Times are Changing
Callum
I leave her house knowing that things will never be the same. I have so much to fight for now. While she may think that I’m holding back, I just can’t watch her break anymore. With time, everything will unravel, and she’ll see all sides of me.
I get into the car that was gifted to me—it’s so fucking tainted. How many people did I have to kill to get this recognition? My phone rings, and Deluca’s name appears across the dashboard.
“Callum,” he says. It sounds like he’s taking a sip of something, like I’m interrupting him.
What a prick.
“Deluca,” I say and accelerate the car.
“We need you here, we’re calling a meeting.” His voice is calm.
“I’ll be there in ten.” He hangs up before I say anything else.
I call Harrison.
No answer.
Something is off. It’s unlike Deluca to call a meeting and ask me to attend. Usually, I’m aware of a meeting or if my presence is requested far in advance.
I call Harrison again.
No answer.
What the hell is going on.
I exhale and my grip on the steering wheel whitens. Before I know it, I’m at the mansion.
Dust rises from the gravel as I rush down the lane way. Grey clouds fill the sky. When I pull up to the building, I don’t see Harrison’s car. I park in my usual spot and pull out my phone.
Where is he?
I scroll through my messages with Scarlett. Sometimes just looking at them when I’m away from her brings me clarity—I need that right now.
The clouds rumble as I open my door and make my way toward the side entrance.
I walk up the stairs and into the lounge where I expect to see all the pledges.
Instead, only the ruthless ones are seated, alongside a few of the Highers.
Deluca and Leo are there, but so are others that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Leo leans against the bar addressing everyone, as Deluca sits on his throne.
“There’s been another incident,” Leo says. “We need to proceed with caution in our final initiations, there are lots of eyes on us right now.”
“Legacy won’t protect them anymore. Tradition is not enough. With the public eye on this case, we need to be more—” Deluca hesitates. “More selective in the future.” Deluca’s response is well versed.
He’s referring to Emily. Her parents went to the press about her death and are demanding answers—ones they’ll never receive.
Deluca looks at me. “And most of all, we need to be careful with who we trust,” he threatens.
I twist my neck to one side as I adjust my shirt.
“Respectfully, as the one who cleans up everyone else’s fucking messes, you don’t need to worry about me.” My sharp eyes lands on him.
“You need to be careful, Callum. Protection is earned, not given.”
“Glass houses.” A voice I often avoid speaks up from the bar. Holding a drink in his hand, unbothered, he raises his glass at me.
What the hell is he doing here?
Although I try to avoid him, it’s hard when we share the same spaces.
I almost ended him four years ago, but money can buy you anything, including protection, in this vile world.
I’ve struggled to watch him talk to Scarlett.
My teeth clench as I try not to give him the reaction that he wants, but it’s too late, I’m unraveling.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Just came to show my support to The Society, since I’m also a member.” He reminds me.
Leo looks at me and then back at him.
“Gentlemen.” It’s a warning.
He leans against the wood, his shirt freshly pressed, all to maintain his polished image. He proceeds with caution. Everyone’s eyes are on him.
“We need to remember that our loyalty to The Society comes first. There’s always a bad apple in the basket, sometimes you just need to eliminate it before it rots the entire bunch.”
“And you’ve already been eliminated from her life, I still don’t know what you’re doing here.” My response is quick.
“I told you, I’m here to support The Society, that includes you, Callum.”
“I don’t want anything from you. The only thing I want, is for you to stay away from me and stay away from her.
” He knows exactly what I mean. I close my eyes and picture her, lying on the bed, trapped underneath him.
I’ll never be free of the memory, just like she’ll never be free of the trauma. She trusted him.
“Are we done here?” I need to get away from him, from all of them.
Leo nods toward the door, motioning for me to follow him. “Yes.”
As we make our way down the hall, he turns to me.
“You need to distance yourself from her, Callum. You need to remember what’s important right now.” Leo’s always been one of the only Highers that I’ve seen eye to eye with—even though he’s sharp and closed off. I can sense that he comes from a place of worry.
