Page 148 of The Jaded Notes

“Hey, vixen. It’s been a while.” Callum shoots me a soft smile. “Too long, wouldn’t you say?”

I freeze, and a bunch of women scream when they see him. He’s in his rocker gear, leather pants and a black T-shirt with something on it. Maybe a skull or maybe something different. I’m too shocked to tell.

Some girls yell, “Oh, look, it’s Cash Mayze!”

My phone lowers just a bit from the shaking of my grip. “Callum… I mean, hi. It’s nice to see you.”

“Lily, why don’t you end your call?” He gestures to my hand. “Let’s go somewhere we can have some privacy.”

I remember Jax is on the line and panic. “Um…Jaxon. I need to let you go.”

There's a sharp inhale. “Jaxon? Really? Livianna?—”

“I’ve got to go. I’ll text you later.”

Callum takes my phone and disconnects the call. “I heard Jaxon Crowne is mentoring you. Don’t you think work can wait?”

“Um…yeah. It’s just… I have a deadline and?—”

“Come on. Let’s find a place where we can be alone.” He rounds the bench and takes my hand in his.

“Wait.” I whip my head from side to side. “I’m here with someone, and I can’t leave her.”

“I’ve already got her covered, Lily.” He tips his chin and gestures forward.

I follow the motion. Quinn’s peeking back at me over her shoulder as she struts away with two large men wearing Mayhem security gear.

She has a drink in her hand and a twinkle in her eyes like she was in on this exact moment. She waves goodbye with a wiggle of her fingers.

I bite down on my lip and stop walking. “Callum, you can’t just grab me and pull me away from everything.”

“It’s all good. Your friend’s in great care, and I have a lot I need to say.” He tugs on my hand.

I’m about to protest, but people lift their phones and start snapping pictures of us. His bodyguards shield them from getting too close.

Shit!The last thing I want is the media getting wind of this.

I lower my head and let Callum lead me away, all while wondering how the fuck I didn’t see this coming.

He works his way through an area where all the bands have air-conditioned trailers and ends up at one that must be for Mayhem.

He opens the door. “Ladies first.”

“Thanks.” I climb two little steps and go inside.

He follows. The trailer door clicks shut behind us, sealing out the festival chaos and trapping us in a box of leather seats and lingering cologne. My pulse hammers against my ribs as Callum takes a quick gaze over my body.

“Fuck, Lily.” His voice cracks slightly. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly exposed despite being fully clothed. “Callum, what are we doing here? This feels…”

“Right?” He steps closer, close enough that I can see every line on his face. “Because that’s what it feels like to me.”

“Dangerous.” I take a step back until my legs hit the built-in couch.

He rakes his teeth over his lip, the gesture so familiar it makes my stomach flip. “How’s your boy-toy treating you?”

The question catches me off guard, and my heart rate spikes.