Page 29 of Bound By Secrets

“Well, you have this bad boy demeanour, the tattoos, the dark hair, the stern look and the way you dress like a biker. But really, you’re sweet, loyal and caring. All in all, you’re like a big cuddly teddy bear.” I can practically feel his scowl at the back of my head and I laugh. “It’s a good thing.” He scoffs but pulls me closer to his side.

“I’m only like it with you, Callie. You’ve always brought out the best in me… When I wasn’t with you, it was hell. I was so dejected and numb the whole time. The only time I felt any form of happiness was when Johnny would send me pictures of you or whenever I was sleeping and dreamt about you.” My heart meltshearing that, and I give his hand a tight squeeze, turning my face so that I can kiss his chest.

“The tattoos were a big help once I got them done. Helped me get through everything that was going on. Now, you’ll always be etched onto my skin and be with me any time I need you.” Tears gather in my eyes and my heart turns to a puddle in my chest.

“Hey, you’re with me now, Ryker. Just stick around this time and you’ll be fine. We’ll both be fine.” His eyes connect with mine and he smiles softly.

“I did some shit whilst I was gone, Callie, don’t speak too soon. You might not want me around after you know everything…” He trails off, eyes falling to watch our hands that are gripped together.

“Ryker, I understand why you left. Yes, it scarred me, and I was torn apart by it, but I know that you did it to keep me as safe as you could at the time. Whatever happened while you were gone doesn’t matter. Nothing would ever make me not want you – apart from maybe Nate or Brad.” A shriek leaves me as he digs his fingers into my side, tickling me.

“Shut up, no other man could fully take you away from me. I’m just that good.” I roll my eyes.

“In all seriousness, though, I am interested in them. I don’t know how this is all going to pan out, but I want to explore the connection that I have with them both and see where it goes.” I play with his fingers nervously, waiting for what he’s going to say. He breathes in deeply and then lets out a sigh.

“If you have a connection with them, then I won’t get in the way of that. If I still have you as mine, that’s all that matters. After so much time away from you, I’m happy with anything you’re willing to give me.” He lifts his head from the pillow to kiss mine and I blush as butterflies swarm inside my stomach.

“Back to the former subject, though, I have a few bombs to drop on you.” The butterflies die inside of me, and my gut startschurning with dread. I lift off of him and choose to sit beside him, legs crossed, looking at his face to try and gauge a reaction to prepare myself.

“Hit me with it.” He skims his fingers down the side of my face, tracing along my cheekbone and down to the hollow of my neck. He rolls his lips inward and his eyes flit down.

Oh dear god, this is going to be bad. I can already tell.

“I’ll start with the easier one… I, uh, I was looking for your mum whilst I was gone.” The gasp that leaves me has his guilt-ridden eyes snapping up to mine. My mouth opens and closes, the shock of his statement rendering me speechless.

“I was working with Johnny, trying to find her. We thought that if we found her, then we could find the detectives she’s working with, and try to help them get some dirt on Derek… Callie, do you know why detectives are looking into your dad?” My brows furrow in confusion and I shake my head side to side. He blows out a shaky breath, sitting up and placing his long legs on either side of mine. He cups my face in both of his hands and lifts it so that I’m face-to-face with him.

“Callie, they’re looking into him for many reasons, obviously the drugs and the guns, but they’re trying to find evidence connecting him to multiple murders as well.” I stare at him blankly, slowly trying to process everything he’s telling me.

I knew my dad was dodgy; I knew about the guns and the drugs, and I even knew that he bought some women from sex traffickers once or twice. But murder? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past him due to everything he does to me and the twins, but I can’t understand why he would go so far as to kill someone.

“Wh-why can’t they arrest him just for the guns and the drugs and the abuse? Then mum could come home, right?” Ryker shakes his head and rubs a calloused hand against my cheek.

“They started investigating him just before your mum left. They had no evidence. I think it was just an anonymous tip fromsomeone about one of his warehouses. Once your mum left, they found out about the abuse, but the only evidence they have of that is the state your mum was in the night that she left. And there’s no hard proof that it was him. It’s your mum’s word against his. Johnny tried to get pictures of any bruises or cuts whenever he was able to see on you or the twins, but you always covered them up. That’s why it’s taking so long for them to nail him. They’re trying to find concrete evidence that will stick so that he’ll be put away for a long time, hopefully for life.”

My mind is going crazy with everything that he’s told me. My palms are sweaty as I run through the unnerving information he’s thrown at me.

“Proof…” My voice is barely above a whisper. Every time that I’ve been bruised and cut is whizzing through my head as I think about all the evidence I could’ve been collecting this whole time.

Then my thoughts turn to my Mum, the words in her letter and then the words that Ryker just spoke. “Oh god, is Mum okay? And Crystal? Please tell me they’re okay.” He softly shushes me and pulls me to his chest as sobs wrack my body.

“Shh, Callie, they’re fine. They’re under constant surveillance and are moved every few months to ensure their whereabouts won’t be discovered. But your dad has people out looking, and he’s been close to finding them a few times. But there’s a man, uh, Detective Johnson. He’s making sure they’re as safe as possible. I promise Callie.” I breathe a sigh of relief.

Ryker clears his throat, his hands travelling down to my shoulders so that he can separate us. My vision is blurry from the tears; my nose runs and my lips tremble.

“Callie, there’s one other thing. Your Dad knew I was trying to find your Mum and now I know that he knew about the pregnancy before I’d left, too. I’m assuming those things made him angry because he sent people after me,” He pauses again, causing a nervous tremor to run through my body. His voice ishoarse, his eyes saddened and pained. “Johnny had given me a gun to protect myself, just in case anything happened. So, when Paul and two other guys broke into a room that I was staying in, I didn’t even think. I just started shooting.”

His eyes explore mine, undoubtedly looking for any fear, disgust or resentment. He wasn’t going to find anything like that. “I killed one of ‘em, Callie.”

The silence is deafening, Ryker's eyes ping-pong between my own as I sit here staring back.

Minutes pass with our hands clasped together in a loose hold. I try to think of anything to say, but everything in my head sounds wrong.

I can see the worry in Ryker’s eyes increasing by the moment, and it makes me feel extremely guilty, but I just can’t find the right words to say.

“Please say something, Callie.” My heart crumbles a little.

He’s pleading with me. This beautiful, tough, menacing man is in front of me looking crestfallen at the thought of how I view him. I disentangle my fingers from his and lift my hand to his face. My thumb smooths the worry lines that have creased his forehead and my fingers run across his stubbled jaw.

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