Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

C allie smiled at her class as they packed up from the yoga session. Hell, she’d been smiling all morning. And it was all because of one man.

A week had passed since she’d slept with Lock. And in that week, they’d spent every night together. Mornings. Car trips to and from work. Actually, it was only while she was teaching that they were apart.

The only thing she didn’t like was being away from Aspen. Sometimes they stayed at her place so she could be with her friend, but Aspen hadn’t been home much. She was out all day, every day, finding somewhere to write or researching something for her book. And there’d been a few nights she’d stayed at her mother’s, something she hated doing but her mother tended to guilt her into it.

Callie missed her. And it almost felt like her friend was avoiding her. Why, she had no idea. Did it have something to do with Dylan? Her gut told her yes.

She moved into the back room to grab her phone from the table and sent a quick text to Aspen while she had a minute.

Callie: Hey! Want to get lunch today? We could eat in the park.

It was one of Aspen’s favorite things to do. Her friend said people-watching gave her inspiration for her books. Ideas would run wild in her head about who they were and the kind of lives they lived.

Honestly, she had no idea how Aspen came up with all the ideas for her stories. Callie could barely think of what she wanted for dinner, let alone come up with entire fictitious worlds and characters and story arcs.

She watched the screen for a few seconds, waiting for a response. Aspen was usually quick at getting back to her. Another thing that had been off this last week.

When no reply came through, Callie sighed and turned, only to run smack into a chest—Hamish’s chest.

“Oh, gosh.” She grabbed his arms to steady herself. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, it was my fault. I s-snuck in behind you.”

It was true. He should be gone by now. Everyone else who’d done the class probably was. “Is everything okay?”

“I just wanted to tell you that you l-look nice today. Happy.”

She swallowed. Her last few encounters with Hamish had made her a bit more cautious around him, just because she didn’t want to lead him on. “I am happy. Thank you.”

“Is it because you’re back with Lock?”

Her mouth opened. She hadn’t been expecting such a direct question, but maybe she should have. “I’m back with him, yes, and he does make me happy.”

Disappointment flashed in his eyes, making Callie hate herself for being honest. But at the same time, she didn’t want to lie to the guy. And maybe it was good for him to know she was taken.

“You deserve to be happy.”

He quickly turned and headed toward the door, making guilt slither in her belly. She shouldn’t feel guilty, but she couldn’t help it.

“Wait.” She chased after him and grabbed his arm. When he turned, she softened her voice. “Your perfect woman will show up one day, Hamish, and you’ll realize that she’s the one you’ve been waiting for all along. I promise.”

He swallowed. “Th-thanks.”

“In fact, there’s this girl—” She stopped at the sight of two men leaving a store across the road. One of them looked up and caught her eye through the window, a smirk on his face.

Argh . It was those bullies, the ones who’d shoved Hamish and laughed about it.

Hamish turned his head to follow her gaze.

“Just wait in here until they leave,” she said quietly.

He frowned. “I’m not scared of them.”

“I never said you were. I just think avoiding them is best.”

For some reason, that response seemed to make him almost angry. Without a word, he swung toward the door.

“Hamish—”

But he was already outside and crossing the street toward them.

What was he doing? She chased after him, but man, his long legs made it hard.

“What’s your problem?” Hamish shouted from halfway across the road.

One guy’s brows rose. “What?”

“You were smirking at us. You think you can just treat people however you want?”

“Actually, I know I can.”

Hamish shoved him against a car. The guy shoved Hamish back, but unlike last time, Hamish didn’t move.

Immediately, the jerk’s friend rounded the car. “Hey, you got a problem with us?”

“Yeah, I do,” Hamish snarled.

“Don’t know why,” Asshole One scoffed. “We’re not the freak with the stutter.”

Hamish swung a fist, but the guy dodged it and caught his arm. The second guy grasped his other arm, and the two of them pushed him so he was bent over the hood of the car.

