Protection
Callum
The air is thick. I’m used to it by now, but every time I open the door it hits me, like it’s my first time here all over again.
As I walk further into the greenhouse, each rose comes into view under the ceiling lights.
It’s just past six in the evening, but it’s that time of the winter where depression is deepened and the moon shines longer than the sun.
I’m better acquainted with the moon anyway.
I know Scarlett doesn’t want to see me yet, but that doesn’t stop me from watching her. I always will. I inhale the sweet rose scent and walk over to the bushes that haven’t bloomed yet, their beauty still hidden. The soil under all the rose beds is dry.
I remember when I found this place, after a drop in my first year.
I needed somewhere to clear my head. I was driving from campus to The Society and pulled off the road to notice a small path.
I followed it and saw this old building—surprised I’d never heard of it, but glad it was unknown by many.
The moss growing on the roof intrigued me.
I didn’t know what this building was until I walked in.
The smell of the half dead roses drew me in before I saw them—much like today.
She creeps back into my thoughts. I’m struggling to accept that she doesn’t want to talk to me. She doesn’t know how crazy it’s driving me to watch her from afar. How did I do it for so long before? We’ve spent almost every day together, and being away from her this long just feels wrong.
Lately, everything at The Society has been setting me off—from the pledges and my father to school stuff. I’m stuck in the vicious cycle of blaming everyone but myself.
I think about the night where I saw her at that party, four years ago. She still doesn’t know what happened, and if I tell her, I worry it will break her even more. I can’t see her go through this agony again, but the risk of not telling her is greater than saying something.
I walk over to the hose on the other side of the greenhouse and glance at the bench where she moaned my name not long ago. I fill a bucket with water and evenly spray the flowerbeds.
Just then, I spot headlights as a car approaches the path.
I recognize them immediately—it’s Scarlett.
She gets out of the car and slowly walks up to the worn door, opening it with caution.
As soon as she steps in, her cheeks turn a bright red.
I place the bucket down and lean against the bench, keeping my distance.
My arms fold over my chest. I don’t approach her, it takes everything in me, but she’s finally here and I don’t want to push her away.
“Hi,” she says and looks toward the ground.
“Hi, Angel.” My tone is low.
A moment passes before she speaks again. The whole time I stare at her. She’s so beautiful with fury in her eyes—it’s her best look yet.
“I’m mad that you didn’t tell me about my mom. You knew and you didn’t tell me, Callum.” Our eyes lock. Sadness sweeps across her face—she’s not masking it at all.
“I didn’t want to keep it from you, I just didn’t know how to tell you without hurting you. I didn’t want to see you the way you are now. I’m the only one that should bring you pain, Scarlett—pain that you’ll enjoy.” It’s true, I will break her, and she will bask in it.
“The fact that you didn't tell me hurts even more, Callum. I opened up to you about what she’s done that has hurt me, and instead of sharing this, you held it from me. If I knew something about your family, I would tell you. Because I care about you.” She looks to the roses, like she can’t trust me. I need to make this right.
“I’m sorry, I should’ve told you.” I take a step toward her.
“But Scarlett, you have to understand...I’ve never done this.
I don’t know how to do this right. I know that what I did was shitty, and it doesn’t justify my actions.
” I take another step closer to her. “I’m sorry.
You must know that I’m sorry, and that the last thing I want is to hurt you like this.
The only way I’ll hurt you is so fucking sweetly.
I’ll bring you pleasure you’ve never felt before. ”
I stroke the side of her arm.
“You think you hate me now, wait until you see what I become for you.”
Her breath hitches. I don’t lean in and neither does she. Instead, she pulls back. I can tell it’s because she’s trying to stay strong. So, I let her.
“I know why you did it, Callum. I know that it was your way of protecting me.” Her saying it makes it real.
“Is that why you think I did it?” She still doesn’t understand.
“Well, why did you do it then?”
“You still don’t get it. I don’t just want to protect you, I want to break you.
I want to hurt you so badly that you scream for me to stop.
I’ll never be done with you, Scarlett. You’ve dug under my skin into whatever is left of me, and I’m not letting you go, not now.
” I expect her to fear the beast that’s been tamed within me.
Instead, her eyes meet mine and she licks her plump lips. The intensity between us shifts.
“I want to trust you. Can I ask you a few things?” I’m not afraid of much, but her quiet tone worries me. I don’t want to lie to her anymore.
“Anything.”
“What is The Society really about? I know by what I saw and the way that you talk about it that it’s more than what you’ve made it out to be.”
I pause to process my thoughts before I say anything.
She can’t know too much.
“It’s tied to the university,” I finally say. “The group is made up of a lot of powerful men in the community who dictate what some of us do and how we control things.”
She takes in what I’m saying, but I know that the answer will lead to more questions.
“Are the things that you guys do legal? What kind of things are we talking about?”
It’s a loaded question.
“I can’t tell you too much because then you’ll be at risk, Scarlett.”
“You can trust me—I won’t tell anyone.”
“I know that you wouldn’t but it’s more than that. It’s the fact that you could get hurt if they know that I’ve told you. I’ve done too much, Scarlett. Once you know, things won’t be the same.”
“So, try to help me understand. I want to know all of it. The good. The bad. I want to know what I’m getting myself into and what my mom has gotten herself into.”
She’s worried about her mom’s involvement.
“She isn’t just a stripper, is she?” She quietly adds.
“No.”
“What does she do then? What’s her part in all of this?”
“I don’t know the full extent of her role yet, but I’m trying to figure it out.
These men don’t tell anyone anything unless they need someone to know.
I have some sources with the Highers—that’s what we call some of the guys that lead us.
What I do know, is that she spends a lot of her time with one particular Higher. ”
She frowns. “Who is it?”
Shit.
“Scarlett, he’s a really powerful man. I don’t want to-”
“To what Callum? The worst has already happened. I already found out about her double life and all this bullshit that comes with it. Her safety is at risk. What could be worse?”
“It’s Archer Alden.”
“Harrison and Stirling’s dad?” Her forehead scrunches up.
“Yes.” Her eyebrows come together and form lines above her nose. Doubt fills her face. “I know they look like the picture-perfect family from the outside, fuck, we all do. But he isn’t a good man, Scarlett.”
Her eyes drop with worry.
“Is she safe?”
“I don’t know.” My honesty punctures her like a bullet to the chest. She might not be close with her mom, but she still loves her.
“I’m sorry, Scarlett. I’m trying to get as much information as I can.”
“What if something happens to her?” Tears fill her eyes, but they don’t fall.
Honesty is the best thing I can offer her.
“I’ve seen it all, Angel. It’s hard to make it out of this life any other way.”
My words aren’t comforting, not when I know that she wants honesty.
I grab her hand. The heat between our fingers pulls us closer.
She takes a step and wraps her arms around me, melting into my chest. The smell of her sweet hair under my jaw overpowers the scent of roses. I rest my chin on her head.
I must tell her about that night four years ago. If she knew the things I’ve done, she wouldn’t be clinging to me.