Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Callie

I ’m humming a Christmas carol under my breath as Kong walks behind me pushing a very full cart. We already have three others up at Customer Service that they’re holding for me, but this one is for all the stocking stuffers I decided the kids would need. I might have underestimated this a bit but I’m not unhappy about it since that means the kids will have plenty of gifts. In fact, I’m riding a high that’s a combination of my bear mate and the holiday season.

“Why are you so happy? Some evil fucker’s got his sights on you,” Kong asks.

Since he sounds genuinely curious, I don’t take offense. Instead, I turn and face him and say, “Because I know none of you guys will let him hurt me,” I reply. “As for why I’m so happy, it’s because these kids are currently in the worst place imaginable, at least to them, away from their families, and we’re going to be able to bring a little bit of joy to their lives. It won’t make up for the fact they’re in foster care, but it will hopefully show them that there are people who do care about them.”

“Well, that makes sense, I guess. What else is on your list?” he questions.

“We already have the donations, I’m just looking for stocking stuffers,” I say. “I was hoping to get some of those large peppermint sticks, along with chapstick, some hot wheels cars, coloring books and crayons, and anything else I think will fit.”

His chuckles reverberate around us, causing other shoppers to look in our direction. I can’t blame them; he’s a handsome, well-built man. Not as good looking as Kodiak, of course, but I can definitely see his appeal.

“I’ll help you look so we can get back to the clubhouse. I’m sure you’re going to be wrapping up a storm from now until the party,” Kong says.

“Unless some of you guys know how to wrap, it’ll be up to me,” I tease. “Since Cheryl’s been so shorthanded, I told her I’d oversee the donations and gift buying part, as well as finding someone to play Santa Claus for the kids. That includes the wrapping.”

Cheryl is handling all the catering for the party, thankfully, because several local businesses in Mercy Falls donated their services. They’ll get a meal plus of course, the yummy desserts that Mamie from the Mercy Falls Bakery makes. Not only that, but one of the corporate sponsors she has is donating a Christmas dinner for each of the foster families who are attending with enough food inside to ensure a fun Christmas breakfast, as well as a traditional holiday meal. My hips are already groaning, and I briefly wonder if Kodiak will help me work off any Christmas excess. A thrill goes through me at the possible workouts he might have, which has me smiling from ear to ear.

“Do gift bags count?” Kong asks, snickering. “Because I can totally do those.”

“Kong, you know little kids want to rip open paper, not dig inside a gift bag!” I exclaim, giggling.

He shakes his head but focuses on the aisle I’m on where a lot of the small stocking stuffers are poking out of rows of bins. I wince when I see him getting those small packs of PlayDoh. I make a mental note to put those in the older kids’ stockings, because the younger ones will make a mess.

“What about some of these?” he questions, holding up some Christmas-y looking multicolored pens. “Maybe with these small notepads that are shaped like snowmen and Christmas trees?”

I take both from him and realize that the little girls would like these so nod and watch as he grabs all of them and tosses them into the cart. Shaking my head, I keep looking for a fidget toy, since Cheryl let me know one of the younger kids is on the spectrum for autism. “These might be good for several of them, don’t you think?” I muse, holding up what I was looking for to show Kong.

“What the fuck is that?” he asks.

“Kids with ADHD and autism sometimes need something to center them so they can focus. These are said to help,” I reply, grabbing a bunch and adding them to our haul.

“I wonder if they work,” he says.

“They’re supposed to, but I don’t have kids so I’m only going on what I’ve been told,” I tell him. “Okay, I think we’ve done all the damage we can do, don’t you?”

“This makes what, the fourth cart?” he asks with humor. “I think we have everything we need and if not, one of us can always either run back out or go online and order it. I’m about shopped out, Callie.”

I snicker but remember one last item on the list. Kodiak’s Santa suit. We manage to find one big enough to fit him and make our way to Customer Service. The clerk there said they’d ring us up, so we didn’t overload the lines, which are full even with a few weeks left to go before Christmas.

“Just be glad we don’t have to put anything together,” I remind him.

“Except the bikes,” he rebuts. Then he perks up and says, “Wait! All the brothers can help with that project while you wrap!”

They say the worst things happen when you’re the happiest or most distracted. That’s exactly what occurs while Kong is helping the two clerks load up the club truck with all the bags from our haul. I’m still humming Christmas songs, with Kong occasionally whistling along when I hear the unmistakable sound of a gun clicking nearby. I freeze where I am next to the passenger door, having just tossed my purse inside so I can help when I hear, “Been looking for you for a while now, Callie.”

