried?”
His subtle glance already reveals his answer. “I’ve seen her around more lately. I’m not sure who enjoys her company, but I can find out,” he says.
“I need to know. If I bring Scarlett, Vanessa can’t be at the party. It’s important.” My voice is hesitant.
“What is this with Scarlett, Callum? You know that once she gets closer, you’ll need to tell her about your involvement with The Society.” I take another sip from my glass, the burn in my throat makes his words sink in.
I know that I’ll have to tell Scarlett about The Society eventually, I just don’t know how much I want to tell her.
I also don’t trust all the pledges, and even though I can keep her safe, I don’t want her exposed to any threats.
She’s already been a victim to the power and greed that controls most of us.
“I know, I will tell her. I just need more time. She can’t see me differently yet.” My words feel like poison, thick and crippling. I never want to be responsible for her pain, it’s too heavy.
“You just about ready?” I ask, changing the subject. I finish my drink, walk over to the bar, and place the empty glass on the rail. “We’re taking my car.” Harrison doesn’t say anything. It’s very rare that I let anyone else drive, I need control in all aspects of my life.
The clouds darken as we pull out of the manor. It’s almost like Mother Nature knew that the mood has shifted.
Rain droplets pound against my windshield as we pull up to the house in Boston.
It’s your average suburban red brick house, that looks like it belongs to a middle-aged couple, not a drug organization.
I park the car and pop the trunk. Harrison gets out.
I take a minute longer and flip down the visor to look at myself in the mirror, turning on the side of me that most of the world already knows.
No one will ever see the side that she does.
I grab the product from the trunk and walk up to the side of the house.
The old pledges that did this run used to say, “whatever you do, don’t knock on the front door.
Go around the side and to the sliding door at the back.
” We thought they were fucking with us. Turns out they have nosy neighbours who like to complain, well… they had nosy neighbours.
We reach the back door and knock on the glass. Our usual three suspects sit at a table visible from the back porch—they always wait for us there. I’m not sure if they live here or just use this as a drop house. The door opens.
“The cash is in the kitchen,” says Tom, a balding man with a larger build, probably in his mid-twenties.
He seems to run the show around here. Tom stands on the side of the sliding door and motions for us to come in.
We step into a room with floral wallpaper and butter yellow curtains that look like they aren’t from this century.
Nate, an average thirty-year-old with dark hair and a crappy mustache, stands and reaches into a cupboard in the kitchen behind Tom.
He grabs a stack of cash and puts it on the table.
Harrison walks over and picks it up without counting it.
We’ve done this enough to know that it’s the right amount.
Harrison faces me and nods. I put the tightly packaged drugs on the table.
“The next drop is already arranged. We’ll see you in a few weeks.” I say, then silence fills the room.
“See you shortly.” Tom reaches his hand out. I don’t shake it, and we leave the house—we’re past formalities at this point.
The bright moon shines against the well-lit streets as we make our way back to the car. War time bungalows surround us, coming more into view as I drive down the road.
Millhaven’s welcome sign greets us once we drive into town. Returning here never feels like home. Brick mansions come into view as we pull up to The Society. I park, Harrison gets out, and he walks over to his car.
“I’ll find out if they plan on having Vanessa at the party. Don’t say anything to anyone else or someone might get suspicious,” he says, pulling his car door open. I don’t answer. Harrison drives off.
I pull my phone out as I sit, parked in the driveway. It’s only been a day, but I need to see her. I type a message.
Callum: Be ready in 10.
I can be at her house faster than that, but I want to give her a few minutes notice, which is unlike me. I stare at the screen, hoping for a response.
Scarlett: Yes, Sir.
That little brat. Does she know what she does to me when she talks like that?
Callum: Careful, Angel.
She must be glued to her phone, just as engaged as I am.
Scarlett: Or what…
I can’t wait another minute. I pull away from The Society and merge onto Cambridge Street, heading into town. She puts up a strong front, but how much will it take to break her?
I plan on where I want to take her. Not my house—even though I know no one will be there, I don’t want the toxicity of that place to impact her. I know the perfect spot.
Callum: Come outside and find out.
I idle a few houses down. The streetlights are different on this side of town—grey poles with dull yellow lights as opposed to the black cast iron lights I’m used to.
Those would never be found on the East side of town, where homes look like they belong in a classic British novel, and the bright streetlights act as manipulative beacons of hope guiding the way.
Scarlett steps out of the house. My eyes gravitate to her legs, wrapped in tight jeans.
I can see every curve. Fuck. I stretch my pants to adjust my growing length.
She walks in front of the car. I reach across and open the passenger door, as she slides into the seat.
Just seeing her does it for me. Without a word, I grab her face and plant my open lips onto hers.
Her hot breath enters my mouth as she moans.
