Page 24 of Bound By Secrets

“I stopped it before he could even really start it though because I panicked.” The humour from his eyes disappears in an instant and he shuffles slightly closer to me.

“Why’d you panic? What did he do?” I look back down at our entwined hands and mull over the information in my head for a minute.

If there’s anyone that I can comfortably talk to about the abuse, it’s Ryker. He’s always been my rock, and he’s always made me feel safe and comfortable, no matter what. I’m just worried about how he’s going to take everything.

“Nate didn’t do anything, I promise. He’s a great guy. It had nothing to do with Nate as to why I panicked.” His brows furrow. I take another deep breath and then untangle our hands before standing up and pacing around, walking to the bed and then back to the sofa.

“A lot has changed since you’ve been gone, Ryker.” I stop and sit on the bed before I look over at him. “I didn’t tell you about something before you left.” His head tips to the side, concern evident on his face. He stands from the sofa and comes to crouch in front of me.

“What didn’t you tell me?” My eyes fill with tears, knowing he’s going to hate everything that I’m about to tell him.

Chapter Fourteen

Ryker

Tears drip down her face and I brush them away with my thumbs. Tilting her head up, I cup her cheeks in my hands. Her watery eyes connect with mine, and her bottom lip trembles.

I lean forward to kiss her softly, letting her smooth, plump lips press against mine for a few seconds before retreating.

"You need to sit down for this, Ryker."

My stomach churns when she says that, but I lift myself from the floor and sit beside her on my bed. She leans into my side, throwing her legs over my lap and bringing her arms around my waist. I curl my arm around her and pull her tight against me, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

"Do you remember that time I ran over here after my mum had disappeared and I had a black eye?” I nod in response, and my hand that isn't soothingly rubbing her arm involuntarily clenches into a fist at my side.

“I told you that day that Cameron had hit me because I was refusing to help him. But that wasn't what happened." Her eyes are downturned, and she shakes her head from side to side before looking back up at me with fear-filled eyes. I wrap botharms around her and pull her into my lap, pressing us close together, trying to offer her some comfort. "Cameron hit me that day because I refused to let Fraser rape me once I turned eighteen."

My whole body stiffens as soon as her words register.

With my jaw clenched and my nostrils flaring with furious rage, I look down at her curled up in my lap. "What did you just say?"

She buries her head into my chest, small sobs pouring out of her as she struggles to keep herself together. I take a few deep breaths to get a hold of the anger coursing through my body, and then I rub her back gently. I need more of the story. I need to know every detail before I go over there and kill every single one of those sick fuckers.

“Please don’t make me repeat myself, Ryker,” she croaks out. I hold her tight against me, my hand still absentmindedly running up and down her back.

“Callie.” I clear my throat as tears of anger and hurt fill my eyes. “Has he, has Fraser… fuck, fuck, fuck!”

I can’t even bring myself to ask what I want to know. I’m not even sure if I want to know the answer to the question. She cries harder against my chest, and that in itself is some sort of confirmation to me, but I need her to say it.

“Look at me. Please.” She rubs her face against my top, breathing shakily. She slowly pulls her head away from my chest, but she won’t look up at me. I press a kiss to her forehead and utter a quiet please again.

Her eyes slowly raise until they connect with my own, her bottom lip trembling violently as her eyes continue to leak with tears.

She draws in a shaky breath, pulling her lip into her mouth and biting down on it lightly and then she nods her head the slightest bit. My stomach and heart drop simultaneously, myhand that’s on her back stopping its movements. The tears fall unceremoniously, and my throat tightens.

“I’m so sorry, Ryker.” I shake my head at her whispered words and lean my head against hers as my tears continue to fall.

“No, I’m sorry. I never should’ve left. I could’ve put a stop to this. I should’ve known…” My words trail off as more disturbing thoughts enter my brain. “Callie, was it just the once?” She stills at my question and my heart shatters into pieces.

I pull her impossibly closer to me, needing the comfort and trying to also provide some for her.

“How many times, Callie?”

She stays silent and still for so long that I’m wondering whether she heard my choked whisper. Then she pulls away from me, creating the tiniest space between us and looks up at me.

“Too many times to count.”

I mould her body to mine, my body shaking with anger and fury, not only at the ones who have wronged her but at myself for not being here for her when she needed me.

---