Chapter Betrayal （Callum）
Betrayal
Callum
I know where she is. I’m an idiot for not figuring it out sooner. You’re only brought to the temple for one reason.
My car’s engine roars as I press the pedal all the way to the ground. One slight movement would send me airborne. I tightly grip the steering wheel. I can’t lose her.
I reach for the pack of sour gummies in the main console—my “just in case Scarlett needs them” stash. Running my fingers over the wrapper. Anything to make me feel closer to her. The rage builds, nothing can calm the fire inside me.
I slow down as the gravel from the driveway chips the sides of my car. I head past the mansion and toward the temple down the back road. Cars are lined up outside. I throw the car in park and jump out, slamming the door behind me as I run toward the temple.
The double doors creak as I open them. I see her at the altar, surrounded by The Highers. She looks to me—a sight that stops me in my tracks. Blood runs down her face, her eyes are wet, and she’s gagged, but she still calls for me.
“Callum!” She cries.
I run as fast as I can toward her. No one stops me.
I drop to my knees, pull her gag down, then wrap my arms around her. I shield her from everyone around us.
“I’m here, Angel,” I whisper in her ear as she sobs. I cradle her head between my hands and rest my forehead on hers. This is the end. There is no way we can get out of this now.
I stand in front of her and look at the six men on either side of us.
Even though they try to conceal their identities, I know who they are—it’s my job to know who they are.
I know which one is Sophia’s dad and which one is Harrison’s.
They’ve known me since childhood—the Highers, fathers, brothers, and sons.
They decide who lives and who dies, and today, we’re the ones that have to die.
“I was the one who fucked up, let her go. You can have me, but please, let her go.”
They remain still and stare at me. “Let her go!” I yell. I need them to take me seriously.
“That won’t be happening, Callum.” Father walks out from behind Archer Alden, Harrison and Stirling’s dad.
Of course, he’s behind this. Of course, he wants this.
“You did this?” I point to Scarlett, she’s still sobbing.
It all makes sense that he wanted to use her against me. To bait me. To control me. I don’t matter to him—it all ends the same.
“I warned you, son. You chose not to listen.” He stays calm and steps closer. He holds a pistol in his hand.
“You only have one option.” He takes another step closer. “She’s not in it, Callum.” His dark eyes meet mine.
“NO! Please!” She yells behind me. “Callum! Please!” She cries.
“Callum, look what she’s done to your life. Look at the lack of control you have when you’re around her. You’ve become weak. Everything that you have worked for, everything that you want—it’s yours tonight.” He looks to Scarlett, then places the gun in my hand. He takes his place beside her.
“I’m sorry it had to be this way, Scarlett.” He pats her shoulder. She shuts her sobbing eyes and shakes her head.
“Everything that you’ve wanted will be yours, Callum.
After you complete your initiation here tonight, you can walk away from The Society, or you can join your brothers and eventually become a Higher.
You can have all the freedom you’ve ever dreamed of.
You can become whoever it is that you’ve been masking. All the lies can end tonight.”
The gun feels heavy and cold, a feeling that usually brings me pleasure. I’ll gladly kill those who deserve it, but her… she doesn’t deserve any part of this. She deserves happiness, and love. She deserves life.
Father’s words hang over my head— you’ve become weak.
But my life isn’t for him, it’s never been for him.
I stare at the gun in my hand and remember the person I’ve been the last twenty-four years. The man I’ve fought to become. I’m not weak. I don’t need her. We used each other, to pass time. I can’t do this for her. She was just another girl who I lured in to keep me busy.
I think about who The Society has pushed me to become—a man who would give up nothing for love. I look over at her. I don’t love her—I can’t.
Slowly I raise the gun, holding my hand steady. I point it at her head.
“I’m not the hero in your story Angel, I never was.”
She tries to grab my legs, but I’m just far enough away that she can’t reach me.
“Callum, please, I love you.” She says quietly through her tears. “I know you love me too, Callum.”
Her words burn my ears. Even in death, she clings to me.
I cock my head to the side. The heat of her fingertips lingers on my skin from where she traced it last. I push the memory down to a dark place I never want to feel again. I take a step forward.
I bring the barrel of the gun between her eyes.