I suck on her bottom lip then pull away.
“What’s that for?” She looks slightly irritated and out of breath. Her plump lips and glossy eyes cry for more, but I don’t give into her yet.
“Brats get punished.” She has no idea of her punishment today. Slowly, I’ll break down every wall she’s ever built. I know she’s not ready for it yet.
“Sure, Callum.”
I hold back a response and accelerate, pulling away from the curb. The car engine roars as I drive to a familiar part of town. We usually don’t talk much in the car, but today I don’t want the silence, I crave her thoughts.
“I’m not close with my grandparents,” I blurt out. She knows that I’m not done.
“My dad’s parents are from the same world—wealth, power, greed. And my mom’s parents are just like her—they can be paid to stay quiet.” I have no respect for either of them. I don’t tell her that, but I’m sure she can piece it together.
“Do you see them a lot?” I can tell that she cares by the genuine way that she asks.
“No, only on special occasions, at fundraisers and sometimes for family dinners.” We’re almost out of town when I turn down Fraser Street, a road we’ve never been on together.
The houses on this road scream a different kind of wealth—one that I’m sure Scarlett isn’t familiar with.
Sure, she’s friends with Sophia, and her dad has some high-profile clients, but even I’m in awe of these lavish houses when I see them.
We turn into the most extravagant driveway on the block—the home of my grandparents, my father’s parents.
The perfectly spaced oak trees precisely line the driveway.
I’m not sure if they were ever humble about their wealth. From a young age, I’ve known that they’d want nothing to do with me until I was ready to work with my grandfather’s tech company. Luckily for me, that time is coming.
“This house is stunning, Callum. I’ve never seen anything like it.” The moon’s reflection glows in her eyes. I hate that I have to look away to park.
“Where are we?” She smiles and faces me.
“This is my grandparent’s estate.” Our eyes finally meet again as I shift the car into park. “I don’t come here often, but I thought you’d like it.” I don’t bother telling her that they aren’t home—she can clue in on that part.
I circle behind the car to open the door for her, but she’s already opened it.
So damn stubborn. I lead us along a path to the side of the house and enter a code to open the door, turning the alarm off as we enter.
As we pass through the foyer, Scarlett looks around, in awe.
Her boots sound heavy on the marble floors.
I lead us into the library. Books line the walls, and scents of lumber mixed with expensive wine fill the room. Scarlett approaches one of the shelves, her fingers trace the books. I lean against a shelf across the room and watch her take it all in. I break the silence.
“I grew up reading a lot, my parents weren’t around, and I wanted to fill the void, so I lost myself in novels.”
She looks up at me, her head falls to the side, like she didn’t expect me to say that.
“Out of all the habits you could’ve picked up, I guess escaping reality in literature isn’t so bad.” She smiles. “Who knew Callum Mercer was a softy.”
I smile back and lick my lip. She’s done it again.
The air gets thicker as I step toward her.
Suddenly, I feel an urge to break her and protect her all at once.
I take a few more steps until I stand directly in front of her.
Her breath hitches, while her ocean blue eyes gaze up at me through her thick eyelashes.
“There’s this event next week, would you come with me?” The part of me that wants to protect her comes out first.
I can’t predict her response.
“Like a date?”
I fight with how I should tell her about The Society. I’m not sure how much she’s heard on campus, and I don’t want to get her involved.
“There’s this group that I belong to. It’s mainly made up of high-power men from town, and their sons.” She looks confused but I can tell that she is trying to wrap her head around it.
“So, you’re in it because of your dad?”
I mean, it’s the truth. “Yes.” I don’t want to lie to her.
“What do you guys do?”
Does she really want to know?
I’ve thought about this scenario so many damn times. How do I tell her that I’m involved with the people that tried to hurt her? She can’t know that yet.
“Not all of us are good, Scarlett. But we do different things for the town, a lot of the time we try to fly under the radar.” I don’t know where this is going.
“Like Scouts?” She covers her mouth as she laughs a little.
“No Scarlett, not like Scouts.” A part of me wishes that we were.
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The heat of her skin brushes against my finger.
“Are you scared to be like him?” The question comes out of nowhere, but I know immediately who she’s talking about.
“No. I despise him. If I ever let myself turn out like him, I wouldn’t want to live.”
Her lip curls up at my response.
“That’s a pretty firm statement, Callum.” She frowns.
“If you knew what he stands for, what he does, you’d feel the same, Scarlett.” I can’t tell her everything today, but someday I will. I’ll have to.
“So, will you come with me?” I ask, reluctantly.
“What should I wear?” She tilts her head to the side.
I slide my hand up her arm, trailing until it lands on the back of her neck. “I’d prefer if you wore nothing at all. But for the sake of dignity, any dress will be perfect.”
Finally, her mouth meets mine. I can breathe.