Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Callum
“It’s late and you can stop this at any time, Callum,” Dante advises in a whisper. Then they turn to Tobias for confirmation.
Tobias nods. “Dante’s right. It’s late, so please keep it brief. And understand this, detectives, when Mr. Fitz says stop, it means stop.”
Longe looks pointedly at Tobias before focusing his attention on me. “Mr. Fitz, can you tell us what happened earlier today? Can you break it down for us from the time you landed in Colorado?” he asks with a note of authority.
I tell them everything that happened since I arrived at Denver International Airport.
All of it uneventful. “I was about to make myself a late lunch, when someone knocked on the door. I opened it and that was when I was attacked. I didn’t see the guy’s face.
And yes, it was a man. I heard his voice. ”
“Are you sure you didn’t see his face—anything—even something small might help,” Longe says as he taps things out on his phone.
“No. I don’t remember much. The bastard might be about six feet but he was wearing a hoodie and had his back to the door when I opened it.
For a split second, when he turned around, I saw he had brown hair—I think…
that’s all I got. But I have video surveillance on the house.
The cameras must have recorded who was at my door,” I insist, but both detectives frown.
“Whoever attacked you got to your surveillance room and destroyed all the equipment. Even your storage stacks. They were so damaged our tech guy couldn’t retrieve any evidence from them,” Faller explains.
“Are you sure?” Tobias asks as he straightens to his full height and eyes the detective. “We have people who are good at that.”
“Levi,” Dante says with a nod.
“I’m sure you do, but it’s confirmed by our team,” Faller says before turning his attention to me. “Do you have enemies, Mr. Fitz?” he asks me, his voice gentle. He must be the good cop in this duo.
“No—not really.”
“What do you mean not really?” Longe jumps in.
“I mean I don’t hang with anyone other than my friends in the band and the security team.” Geez, now I sound like a big loser.
“Is that it?” Dante asks, their tone suggesting the interrogation is done.
“One final question,” Faller says. “Your security guard, Dom, told my partner that your attacker said something to you. What was it?”
I swallow hard, thinking back… Did that prick say anything to me?
“Wait… Yes. He told me something about Brian.” I grip the sheet, trying to recall the words.
No one utters a word while I search from my memory.
Finally, it comes to me. “He said… to tell Brian to stay out of his business or I’m going to die the next time.
” I look at Tobias as my stomach twists. “Yes, that’s it. That’s what he said.”
Longe and Faller glance at each other, then Longe nods. “Brian Fitz is already on our radar,” he harumphs. “Mr. Fitz, are you sure that there’s no past lover—a woman you could have pissed off, who would come after you?”
“Well, if you’re aiming for that, then you’re going in the wrong direction. I’m gay,” I say flatly.
Now that I think about it, this is the first time I have openly expressed my sexuality to anyone outside my friends and security—I’m mean, it really isn’t a big thing. So it can’t be that I like men.
There hasn’t been any opportunity or reason to, except when I came out to my mother, who was happy for me. But my father… When Brian overheard my confession, it hadn’t boded well. Thankfully, his opinion didn’t matter then… Or now.
“Then no male ex-lovers?” Longe asks like he has chalk dust in his mouth.
Since my best friends are gay… Okay, I’m not so sure about Bobby. “Nobody comes to mind.”
“Good to know,” Faller says smoothly, and there’s a hint of smile across his handsome face.
I have to admit that Detective Faller is exactly my type. He’s tall, has a level of charm I’m suddenly seeing, and there’s a twinkle in his light blue eyes that’s aimed at me… My breath hitches and warmth seeps into my blood.
Then I realize that the desire in his eyes doesn’t make me nearly as hot as when Dom and Pen look at me with the same intensity Faller’s conveying. Their smolder makes my blood hum, my dick rock hard and my balls ache to be touched.
Tobias clears his throat. He narrows his eyes on Faller. “Are we done here?” His words are sharp and his tone is a demand.
Faller’s back snaps straight and he quickly fixes his black tie. “No stalker?”
“No, that would be Danny,” I respond immediately, then glance at Tobias, who’s smirking.
“No family members—aside from your father, that you suspect?” Longe throws in.
“No. That would be Connor,” I reply, cracking a small smile.
A deep groove forms between Faller’s and Longe’s brows. “Explain,” they say in unison.
“You don’t have to answer that. It’s not pertinent to what’s happening now,” Dante says, folding their arms across their chest.
I glance at them, and then sheepishly add, “Both are long, boring stories.”
Longe raises a finger. “Quick question and then we’ll get out of your hair. Why do you call your father by his first name?”
“You don’t have to answer that either—Detectives, please! Stick to the case in hand.” Dante glares at them.
“It’s okay, Dante.” I inhale, and continue. “Actually, Brian is his middle name and he has always used it as his first for as long as I can remember. I go by my first name, even though unfortunately I’m a junior.”
“Okay, but why Brian?” Longe insists.
“I call him Brian because he’s not deserving of the title of father. You have to be loving, good to your wife and cherish your child. He hasn’t done that on any level.”
“That’s it?” Longe says before sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“It’s that simple,” I admit with honesty. I don’t know what Longe wanted me to say.
“There’s nothing simple, especially in this case.” Longe shakes his head. “Do you think your father is involved in your attack?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I look away, feeling embarrassed that the man that gave me life is a total jack-hole.
“Okay,” Faller says. “We will keep in touch. And here,” he passes a card to me, but Dante takes it from the detective’s fingers. “If you have any questions, you can reach us at this number.”
With a parting nod, both detectives leave my room.
“Do you actually think your father had something to do with your assault?” Dante asks, a note of anger lacing their voice.
“It’s the only valid thing I can think of.” I slump against the pillow and sigh.
Tobias pinches the bridge of his nose before he looks at me. “I’m sorry to say this, but my number one priority is to make sure you and the rest of the band are safe. Your father will not ever be permitted anywhere that you and the band are. Understand, Callum?”
“I get it. He’s trouble.”
“Dean is looking into your father’s current and past dealings. Would that be okay with you?” Dante asks—but why ask me, knowing they already started investigating Brian?
“I don’t have a problem with that, but my concern is for my mother. I have a feeling she might be unintentionally mixed up in this too—Oh God,” I gasp.
“What?” Tobias asks.
“My mother. I need to call her.” I jolt up right, and pain suddenly tears through my body. “She might be the next target—fuck, I need to call her,” I say as panic weighs heavy in my chest.
Tobias grips my shoulder gently. “Then we’ll get someone on her immediately, I promise, Callum. In the meantime, we need you to rest.”
“I have to tell Pen and Dom.”
Dante leans in. “You need to calm yourself, Callum. Tobias and the team will handle this and your mother will be safe.”
Tobias straightens and eyes Dante. “I don’t want the band to know what’s going down—not yet anyway. Because you know what will happen if Danny finds out.”
Dante slowly nods. “Danny will go ballistic. He’ll try to track down Brian and more chaos will ensue.”
“Yes,” Tobias breathes out.
“I need to call my mother,” I demand, as I fight off Tobias’s grip on shoulder. “Tobias—damn it.”
“You need to calm down first,” Dante says firmly. “Here, use my phone.”
“Callum, look at me. We don’t want to alarm your mother in case nothing is happening with her. But if she doesn’t answer, then I’ll call Dean and he’ll get someone to her right away. Okay?”
I stop fighting his hold. “Alright.” Then I grab Dante’s phone and call my mother.
She answers in two rings, and her sweet melodic voice eases the pressure in my chest and I begin to tear up. “Mum?”
“Hey, my boy.”
Her calm endearment alleviates my worry as I begin telling her what happened to me.