Heathens & Hold Ups (Book 2 of the Heathens Duet)

Chapter 51- Callie

"What are you suggesting, Ms. Danvers?"

I don't like the way he drags out my last name, pausing before speaking like he's tamping down a smirk as it rolls off his tongue. I'm regretting turning down his offer for a drink now. If only so I had something to do with my hands, an excuse to occupy my mouth before I had the bright idea of shoving my foot right in it.

Back peddling like I'm aiming for a Guinness World Record, I try to dig myself out of the hole I've dug for myself. "Not suggesting exactly. More so pointing out a coincidence. A string of them in fact," I say, hoping to God I'm not giving too much away. My instincts are telling me I'm doing the right thing even as my heart beats double time in my chest. A drum solo worthy of thunderous applause.

The way the guys have gone about things hasn't worked. They don't want to hurt anyone and I love that about them, but Hamilton needs to hurt. His reputation isn't enough. He has more than enough money to make people forget about the robberies, especially when they take so little. That money is a small droplet in a bottomless barrel. Stealing from him personally, even for those few hours scared him. Threatened him enough to really make a move. Taking me did the same, though I wouldn't suggest they try that route again.

With Rivers and Vernon out there, they aren't safe to come out of hiding. Kaitlyn and I can change that. they just have to trust us a little to have their best interests at heart. I know I do and so does Kaitlyn. The longing to have her family whole was clear on her face. Though I should probably warn Kace that she's just as likely to punch him as she is hug him once she sees him again. In fact, I'd bet money on it.

"Calista. Do you mind if I call you Calista? Ms. Danvers feels so stuffy, so formal," he throws out as he relaxes into his chair. Such a swift departure from the vaguely threating vibe he was giving off earlier, I find myself nodding before I've given his question any real thought.

"Good, good," he nods before steepling his fingers together as he looks at over at me. "Calista, I get the feeling you have a poor opinion of me." He holds up a hand to stop my rushed objection.

The words would have been lies, but the ingrained manners and politeness had them ready to slip out regardless. I am my mother's daughter after all. Every true thought and feeling, especially the ugly ones, hidden. Buried more accurately, behind a polite smile.

I hid so much behind those masks. Perhaps that's what drew me to them in the first place. Riggs, Dario, Jaxson, and Kace. Their masks were superficial while mine had sunken into the fabric of who I was. A part of me envied the way they were free from society's expectations. Still does even though I know that's not fair. I think they know though. Jaxson for sure, though I feel he was never restricted by society's moral code. Riggs though, he sees me. At my core. My longing to surrender. Without fear of judgement or manipulation.

For me to be truly free, I need them to be as well. I know Jaxson would tell me to go for it, Dario too after he had done as much as he could to ensure I would be alright if things went south. Kace would be against it, stubborn about me putting myself at risk for them. Riggs. Guilt weighs heavy on his shoulders about all of this, but I would gladly bear the load for him this time as he has for me. He helped me slay my monster, now it was time for me to repay the favor.

I take a deep breath, fiddling with my bracelet as though it'll lend me the strength I so desperately need to shed my mask. Bracing myself against the arms of my chair, I straighten my spine and look Damien Hamilton in his eyes. "I do."

The curious expression slides of his face as he leans closer, his fingers still steepled together, but no longer relaxed. Almost as though they're preventing him from action. "Is that so? And why would that be? What could I have possibly done to have such a negative image in your mind? Enlighten me please."

Here goes, I tell myself. "You run a monopoly over most of these small towns. Hamilton bank branches littered every town from here to Gremory. That's fine and dandy if you weren't one of the only options. Most of these towns can only support two to three banks with populations their size. I may just be a teller, but I've seen the loan and interest rates we offer people. It's predatory even if it isn't criminal."

Hamilton's eyes narrow as he grits his perfectly white teeth.

I ignore the subtle warning and plow on. Now that I've dropped the mask of civility, I feel free as I ignore the little voice pleading with me to just shut up and smile. To go along and get the hell out of here. I'm tired of the guys being relegated to the shadows when they deserve to bathe in the light.

"That doesn't even begin to touch on the real estate arm of the Hamilton empire. You may have come across your properties legally, but how many people were coerced into giving up land, family farms, and more because you ensured they couldn't afford to keep up. Your generous donations to various local elections seem to coincide with property taxes rising, right before you swoop in and make large acquisitions of property. Just another coincidence though, right?"

"That's all well and good as far as stories go Calista, but you still haven't answered my question. How does any of that affect you? What bearing does the actions of my company have on you personally? Besides your," he pauses as he takes a sip of his drink, swirling it around as if the amber liquid holds the answer.

"My what?" I challenge him to say the words.

"Involuntary cohabitation," is what he finally settles on. And even those words seemed to have taken a lot for him to speak aloud. His hazel eyes stare me down, daring me to call him out on his misrepresentation of my ordeal. It's disingenuous at best and I would never give him that benefit of the doubt. He doesn't want to admit that his enemies, his actions were the cause behind it all.

The sound that comes out of me could be described as a laugh. If a laugh was a warning, a confusing bark that has all the markers of the joy induced sound, but twisted into something darker. "Your predatory business practices are the cause behind all of this. Why do you think Hamilton Banks were the only targets? Your family's money is built on stolen land, legacies, lives that have ruined by the Hamilton name bulldozing through with fancy lawyers urging people to sign over everything without understanding any of it. Because they've been talked around in circles with shark like smiles and kind words. You sir are a thief. How does it feel when it happens to you?"

"A gnat. A mosquito. A fly. These robberies, if you could even call them that with how little they disrupt my everyday business, are nothing more than mild annoyances. Pests to be dealt with. Who are these pests to you Ms. Danvers? What does it concern you if I swat these flies?"

"They deserve to come home! To the home you stole from them," I yell, chest heaving as I stand from my chair.

"Thank you, Calista. This has been an eye-opening conversation." He leans back in his chair, his hands resting on his chest, and his face full of self-satisfaction.

As my heart tries to regulated itself, fear takes over. What have I done?