While I Breathe: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book One

Four

After waiting for her father and his wife to go watch their T.V. shows, Ambrosia shoved two slices of the pizza they ate for dinner into a container.

What they were doing to Callim was cruel and unwarranted. Her father was being petty and childish, but his wife was that way all the time. She really didn’t see the use of carrying around that much heavy baggage over the years, and just wanted to forget that she heard her father bragging that he would teach the boy like the masters of old taught their slaves.

Rooting through the refrigerator, she dug out a few items and started making their school lunches. There was no way that she could let them get away with what they were doing. When she was done, she slipped out of the kitchen to put the cooler into her room, hiding it carefully in her closet.

Grabbing the container of pizza and a can of soda, she made her way over to Callum’s room. When he didn’t answer her, she quietly opened the door to look inside. She felt worried for him, especially after he told her what he had been through in the past the last time they had the house to themselves. While he didn’t go into detail, her heart still bled for him.

Looking around the room, she inhaled the sharp, crisp scent of a woodsy cologne. She knew Callum didn’t wear any, so why did his room smell like it? The streetlight illuminated the room in a pale glow through the half-opened curtains, but the room was otherwise dark.

Her gaze came to a stop when she spotted him lying down on the bed. Setting the food down on the nightstand, she reached out to touch his leg. He shot up, throwing her to the bed as he flipped over. She gasped, shocked at how strong he really was.

Callum's eyes widened, his jaw dropping as his face paled once he realized who it was. Helping her stand, he tried to regulate his breathing the way his Uncle Damien taught him years ago. Methods he had learned as a child stayed with him, becoming common practice when he needed the skills the most.

Getting up, he focused on matching his heart beats to that of his steps. By the time he reached the door, he had his breathing and heart rate under control. He flipped the switch by the casing, bathing the room in a gentle yellow glow. Callum bit his lip, guilt washing over him as he looked back at her. If his father were here, he wouldn’t have to worry about hers. His father would have handed him his ass for using violence on a girl.

Looking at her as he grabbed the container, he realized she was close to tears, and it hurt knowing that he was the reason. Licking his lips, he said, “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry. I’ve got a pretty nasty fight or flight response, and I didn’t hear you come into the room. Granted that’s not an excuse, but I really didn’t mean to startle or hurt you.”

She shook her head, pushing the container back into his hands. “Apology accepted, and that’s your supper. I couldn’t let them starve you, Callum. I don't even know why he hates you so much, but I’ll do what I can to block his path.”

He watched her as she walked over to the nightstand to grab the can of pop. Sitting beside him, she watched while he opened the container. She smiled when he hooted with joy. “It’s only deluxe pizza from Pizza Delight. It's nothing to get excited about.”

He groaned as he devoured one slice before he cracked open the can to take a few swallows. “It’s been a while, so don’t judge me. Besides, if you really think about it, deluxe pizza has all the food groups tied into one.”

Snickering, Ambrosia couldn’t help laughing as she noted that he was right. With the veggies, sauce, cheese and crust, four out of five food groups were present. “Yeah, well the rumour says you’re pretty loaded for a sixteen-year-old.”

Nearly choking on his food, he sent her a half-hearted glare, “I’m almost seventeen, thank you very much. On another, completely unrelated note, where the heck did you hear that from?”

“My father,” she said, dropping the nugget of information without pause. “Is it true?”

Callum could have lied and said that her dad was full of crap. He could have told her that he was as broke as a bad dad joke, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. She was smart, and had a sharp tongue with an arsenal of snappy comebacks he found oddly entertaining.

He took another bite, chewing carefully before deciding to answer. “Yeah, it's true.”

“If you’re a foster, how’d you get that kind of cash,” she asked incredulously.

"I robbed a bank,” he shot back.

Disbelief flashed in her eyes. She shook her head, auburn waves gently swaying with the movement, “Please, be serious.”

He c****d a brow, “What makes you think I’m not?”

“You’re an i***t," she said as she rolled her eyes. "If you robbed a bank, you would be in a correctional facility.”

“Rude,” he replied. “I have a Trust fund with a few million, which I can’t access until I turn eighteen from my birth family. It’s been collecting interest since before I was born according to the letter I found.”

Ambrosia's jaw dropped, “Holy crap. How the hell did you end up in the system if you’re parents were loaded?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said quickly. He handed her back the empty container as he downed the last mouthful of soda.

He stood, striding purposefully over to the window to close it. Cursing as he watched her leave the room with the dishes, he regretted getting too close to her. He knew that if she said anything, he wouldn’t live for much longer.

******

Hours later, Ambrosia woke in a cold sweat. For a moment, she heard nothing until her ears picking up the muted cries coming from across the hall. Making her way over to the door, she eased it open just enough to see her father walk out of Callum's room. He was holding his belt, running a cloth along the leather to clean it. The red that dyed the beige fabric told her exactly what he’d done with it.

She wanted to yell about the way he treated the teen, but it would only make things worse. Moving with a stealth she’d learned over the years, she walked into Callum’s room. Gasping in horror once her eyes fell to the figure on the floor, she whispered, “Oh, God.”

He was struggling to get up, trying his best not to let the pain do him in. Bucking her off, he snarled, “Leave me the f**k alone."

"Callum, please let me help you," she pleaded.

“Get out," Callum hissed through his clenched teeth. "Just get out, and leave me alone.”

She could hear the pain in his voice, and it made her hate her father even more. Her mother had been right to tell her that her father was not what he was pretending to be. He wasn’t a nice man at all. In fact, he was a cruel and depraved monsters.

Turning to the door, she twisted the lock and made her way back to him.

Setting her First Aid kit to the side, she grasped his shirt and finished cutting it off his back. He groaned in pain, pissed that the man got the jump on him the way he did. Callum had been sleeping when the prick appeared and started whipping him for no reason.

Turning his dark eyes to the girl beside him, “Do you ever f*****g listen?”

She scoffed, “I heard you loud and clear, Captain Badass. Can you put your arrogance aside long enough for me to dress your wounds?”

Callum laughed sharply, wincing in pain as she gently washed his back. He shivered, amazed at the gentleness of her touch as the cloth ghosted over his skin. “Thanks.”

Heat flooded her cheeks at his uncharacteristic gratitude. He turned, his eyes searching her face, watching as her tongue darted out to wet her lips. His eyes clouded with desire, and, before he could stop himself, he kissed her, cupping her face before his fingers slid into the soft locks of her hair. Callum groaned as he broke away, resting his head on her shoulder. “Please don't rat me out. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that.”

He moved away from her to get off the floor, holding out his hand to her. As he helped her up off the floor, she stumbled as the world tilted on its axis. “You okay?"

Amber felt the warmth of his hands settle on her waist. Looking at him, she was shocked to see him frowning. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his concern palpable. “Are you all right?”

He watched her gather her medical kit before leaving. As he wondered what was wrong with him, he realized that he already knew the answer. Callum was falling for her, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to catch himself or let everything play out. “Please, don’t be the one that breaks me, Amber. God, please, I’m begging you to answer my prayer.”