Page 104 of Chasing Callie

“Get that fucking camera out of my face.” I take a step back, but she follows.

“Tell everyone why stealing Theo’s art wasn’t enough for you.” She’s shouting now, loud enough for every tourist within a three-block radius to hear.

More phones come out. Everyone likes to catch a train wreck on camera. It’s the grossest part of our society. People watching the conflict and doing nothing to stop it. My chest tightens as memories I thought I’d come to peace with surface—the video of me and the twins, all the viciously whispered comments, pointing fingers. Not again. I can’t do this again.

“Leave me alone.” I turn to walk away, to get to my car and lock myself inside until this nightmare ends. Her hand slams into my back, sending me stumbling forward, but I catch myself. Instincts kick in before I can stop them. My fingers curl into a ball and I pivot, fist flying at her nose.

The satisfying crunch of impact travels up my arm as she staggers back, phone clattering to the asphalt.

Chaos erupts. People rush toward us. “You fucking psycho!” She wails, blood spilling down her face. Someone grabs my arms to hold me in place. I jerk against them, rage pumping through my veins like steroids.

“Next time don’t fucking push me!”

Two officers burst through the station doors, radios crackling. The people not breaking us up still record, capturing every second of my public meltdown.

Perfect. Just fucking perfect.

“She attacked me!” The bitch’s voice hits a pitch that makes my eye twitch. “I was talking to her, and she punched me!”

Antonio approaches me, shaking his head. “Callie, I need you to come inside.” He indicates for the other officer to take me from whoever is restraining me.

“She pushed me first!” I shout, glaring at everyone who stays silent. They all saw what she did. Why are none of them defending me? “Those people were recording, ask them!” My voice cracks with desperation.

Antonio grimaces. “You need to stay quiet before you get yourself in more trouble.”

Metal cuffs click around my wrists, cold and unforgiving. My shoulders ache from struggling, but there’s no escaping these restraints so I don’t bother resisting as he guides me toward the station. All I can think about is how disappointed Mom’s going to be when she finds out her daughter got arrested for assault in front of half the tourist population of Big Ridge.

The guys emerge from the station, squinting against the afternoon sunlight. They all freeze when they spot me in handcuffs being marched toward the building they just left.

“What the fuck happened?” Jax demands, taking a step toward us.

I dig my heels into the concrete, desperate to explain before they disappear again. “That bitch pushed me first! People were recording.” I gesture wildly with my chin toward the crowd still gawking at us.

Antonio nudges me forward. “Keep moving, Callie. You can’t go around punching tourists and expect everything will be okay.”

“For the last time, she started it! I was defending myself,” I growl.

I glance over my shoulder but I can’t see the guys. I don’t know what they’re thinking, what happened during questioning, if they’re in trouble. I’m led down a hallway that smells like disinfectant and urine. The cells are in the back of the building.

“Come on, Antonio! You know I wouldn’t punch her without a good reason.”

He exhales as he undoes my cuffs inside the cell. “Maybe, but there are too many witnesses for me to let you go. Let me figure out what happened and if what you said is true, you’re free to go.

The metal door clangs shut behind me, and I slump onto the narrow bench, putting my head in my hands.

Today fucking sucks.

After what feels like eternity, they let me go. Multiple witnesses confirmed that the bitch pushed me and I was acting in self-defense. The opening police station doors feel like the gates of heaven parting. Freedom has never tasted so sweet. The afternoon sun hits my face as I step outside. My whole body sags with relief as I take my first deep breath since the guys were taken in this morning.

As if divine timing, I’m standing right by the door as that influencer is led into the building in handcuffs. She glares at me as if it was my fault she pushed me.

I flip her off. Guess who’s pressing charges? “Enjoy your stay in Big Ridge!” Karma’s a beautiful thing. I scan the parking lot, searching for the guys, and I spot them immediately. They’re leaning against my SUV like they’ve been carved from stone. I start toward them, emotions colliding inside of me. Knox pushes off the vehicle first, his long strides eating up the distance between us, and I fling myself at him.

“Jesus Christ, Callie. Are you okay?”

Before I can answer, Jax and Brax are there too, surrounding me in a cocoon of solid warmth and worried murmurs. For a moment, I let myself sink into their protection, let their presence chase away the lingering anxiety from being detained.

“I’m fine.” I pull back to look at their faces, noting the lines of tension. “But what about you guys? What happened in there?”