Page 48 of Shadows Within
“Scarlett, let me explain,” Callum says.
My jaw drops as the blood drains from my face.
“I didn’t know she would be here. I tried to make sure she wouldn’t be. I wouldn’t have brought you if I knew, Scarlett.” His words spill out of his mouth like vomit. “I tried. Please—”
“You knew?!” I cut him off.
No. This can’t be happening.
He reaches for me, and my hands shove him away.
“Do. Not. Touch. Me.”
He steps back. The space between us grows larger than the knife in my heart.
“Scarlett, I’m not a good person. What I’m a part of—” Pain echoes in his voice. “I’ve hurt people. These hands, they have so much blood on them. But you—” His voice cracks. “I can’t beresponsible for your pain. That goes beyond my hands. It rips out my God damn heart.”
“No. You don’t get to guilt me.” My eyes remain locked on his.
“Scarlett, don’t you see? Everything I do. Every time I breathe, it’s all for you. I would set the world on fire just to keep you warm.”
The heaviness in my shoulders forces a sob out of my chest.
“Tell me how you found out. How do you know?”
He runs his hands through his perfectly parted hair, crouches, sighs, then stands abruptly.
“The Society. Your mom has done some parties for them. I thought it was just a casual thing, then Harrison told me he heard his dad talking about her. She’s in deep with them Scar—” He looks over toward the mansion. “She’s been working for them for at least eight years. I thought she was just dancing, but I don’t know. I’ve been trying to find out so I could tell you everything. You have to understand–once you’re in The Society, they make it impossible to get out. They will control you. Haunt you. Once they have their claws in, you can’t leave.”
He isn't just talking about Mom—this feels personal. Horror is written all over his face. Even when I hate him, I want to embrace him.
“How long have you known?” My tone is calm yet assertive.
He tries to speak. “Scar—”
“How fucking long, Callum!” Every ounce of control leaves my body.
“A few months.” His words feel like a slap to the face. I step forward.
My ears ring as I tilt my head. “A few months?” I close my eyes for a moment. “You knew all this time, and you didn’t tell me?”
I open my eyes. His sharp eyes impale me.
“Every insecurity I shared with you. All the times I told you how I felt about her. You just sat there and listened to me pour my fucking heart out. But you knew… you knew that she was what, selling her body? I’ve been with you almost every day. We spend so much time together and you couldn’t tell me? You knew and you never told me. I can’t Callum…” A drop of my saliva hits his perfectly ironed black dress shirt. “I can’t trust you.” I slowly back away.
He looks distraught, but I can’t focus on that. I slowly feel him letting his guard down. I need to pull away before he sucks me back in. “Callum…”
He tightens his jaw. “Don’t you fucking dare.” His words are a threat, not a warning. “You want to hate me? Fine. Hate me.” His voice is unsteady. “I hate me too, Scarlett. I have spent so long hating and hiding. I was trying to… I thought I was protecting you. The first real thing in my fucking life.”
My heart betrays me as tears start to flow down my face.
“I’m sorry—for the secret, for not telling you. For thinking that silence was safer than the truth. For not being the kind of man who deserves to hold something as precious as you.”
I can’t listen to him anymore. I need to leave. We’re surrounded by darkness, but I spot the many parked cars down the driveway. There’s no one else out here, other than the valet driver. I rush over to him.
“Mercer.” I stutter. “I need the keys for Callum Mercer.”
The valet driver makes eye contact with Callum in the distance. He gives the valet one nod and then the man reaches behind the podium to grab the keys.