Just then, I hear a high pitch scream behind me. I look behind Leo, who stands closest to the altar, and see Harrison with Vanessa in front of him.
“My baby!” She yells and runs toward Scarlett. Sophia’s dad, Victor Roberts, grabs her. He pulls a gun out of his pants and holds it to her head.
Harrison stands beside me. I don’t have to look at him to know that he was forced to bring her here, to watch her daughter die—some fucked up twist of fate. Vanessa’s hair is a mess, it looks like she put up a fight or is still high.
I don’t move. I know that if I remove the barrel, I won’t be able to do it—I have to.
“Stop trying,” Victor tells Vanessa behind me.
Scarlett shuts her eyes, unable to look at me. Her chest quivering as she waits for me to pull the trigger.
The gun clicks as I remove the safety. Fear and betrayal pour out of her eyes.
She’s never looked so beautiful.
“I thought I couldn’t live without you.”
I pull the trigger.
Warm blood splatters on my face.
Vanessa’s screams fill the room as my father’s lifeless body drops to the ground.
“What the fuck did you just do, Callum!” One of The Highers yells.
Years of torture and emotional confinement slowly lift off my chest. I killed my father.
My ears ring and a heaviness builds in my head. I close my eyes, just when it feels like it might explode. I killed my father.
The one who was supposed to be there for me. The one who’s blood runs through my veins, and the one who never taught me how to love. A sea of emotions overwhelm me.
I turn around and pull Scarlett up.
Just then, Harrison jumps beside me. His gun is already in his hand.
Chaos erupts as bullets and debris fly in the air.
Archer lowers his gun in disbelief. Deluca shoots at me but misses. Leo and Harrison point their guns at Deluca.
“Let him go,” Leo says.
Victor points his gun at Scarlett then he brings his aim toward Vanessa. He slowly backs out of the temple with her, Archer, and a handful of others follow. Deluca and Leo stand there with their guns pointed at each other.
I turn around and drop to my knees, grabbing her wet face.
“I thought I couldn’t live without you, but now I know, I can’t.
I can never be without you.” She tries to pull away from me, but I grip harder.
“I fucking love you, Scarlett. Just like I told you, until I die. You’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.
” My heart races thinking that I almost lost her.
I bring her mouth to mine—the kiss is damp from her tears. For a moment, the rest of the room fades and it’s just us. I get high from the ecstasy of her, she brings me back to life.
BANG.
I turn around to the sight of Harrison on the ground, clutching his leg.
Leo acts quickly and shoots Deluca in the shoulder.
“Fuck!” I hear Harrison scream from the ground beside me.
“It’s okay man, I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Go.” I look up at Leo as he yells and nods his head.
I crouch and lift Harrison’s arm over my shoulder. “We need to leave, now,” I say to Scarlett. Still in shock, she doesn't process what I’m saying.
“Angel. We have to leave. Now. Get up.” She slowly stands and follows me. I throw her my phone as I lead us all out the side door.
“Call Stirling to come get us. Tell him we’ll be past the temple, down the back. He’ll know what you mean.”
“Your phone… it’s locked.” She stares down at it, moving slowly.
“0510, it’s—”
“My birthday.” She looks surprised that the man who just killed for her knows her birthday.
“Come on, this way.”
We head behind the temple. I lead us down an abandoned road that used to be for the funeral director to bring the hearse in.
“Harrison,” I lay Harrison down on the ground then I take off my belt, using it for a tourniquet on his leg. “Stirling will be here soon, just stay with us.”
Harrison moans. “Don’t worry about me, you idiot.” I chuckle. Only Harrison.
Two minutes later, Stirling’s car whips around the corner. He quickly jumps out when he sees Harrison on the ground.
“What the fuck happened!” He helps me pick Harrison up and we load him in the back seat.
Sophia’s head pokes up from the passenger window. As soon as she spots Scarlett, she gets out and runs over to her. They cling to each other and cry, as Stirling and I stuff Harrison into the car.
“I’ll explain it all later, right now we need to get somewhere with a first aid kit, preferably where no one can find us,” I say to Stirling.
We all pile into the car. Before I open the passenger seat door, I look to The Society—a dynasty that’s about to crumble.
And I’m going to be the one to destroy it.