Page 21 of Stalker Stepbrother

By this point, Janis is sobbing hard, too. I should let them settle this, but there’s no way I’m leaving Callie.

Callie takes a deep, shaky breath. “I have always been alone, Mother. Always. Even when you were sleeping a few feet away from me, I have never once felt like I had a parent. But now, Callum takes care of me. He makes me feel special, like I have a home, like I have someone I can depend on, run to. That I’m not alone. I am not leaving him just because it makes you uncomfortable.”

Janis, for all her initial bravado, can’t take it anymore. She runs back to their car crying. My father, still stunned, only shakes his head at me. He reaches awkwardly to pat Callie on the shoulder and tells her, “I’m glad you’re okay, Callie. Despite what your mother said, this is the safest place for you.”

This is the closest thing he’s acted like a father. I’ve been more like a donor to his luxurious lifestyle. He only ever showed up when he needed money or favors. But well, I appreciate what he told Callie, so I give him a tight nod as he waddles to the car to comfort his wife.

“That went well,” I say.

Callie laughs softly and turns her tear-streaked face up to me. Her eyes are red, and she’s taking deep, shuddering breaths. She wipes her cheeks with the back of her hand and sniffs. “I’m sorry. I’m such a mess.”

Smiling, I cup one side of her face with my hand and run my thumb along her cheek. “Doesn’t matter. I still love you.”

She sucks in a breath, eyes searching my face, before she leans into my touch and closes her eyes. “I love you, too, Callum.”

And so, in the middle of this chaos—cops around us, flashing red and blue lights of their cars, the chatter, crackling of their radios, nosy neighbors, members of the press in the perimeters with their cameras, curious passersby—I find my peace.

In Callie, I find my peace. Filling parts of me I didn’t know were empty.

8

CALLIE

Ihad no idea this kind of happiness existed.

No idea…until Callum.

I’m still a bit shaken about what happened with that Kingsley guy, so when my classes end early and Callum is still at his office, I go there and we go home together. We get into this routine as if we’ve been together for years instead of just days.

At first, some of his employees look me up and down while I shyly amble to his office. Then, I realize…why should I be embarrassed?

He is my stepbrother, true, but we’re not related by blood. We did not grow up together, and we never bonded like a family. And as for the age gap, does it actually matter? I’m legally an adult, and I’ve had my own mind way before I became a teen.

So after that realization, I walk like their boss’ girl because that’s exactly who I am. I smile at those who smile at me, but for those who try to stare me down, I stare at them right back until they look away. Somehow, Callum’s confidence and strength have rubbed off on me.

Today is different because I have a plan.

Callum’s been a bit busy following Kingsley’s crazy antics. Apparently, he’s stolen more than they initially thought. Callum hasn’t spent a lot of time with me, but if there’s something I learned from my man, it’s the fact that he doesn’t request, he demands.

And that’s what I’ll do. I’ll demand his time.

I smile and nod at his secretary, Mrs. Sanders, who looks to be in her 60s, with her neatly coiffed silver hair, matching blouse and skirt, and infectious smile. The first time I met her, she beamed at me and told me ever since I came into his life, Callum has become an easier boss to deal with.

“Hi, Mrs. Sanders. I didn’t call him beforehand, but I was hoping Callum’s here?” I ask her, smiling sweetly.

“He’s in a meeting, but you can go on ahead,” she tells me as she guides me toward the door next to his office.

I stop where I am and shake my head. “No, absolutely not. I won’t disturb him like that. I’ll just wait in his office.”

But somehow, despite her age, Mrs. Sanders is stronger than she looks because she continues to steer me toward the conference room. “You know, Mr. Callahan has one instruction for me when it comes to you. He said, and I quote, ‘I don’t care who I’m meeting or what I’m doing. When Callie is here, you bring her to me. You let her in. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing is more important than her.’”

There’s fluttering in my stomach, and I bite my lip, my insides turning to mush.

When we’re both standing in front of the wooden door, Mrs. Sanders pats my hand. “So you see, my dear, I don’t want to lose my job just because I let you stay out here. He’s meeting with the board, but like I said, you’re his priority. Go on now.”

She winks at me, which makes me laugh.

Gathering my courage, I take a deep breath and quietly push the oak door open. It groans with a low-pitch creak, and Callum looks up from the head of the long mahogany table, smiling when he sees it’s me. Without looking at the other men and never taking his eyes off me, he says, “Leave us.”

---