The Billionaire's Hero

Brother

Chapter 9 - Brother

CALLUM MCCOY

"They're staying at a run down motel just outside the city."

"Text me the address." Callum demanded.

"Are you back in business?" 

Cal hesitated before he answered "No."

"It's been over six years since you called me." Callum heard the familiar gruff voice of his partner. Though Callum worked alone, Joel had been his partner. Somewhat partner at least. After all Joel was the one who helped him escape that world.

"It's personal." Callum answered after a moment of silence

"It was personal back then too." Joel added and Callum pursed his lips.

Yes it was personal. He had agreed to work in exchange for catching his mother's killer. He had been bound and he had escaped it but not without scrapes and bruises. Some scars that weren't visible but still ached.

"It's none of your business."

"You made it mine when you called me."

"You agreed to help me knowing full well the risks." he reminded Joel

"I did." He agreed "and which is exactly why I'm asking you this. I risked my life when I helped you and I risk my life everytime you call."

"Is this a problem Jo? You thinking to sell me out"

Joel sighed. "I'm not selling you out. It's not in my blood. But I need to have your back because you jump into things without thinking. I do the thinking for both of us. Just... Don't get sucked into that line again."

Callum blew out a breath of air at what Jo had said. "You're like the brother I never had." He muttered and Callum rubbed his chest. Joel was the only kind of family he had when he had been an assassin.

"Then trust me."

After a long pause Joel murmured an okay.

"You want me to keep a close eye."

Callum couldnt help the smile that spread on his face. "You gonna get out of that chair?"

"I will. For you."

In his line of work, it was dangerous to have emotional ties. But he hadn't been able to stop himself from forming a brotherly bond with Joel.

Joel had been just sixteen when Callum had to kill his father. his father had been ex-military and had decided to become a mercenary which created a problem. And well, Joel hadn't been much fond of his father who he had come to visit that very day. He wasn't supposed to leave any casualties behind. But Cal just couldn't bring himself to kill that young boy. 

Cal had brought him home with him. They lived together and nobody knew that Cal had a sixteen year old living under his roof. Cal was impressed t learn that the only reason why Jo's father had managed to slip away from some situations was because of Jo and his talent with a computer. Jo had started helping Cal and made his life and work easier.

Before Cal could even know, Jo had come up with an escape plan for him. He had warned Jo about the risks and jo had even agreed to take on those. 

Jo's escape plan was tight, no loopholes. Ofcourse it was plain and simple that if any harm would come to Cal, Jo would release all the dirt on his employers out for the world to see. the only condition was to fake his death because they couldn't afford to let others follow the way out like him and have a noose around their neck. 

Nobody knew about Jo. The plan worked and Cal was out in the world to live his life as he deemed fit but that also meant that Cal couldn't contact jo or see him because no matter what someone or the other would keep an eye on him, considering Cal knew a lot more than he was suposed to know. 

"Don't do anything reckless." Cal warned Jo.  After a few minutes of silence Cal sighed and said, "You know you can call me anytime you want. you know how to reach me." 

"I do. i just don't want to be the reason to get you killed." 

"You won't be. I protect you, remember." 

"We protect each other, brother." Jo corrected. 

"So who's the chick?"

"What?" 

"I saw your face in the papers. It was a bit grainy since you were in the background but i can identify you clearly." 

Cal wondered whether he should tell Jo or not. he didn't want Jo to do a background check on Mon and then go through the shit that she had been through.

"She's my..." What was she? A friend? A friend with benefits? Was it okay to call her his girlfriend? But then they had just fooled around. "...client?" 

"I hear a question in there." Jo laughed. "You love this girl?" 

"I don't know about love. It's too soon . But I want to protect her. I want to keep her close. But she is a real pain in the ass." 

"All the good ones are." 

Cal laughed. "I hope she's good. I can-" 

"Don't you dare. You're not going to so anything." 

"You're falling for her, Callum. I swear if anyone would've told me that Callum McCoy was going to fall for a  girl i would have said when hell freezes over." 

"Jo..." 

"I ain't gonna apologise. Let me have my fun." 

Callum shook his head but couldn't help the smile that spread over his lips. 

"Dipshit." he muttered. 

Jo chuckled. "Nice comeback brother." he sobered and said "You call me if you need anything."

"Will do." Cal muttered and hung up. 

Yes, he was falling for her but then he didn't know if she even cared about that fact. He knew that she too felt the same for him but she wasn't ready to acknowledge.  She kept denying it and it was annoying the shit out of him. 

He just hoped that taking care of her would suffice. Just because he would take care of teh situation wouldn't bring her close. but until he resolved it, she was staying close to him. 

And that was just the cherry on the cake that he intended to devour. 

********

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- Nami