Savage Crown II

12. Twelve

Natalia
The following two days had been like a little stolen moment of happiness. Zoey and Callum were inseparable. I still kept my distance from him knowing that being next to him was like getting sucked into a black hole. One in which I'd have no hopes getting out of.  After all the playtime ended I ran Zoey a bath. We'd have to leave the place we called home for the past four years in just a few days.

Later on that night I read Zoey a bed time story in her bed while Callum watched from the door. He leaned against the door smiling over at Zoey as she nodded off to sleep.

Once I made sure she was fast asleep I rose off her bed and tucked her in giving her a kiss on her forehead. I turned to walk out the door passing  Callum, "We need to talk about moving" I whispered as we were side by side. The familiar heat I felt from four years ago still radiating between us.

Callum followed me towards the kitchen downstairs were we sat down at the white rounded table that held endless amounts of happy moments shared with Zoey and my family. Now it was the table where we were discussing Zoey's future with her father.

I didn't hesitate to start off with the hard questions first as we sat down, Callum decided to sit right next to me so that I could smell his earthy woody scent. "How do I know you won't hurt Zoey? Why should I believe a word that comes out of your mouth"

His blue eyes focused in on mine with a pained expression, "I would never hurt my child Natalia, just like I would never hurt you."

"That's not what your plan was years ago Callum, what will make me think differently?" I raised a brow.

"Did those words ever come out of my own mouth Natalia?" He asked as he placed his arm on the back of my chair.

"Clara sai-"

"That's not the question Natalia, did they ever come out of my mouth?" He interuppted.

"No" I responded irritated.

"You took off without ever giving me a chance to tell you what happened Natalia"

"Tell me what Callum? You keep telling me that without actually telling me anything"

"Everything will become clear once we are in Chicago" he repeated again.

"What will? Because I'm scared Cal" I said desperately searching his face for answers. Calling him by his nickname that I've screamed and moaned or said when I was most vulnerable. His face softened as his fingers softly brushed my arm. His eyes no longer angry or hurt, they were gentle and gleaming how they used to. He placed his hand on my back, His touch sending shocks of electricity throughout my entire body. "you're just going to have trust me love" he whispered.

"I-I can't " I stuttered as he inched his face closer to mine and kissed me thoroughly. That fire inside me igniting again, I've tried to bury him deep in my past but I could never do so. Callum's breathing was becoming more rugged as we pulled each other closer than we could be. "Cal" I moaned as his hand trailed under my shirt and up to my breasts, "I-I can't "I said in between kisses. "Don't think just feel mo ghrá (my love)" he said as pulled me in closer. "You know deep down, I'd  never hurt you and our daughter"

A loud scream coming from Zoey's room cut through the silence, both of us pulled away from eachother and jolted up fast up on our feet, Callum quickly ran to his coat and brought out his gun and quickly ran upstairs towards Zoey's room. I grabbed a kitchen knife and followed right behind him. "Zoey" I yelled as we entered her room. The kitchen knife in my hands shaking from not being able to keep my hand steady. I frantically scanned the room for her.

"ZOEY WHERE ARE YOU?"  I yelled as all we were met with  was silence everywhere in her room and empty bed.

"ZOEY" Callum yelled as he checked under her bed. As I made my way towards her bathroom door the door was locked from the inside. "Zo its mama!" I yelled. "Zo can you hear me?"

Callum walked up behind me, "Natalia I have to break the door down"

I stepped aside quickly as Callum took a couple steps back "Zoey I'm going to knock the door down okay I need you to step away from the door "

His request was met with silence, making us more anxious as he charged at the door, the door didn't budge so he went back at it again harder. Her pink door busted off its hinges down onto the white ceramic floor. The bathroom appeared empty and silent. Until Callum drew back the curtains to her porcelain claw foot tub, there was Zoey with her head in her knees crying.

"Daddy!" Zoey cried out. Callum quickly placed the gun in his back and lifted her out of tub holding her tight. "Zoey love are you okay?" He repeatedly asked as he placed her down on the floor to check her for any injuries. Zoey only cried out more when he placed her on the floor. He picked her back up as she wrapped her little arms around his neck crying. "I have to sweep the place for any intruders" he said as he tried to hand Zoey off to me. She only clung tighter to him.

"I'll do it" I said as I grabbed the gun out from his back. We exited the bathroom together. The room was empty with no one in sight. It was pretty hard getting up to the penthouse without proper clearance. Callum sat down with Zoey on her bed. "What happened Zo?" I asked as I lifted her little head up.

"There was a big scary man standing in my room" she said through her sniffles.

"did you see where he came in from baby?" I asked her and she silently nodded her head and pointed at her door.

"Whoever they are they could still be here in the buidling." Callum said.

"I checked the place there was no sign of forced entry and one can't access the penthouse without a keycard or be on the guestlist" I told Callum, "maybe it was a nightmare? Traveling back and forth has been tough on her and then there was an accident a couple weeks ago. Maybe it's just affecting her now." I said worriedly.

"An accident?" Callum asked as his dark brown brows drew together in confusion. "What type of accident would give my child nightmares like this?" He asked as his eyes became furious. "Zoey couldn't have made this up Natalia. It's not safe here. We're leaving back to Chicago tonight."

"The plane is back in Chicago, Gio needed it" I responded.

"Your family isn't the only one with planes and private jets at their beck and call Natalia. We're leaving tonight. Pack what you need and I'll send someone else for the rest of your stuff earlier than planned." He ordered, "And you better tell me about this accident before we leave here." He said his best trying to keep his temper hidden from Zoey.