Callie gasped. “Let him go.” She gripped the first guy’s arm, but he was too strong.

Hamish tried to buck them off, but it was two against one. The first guy shoved Hamish’s head to the hood of the car, hard. “Hey, do you like that, freak?”

“Stop it!” She tried to grab him again, but it didn’t seem to matter how loud she shouted or how hard she tugged; he wouldn’t listen.

“You’re pathetic,” he yelled at Hamish. “You know that? Doing yoga and Pilates like a little bitch to get this whore’s attention.”

“Get off him,” Callie cried. “ Now !”

Asshole Number One lowered his head. “You’re a sad excuse for a man.” He shoved Hamish’s head against the car a second time, and Hamish growled in pain.

“Stop!” she shouted louder, yanking at his arm again.

He swung his arm, sending Callie flying. She screamed as she hit the road, and a car came around the corner. Its wheels squealed, and it screeched to a halt inches from hitting her.

Her heart beat hard as two doors opened.

Callie’s jaw dropped when she saw the two men climbing out. One blond shaggy-haired guy, the other with dark hair and tattoos down his right arm. Both men were large, with thick arms and chests…and familiar.

Antwan and Jesse, members of Lock’s former Ghost Ops team.

Antwan raced forward and grabbed the asshole by the back of his shirt before slamming him hard against the driver’s-side door. “What the fuck is wrong with you, throwing her to the ground?”

The guy tried to get out of Antwan’s hold. “I didn’t—”

“You did ,” he growled, not releasing him.

The second bully released Hamish and stepped back.

Jesse held out a hand, helping her up. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. These guys are just being jerks.”

“We can see that,” Antwan said through gritted teeth. “I should throw you in front of a moving vehicle and see how you like it.”

The guy’s jaw clicked.

“What’s your name?” Antwan asked. When he didn’t answer, Antwan got louder. “ What’s your name? ”

“His name is Lucian,” the second guy said, almost looking scared that he was next.

“Fucking fitting. I’ve never met a Lucian I liked. Go . But if I see you messing with her again, you won’t get away unscathed.” Antwan let the man go and he straightened, a scowl on his face, before he slid into the car.

They stepped back as the two guys drove off.

She looked at Hamish, seeing the red bruise already forming on his temple. “Are you—”

“I’m fine,” he said, cutting her off. “Thanks for the help.” He didn’t look at any of them before heading down the street.

Her heart hurt for him as she watched him walk away. He was embarrassed. He shouldn’t be, but he was. God, she hated those bullies. And why on earth had Hamish approached them? To prove he could? He didn’t need to prove anything.

Jesse touched her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m all right.” Her frown turned into a slow smile. “And you’re here.” She tugged Jesse into a hug. “How are you?”

His long arms wrapped around her. “I’m good.”

Next, she turned to Antwan, her smile turning a little sad as she hugged him. “Hey. I know it was a while ago, but I’m so sorry about Hollie.”

He embraced her a little tighter. “Thanks, Callie.” He pulled away but kept hold of her upper arms. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too.” She tilted her head. “Have you seen Lock yet?”

“Nope. But I heard he’s somewhere called Sugar and Spice, so that’s where we’re headed.”

“So no more notes or seeing people in her backyard?” Eastern asked.

Lock lifted his mug. Eastern’s partner, Sadie, had made the coffee, and it was damn good. No surprise. She was also the granddaughter of Mrs. Sandler, who owned the bakery.

“No more notes,” Lock finally answered, “but she hasn’t been home the entire time to see anyone in her yard.”

One side of Eastern’s mouth lifted. “Is that right? And where has she been staying?”

“With me.”

The smile widened. “You two back together then?”

He hadn’t told his brothers yet. He hadn’t seen much of them over the last week, but even if he had, it felt good keeping the news to themselves for a few days. Intimate.

“We are.”

Eastern closed his fingers around Lock’s shoulders. “I’m happy for you, brother.”