He found me . As terror fills me, I turn my head and watch Jeremy’s nose crinkle before he sneers. He snuck up on us and the bastard is standing there, pointing a weapon at me in a busy parking lot in the middle of the day. He’s crazy!

Kodiak, I need you!

“Leave me alone, Jeremy. There’s no reason for you to be here.” I’m proud of the fact that I don’t sound scared even though inside, I feel like a puddle of goo and not the good kind, either.

“You smell rancid, like a bear ,” he spits, disgust dominating his haggard, worn features. He doesn’t look well, and I wonder what I ever saw in him. “Thought you were too good for me, you fucking bitch.”

“She is, fucker,” Kong bellows, coming out from the back of the truck.

“What the fuck?” Jeremy asks, now glaring at Kong even though his gun never wavers from where he’s pointing it at my chest. “What are you doing here?”

“The better question is, what are you doing here? This is Shifted Misfits territory, you prick. Don’t think my president is gonna be thrilled that the Lower East Primates are skulking around.” His phone is already at his ear, and I can hear someone bellowing through the speaker.

I hope it’s not Kodiak. Please don’t let it be Kodiak, my mind whispers. As much as I want my bear right now, I don’t want a bloody confrontation that might end badly and hurt innocent people.

Kong continues speaking, “I’m right beside her. Not leaving Callie’s side.” His hard gaze remains on Jeremy, unwavering as I worry how this can be resolved without loss of life on either side.

“You should leave,” I say, standing my ground. “You’re not part of my life anymore, Jeremy. If you’re smart, you’ll put that gun down and walk away.”

Kong’s sharp tone follows, “Listen to her.”

“So, you went to some lowlife biker gang when we kicked your ass to the curb, huh?” Jeremy asks, taunting Kong. “You weren’t good enough to be in the Primates.”

“No, I’m better than you and it’s a club, not a fucking gang like what you’re running, asshole,” Kong retorts. “My brothers are my chosen family, and since Callie’s Kodiak’s old lady, that means she’s my family as well. You know what that means, right, Jer?”

It’s almost like Kong is goading Jeremy for some reason that I don’t understand, but I keep watching Jeremy’s face, which is like watching a commercial or something. Every possible emotion flits across his visage, from anger to disdain and dare I say it, a little bit of fear?

Does he know about the Shifted Misfits or does their reputation precede them? Jeremy has never been bold unless it’s to bully people he considers weaker than himself. Size-wise, Kong is bigger than Jeremy and I know Kong’s a shifter. Wait… is it possible that Jeremy is one as well? It’s something to ponder and ask once we’re all safe and sound once again. Now’s definitely not the time for me to ask, that’s for dang sure!

Kong ticks his chin. “You gonna make a choice or do I need to make it for ya?” The menace in his tone is a sharp contradiction from the lighthearted banter we shared while shopping. It’s a reminder that Kong is dangerous but he’s only a threat to those who threaten him personally, his club, or those he considers family.

Jeremy bristles, opens his mouth to speak, but doesn’t get the chance to answer.

While my focus stays on Kong, who has been slowly moving closer to Jeremy, I hear the unmistakable sounds of several motorcycles coming into the parking lot. Not only that, but I can hear Kodiak’s growl over the racing engines, which sends my heart into overdrive. I don’t want him hurt; I just found him and while I don’t know how that’s gonna impact me in the long run, I can’t lose him.

The bikers surround Jeremy; Spike, Kodiak, Peanut, Chomp, and Fang, each on beautiful, chromed bikes and for the first time, I see Jeremy shrink just a little bit. I’m sure it’s my imagination, but Spike seems to have smoke coming from his nose, but surely that’s because it’s so cold?

When Sly pulls in right next to them in a van I know belongs to the club, I realize that the guys are here to take care of the problem away from prying eyes. They don’t want an audience or anyone to get hurt either, which means they want a peaceful solution as badly as I do. The club cares about the town. I know this from their eagerness to help so all that remains is handling this situation with Jeremy as quickly as possible.

Lightning and Phoenix open the sliding side door and before I can blink, Lightning says, “You’re going for a little ride, Jeremy,” while Phoenix grabs the gun and manages to zip tie Jeremy’s arms. He’s hustled into the van without putting up much of a fight and the guys jump back in and take off.

Huh. That almost seems a bit… anticlimactic to me, that’s for sure. Kodiak jumps off his bike and pulls me into his arms. His body shudders. As he looks me up and down, his face fierce and kind of scary, he says, “I heard you call me.”

“You… you heard me?” I ask, starting to shake.

“Yeah, Sweetheart. You said, ‘Kodiak, I need you!’ so I got here as quick as I could,” he replies before capturing my mouth and kissing me in a way that chases away the chill. “I’ll always come when you call me.”