Page 6 of The Cleaner

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, trying to tamp down my anger. It's not directed at her. Never at her.

Tears well up in her eyes as she finally meets my gaze. "I didn't want you to worry," she whispers, her voice barely above a breath. "I thought I could handle it on my own." She gives me a shaky smile, but her eyes are filled with so much pain that it doesn't ease my worry.

Callie is more than just my sister; she’s my twin. I'd do anything to protect her. Knowing that she's been beaten and this isn't the first time... it kills me. I want to find that asshole, Keith,and put him six feet under. Never, not fucking ever, have I felt so useless. I should have seen the signs. I should have known that something was happening to her. She's my fucking sister, for Christ’s sake. My twin. Why on earth did this go on for as long as it did?

"I never liked that fucker," Stephen growls.

I glare at him. This isn't the time nor the place for this shit. I don't care if he's a natural born killer without a heart. The fucker will watch what he says around my sister. She doesn't need us to add more pain onto her.

"I didn't," he says nonchalantly. "He was an asshole. But that remains moot at this stage. How long has it been going on, Callie?" he questions, and the darkness in his voice has my sister shivering. This is who he is, who he's always been. But if anyone knows that, Callie does. She's his best friend. She gave him a home when he didn’t have one, even at the age of five. She was always the light in the darkness for Stephen.

"Callie?" Da says, and unlike Stephen, there's no anger in his voice, just absolute devastation.

My da loves his kids. He'll do whatever it takes to ensure we're safe. Finding out that Callie's been in an abusive relationship has rocked him. He feels like he's failed her. Just as I do.

"I'm sorry, Da," she says, her tears falling thick and fast.

He shakes his head. "Nothing to be sorry about, Callie girl. Not a thing. Are you safe?"

She nods. "Yes. I told him it was over and he flew into a rage."

I'm going to kill him. I don't give a fuck; I'll do the time if it comes to it. There's not a chance this asshole is going to get away with hurting my sister. No way in hell.

"How long?" Stephen asks once again.

Callie takes a deep breath. She presses her hands against the arms of the chair and sits up taller, wincing as she does. Pain floods her expression. "It's over," she whispers. "Let it be."

I shake my head. "Callie," I say gently, "you can barely move. Don't tell us to let it be. How long has he been hurting you?"

"I don't know," she replies, her voice soft and barely above a whisper. "It was fine at the beginning. I know he was worried about our age difference being a factor, but when Mam and Da didn't force me to stop seeing him, he changed. By the time things got bad, I was too far in. I couldn't see a way out."

I bow my head, my gaze on my feet, my jaw clenched tight. Christ, that motherfucker... He did everything he could to ensure he had her right where he wanted her. I hate that she couldn't see a way out. She had so many people who would have helped her, who'd have dropped everything and been at her side. But that motherfucker had her so messed up that she couldn't see the family who loved her, and therefore she couldn't reach out. He had her so scared she had no one to turn to until it was too late.

"You'll stay here," Mam says, rising to her feet. She's been silent since we all sat down. "You'll be safe here."

Callie's gaze turns to me and I see the plea in her eyes. She can't stay here. While we love our mam, she's crazy and will hover over Callie and drive her to the brink. "Mam, Callie wants me to stay with her for a while."

Mam's eyes flash with anger and indignation. "Not happening!" she shrieks. "That won't be happening."

"Yes, it will," I tell her.

Mam shakes her head, her gaze moving to my da. "Eric, you have to do something," Mam says. "You can't let this happen."

"Nic," Da sighs as he rises to his feet and pulls Mam into his arms.

"No," she says angrily. "They're eighteen. This isn't happening."

"Nic, Maverick's been gone for months and Callie moved out three months ago. Callie will be safe with him," Da assures her. I know that he'll be at the apartment every day checking on her. "Trust Mav. He won’t let anything happen to her."

Mam presses her lips together. She's not happy, but right now, I don't care. Callie needs space and time to heal. She won’t be able to do that with Mam hovering. "Fine, but I am not okay with this."

"We know," Stephen drawls. "But, Nichola, they're growing up and need space."

Her eyes narrow at Stephen, and I see Callie try her hardest not to laugh. "Stephen Maguire, are you trying to insinuate that my children need space from me?"

Stephen doesn't try to hide his laughter. He sits back and grins at her. "Never," he lies.

"When are you taking her home?" Da asks.

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