“I can’t do that Leo.” It’s the truth, I don’t trust anyone else to protect her the way that I can. Even though she might be better off without me, I’m too fucking selfish to let her go.
His softening gaze holds mine.
“While I will always put The Society first, you do what you need to do. Just don’t trust anyone. Clean up your own messes, Callum.”
He grabs my shoulder and walks back into the parlour. His words stay with me.
Maybe I can let Leo in, just a little.
I can’t help but fixate on why they let him come to the meeting. I should’ve asked Leo, but there’s no point—especially with the recent events. Deluca must have brought him as a warning. Leo wouldn’t have had much say in it.
My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my pocket.
Harrison.
“Where the hell are you? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the last hour.”
“I’ve been tied up with a Society matter. What’s going on?” I start to wonder if they didn’t want Harrison here because they didn't want anyone to defend me.
“I’m here. Deluca called a meeting.”
“Yeah, they wanted me to clean this mess up before I came.” Clean-up crew member number two.
“What mess?”
“I’m just trying to tie up some loose ends.” I know what that’s code for—he’s not alone.
“Who is it?”
“Nathan, Emily’s brother. He heard something and was on his way to the press again.”
I sigh. That goddamn family needs a break. I don’t say that out loud—Harrison knows. He was friends with Nathan in elementary school.
“What happened at the meeting?” He asks as I walk outside to my car.
“They want everyone to proceed with caution as we come to the final initiations. Can’t decide if it was a warning or a threat. And they fucking invited that slime ball in for the meeting.” He knows who I mean. I hear him let out a sigh.
“Why was he there?”
“Apparently to support The Society. He reminded everyone on the importance of loyalty.”
“Loyalty.” The word rings loudly. I lean against the driver’s door.
Harrison knows our history. Hell, he witnessed it.
I close my eyes and the flashback returns.
I’m on top of him, my fists flying into his face.
It wasn’t just Scarlett that I protected that night, it was all the other women that he’s laid his nasty hands on.
If only she knew who was really in her life.
My eyes slowly open to the dim moon in the sky—it reminds me of what I’m fighting for, who I’m fighting for.
Although I’m still pissed with Deluca and Leo, there’s more to worry about right now.
I open the car door, get in, pull out a cigarette, and light it. I need to see her, even if it’s just from a distance.
I check the time on the dash—she’s either at the gym or at home.
I’ll go to the gym first. As I drive across town, I think about how I can add a GPS to her car.
I could do it easily. Maybe I should track her phone as well.
With everything that is happening at The Society right now, I need to be able to find her.
I pull up to the gym’s aged red brick exterior and scan the parking lot for her car. I don’t see it. She must be at home. I look at my phone, click on her contact, and call her.
“Hey, Callum,” she answers. I hear laughing in the background.
“Angel.”
“What are you up to?” I guess we’re doing the small talk thing before I skip to territorial boyfriend. Boyfriend. I’m stunned by my own thoughts.
“Just wondering where you are?”
“I’m just out with Soph. Did you want to do something later?”
I laugh.
“What’s so funny?” She asks. I can hear her smiling.
“You think you have a choice. Text me when you’re home.”
“Actually, my dad is home. I was hoping that we could go to your place?”
My place. My parents house. The place I dread the most. She will never understand what it’s like to exist in a place that’s supposed to provide comfort but feels like it’s ripping you a part.
“Scarlett, I’m not afraid of your dad.”
“No, but you should respect him, Callum. It’s important to me.” She’s silent for a minute.
Her relationship with Jake is something I must tread against lightly. While I don’t have many boundaries, I’d do anything to have a father like him in my life. I won’t ruin that for her.
“I’ll be over later.”
“Callum—” She starts.
“I’ll be quiet, don’t worry. He’s hasn’t heard all the other times I’ve sneaked in.”
And all the times that she doesn’t know about. She doesn’t respond.
“I’ll see you later, Angel.”
“Bye, Callum.” The softness of her voice stabilizes my mood.
I drive to my house to have a shower and change before I see her. As the night passes in my rear-view mirror, I can’t shake the thought of how much power she holds over me.