Page 46 of Only The Strong

“This one is for if they are grabbing you from behind and it’s really easy.” Finn steps in behind her and wraps his giant tattooed arms around her slim body. She wedges her hands under his arms and arches her body away from him then slowly pulls her lower body back into his and pushes against his hands at the same time, making him let go of her. “With this one, you’ll want to use a lot of force when you’re bringing your butt back into whoever is behind you. Depending on their height you’ll either line up with their groin or their stomach and either way that’s going to hurt. You want to make sure to push on their arms at the same time so they release you as they’re bending over; after, run like hell. Ready?” She asks. “Come on over, Cale!” She calls, turning to face Callum who’s sitting on the floor by the wall of mirrors and taking a drink from a water bottle.

He saunters over and wraps his arms around me from behind, leaning into my neck and placing a kiss there. “Reminds me of our first time.” My face flushes remembering our first time together just a few months before. It feels like so much longer with everything that we've been through already.

Just as I'm getting ready to practice the new move, Callum’s phone rings from where we laid our things on the floor by his water bottle. “Hang on.” He taps his hand against my hip before walking to where we left our things and bending over to pick up his phone. “What’s up, Mason?” He says into the phone. I watch him and his posture straightens and his eyes fly to me. My brows pull together, trying to question what Mason is saying without words. “Alright, I'll head over now.”

“What’s going on?” I ask before he’s even pulled his phone from his ear. He bends to pick up his keys and wallet from the floor and I close the distance between us. Finn and Huntley are standing next to each other, watching us.

Callum grabs my hands in his and looks into my eyes. I can already tell he’s going to say something I don't like by the apologetic look in his eyes, but there's something under it too, fear. “I need you to go home with Finn until I can send a prospect to stay with you.”

“Why?” I shake my head. “What did Mason say?”

I can hear two sets of footsteps behind me but I keep staring at Callum, trying to pry his brain open and see what's going on.

He squeezes my hands quickly. “Mason said they got your stalker’s face on camera.”

I think my heart stops, I'm scared and hopeful all at once. “He found him?” I breathe.

“He thinks so. We’re getting the club together to go now,” he says, never taking his eyes off of me but I know he’s speaking to all of us.

“I want to go.” My voice rising and my eyes boring into his, hopefully portraying that this isn't a request.

Callum shakes his head. “Absolutely not. Remember what happened last time we had a lead on this guy?” There it is, there’s the fear. “We’re walking in blind and I'm not taking you into that.” I can tell in his voice he won't budge on this, but I want to push him. This guy has been tormenting me for months, he’s tried to kill Callum, broke into my house twice, and tried to kidnap me. I need to be there.

“He’s my stalker, Callum.” I rip my hands from his and cross them under my sports bra.

“I’m aware.” He snaps. He drags a hand down his face and takes a deep breath. “I promise I will have you brought in when we get inside and get a handle on things.”

“But—” I start to protest again.

“I can’t worry about you and keep a clear head. We know what this guy is capable of.” He closes his eyes and sighs. “Please don’t fight me on this, Reese.” His slate blue eyes open onto mine again and I lose every argument I might have had. His eyes pool with emotion and I'm rendered speechless. He’s right.

“Okay,” I whisper and I see the tension marginally leave his shoulders; one fight down, one more to go.

Callum grabs my hand and pulls me towards the door. When we’re about to walk out of the door we turn to see Finn and Huntley standing facing each other. His deep blue eyes are locked on hers. “Lock up here and then go to my house. Don’t open the door for anyone except for the club or me.” He rumbles.

“I’m going. You could use me.” Huntley has a defiant tone to her.

Finn buries his big hand in her pulled-up hair and yanks her head back. “No.” He growls with her throat bared and her head immobilized.

I’m about to step in, because who puts their hands on someone like that, but then she smiles. Callum pulls on my hand again and leans into my ear. “She’s fine,” he whispers.

“What?” I ask. Kind of mesmerized by watching their wills battle in their eyes. Huntley’s head still pulled back and Finn standing over her staring into her eyes.

“They like their love rough.” He chuckles behind me.

Huntley rises on her toes and gently bites Finn’s bottom lip before placing a kiss on his lips. His grip loosens in her hair. “Good girl.” He quietly growls before placing another kiss on her forehead and turning to follow us.

As the three of us are about to walk out of the door, Huntley speaks. “You better be home tonight, Finn, or I'll come find you.”

Finn turns around, his smile so big it almost splits his face in half. “I know you will, baby.”

The walk back through the gym and out to the parking lot is a blur, I just stare at Callum’s back as he leads me, hoping this tip isn’t like the last one we got. When we get to Callum’s Raptor he opens the passenger side door and pops open the glove compartment. He pulls my gun out and hands it to me. “Just in case,” he says when my eyes widen. “Shoot anyone who's not us. Ask questions later.” I nod my head, my throat closing and not allowing for any words to leave. The last time he said that a van drove into the side of us and I thought I lost him. He leans down and captures my cheeks in his hands, pulling me into a kiss. His tongue slips inside of my mouth and caresses mine.

“Cale,” Finn interrupts, and Callum and I pull away. “We need to get going, brother.”

Callum nods and kisses me one more time. “We’re ending this today, babe.” He promises before nodding to Finn and walking around to the driver's side of his pickup.

Finn guides me to his gunmetal gray Hellcat with his hand on my back. Climbing inside, I watch as Callum tears out of the parking lot, his truck roaring just as loud as a bike. His tail lights disappear around a corner as Finn starts his car and I pray this won't be the last time I see Callum.

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