“Thanks. I’m glad she’s taken my sorry ass back. It also means I can be around to protect her.”

Eastern frowned. “What about her roommate, Aspen? She seen anyone suspicious around the house?”

“I don’t know. She and Callie haven’t seen a lot of each other this week. Callie hasn’t said anything, but I’ll ask her again today.”

“It’s hard to think someone who’s stalking her would have just backed off.”

Lock’s fingers tightened around the mug. “I know. I want to find the person responsible, and I want to find them fast.”

“We will.”

Lock needed a change of subject before the frustration ate into his mood. “How’s Avery?”

Eastern’s features softened at the mention of his eight-year-old daughter. “Amazing.” His gaze lifted to Sadie behind the counter. “And watching Sadie and Avery together is just…shit, I don’t know how to describe it. It’s magic. She’s Avery’s mother, even if it’s not by blood.”

Sadie had been Avery’s nanny for most of the girl’s life, and she’d always loved her like she was her own…while Avery’s biological mother had never treated her the way she should have.

“You’re a family.”

“We are, and it feels good.” Eastern’s gaze lifted to the counter. “Looks like Sadie has a break in customers. I might go talk to her.”

And by talk, of course his brother meant do a lot more than that.

Eastern stepped behind the counter and pulled Sadie into his arms to kiss her.

Yep, there it was.

Lock was just turning away when he noticed Callie climbing out of a blue Ford outside.

He rose to his feet. What the hell? What was she doing here…and whose car was that? He was supposed to be picking her up in half an hour, after she did her own Pilates session.

Then the front doors opened and two men climbed out. A smile cracked Lock’s mouth.

Jesse and Antwan.

Callie stepped inside first, and he tugged her into his arms, planting a kiss on her lips before pulling back. “What’s going on?”

“I found a couple of your friends.”

Hell yes, she did. He looked up and pulled Jesse into a hug, then Antwan. “You’re early!”

Antwan lifted a shoulder. “I changed my flight to an earlier one and found Jesse at the airport.”

Lock shook his head. “Fuck, it’s good to see you both. Missed you.” He’d missed all the members of his team.

“We missed you too,” Jesse said.

Eastern returned to the table, and Lock turned to him with a grin. “Eastern, these are two of the men from my team, Jesse and Antwan. Guys, this is one of my brothers, Eastern.”

“The better-looking brother,” Eastern said with a smile as he held out his hand.

“You’re the sheriff?” Antwan asked, inspecting Eastern’s uniform.

He dipped his head. “I am.”

“Then you should probably know what just happened.” Antwan’s gaze shifted to Lock. “You too.”

He tensed. “Something happened to you already?”

“We almost hit Callie with our car because some jackass shoved her down onto the street,” Jesse said.

“What?” It was almost a damn shout from Lock, but he couldn’t fucking help it. He looked down at Callie. “Who shoved you?”

“Just some guy who’s been bullying Hamish. He had a friend with him. They’re really awful to Hamish. Today, they slammed his head into their car.”

“You get a name?” Eastern asked, sounding a hell of a lot calmer than Lock.

“Lucian,” Antwan said.

“He’s the guy you punched at the bar,” Callie added.

Eastern cursed. “Lucian Tate. We’ve had complaints about him before. He’s an asshole to a lot of people. Works for the local electric company. I’ll have some of my guys talk to him.”

Lock’s hands fisted. He should have done more than hit the guy that night he’d touched Callie.

“That won’t help,” Antwan said, seemingly more to himself than anyone else. “He likes the power trip. One look at him and I could see that.”

Lock turned to Callie and cupped her cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just worried about Hamish.”

He was more worried about her . He scanned her body, lifting her hands, only to growl at the scrapes on her palms. “Callie—”

“I’m okay. Really. Come on. Let’s focus on your friends being here.”

Lock was glad his friends were here. But he also wanted to kick this Lucian’s ass for touching Callie again . And he would if he ever saw the asshole.