Page 31 of Bound By Secrets

Ryker:

Need help. Lights on downstairs.

He tucks his phone back into his pocket and then peers out from behind the tree to look into the windows showing the lit-up hallway.

His arm tightens around my waist, and his chest vibrates with a growl against my back. I turn my head to the side and cautiously look around him. My breath catches in my chest as I see Fraser and my dad in the hallway. The angry scowl on my father's face tells me they're having a heated discussion.

I pull myself back behind the cover of the tree and tug Ryker with me to get him to stop staring at Fraser through the window. His jaw is clenched tight, teeth grinding, nostrils flared and pure hatred in his cloudy teal eyes. Hinges groan above us, and I almost leap out of my skin.

“Callie, hurry the fuck up!” Callum whisper-shouts, half hanging out of my bathroom window. I breathe a sigh of relief. I peer back around the tree and can now see my dad pinning Fraser against the wall. A spike of fear rushes through me. Fraser is only ever here at the house for me. On the very rare occasion, he’s been here to discuss ‘business’ with my father, but with the way he’s currently pinned to a wall with my father furiously spitting in his face, I don’t understand the reason for him being here.

Ryker’s thumb and forefinger capture my chin and turn my face towards him. His lips caress mine, and he smirks against them when a soft moan is released from my throat.

“Get up there, stay safe and text or call me if you need anything.” He places a lingering kiss on my forehead, smoothes down my hair and then crouches down, locking his fingers together and holding them close to my feet, offering me a boost.

My stomach is in knots when I place my foot in his hands, and he slowly lifts me until I can reach one of the thick branches. Once I have my arms and legs securely wrapped around thebranch, I hoist myself up into a sitting position and then look back down at Ryker.

He stares up at me, a soft smile pulling at his lips. He reaches his hand out towards me, and I reach out to grip it, feeling the cold metal of something being passed from his hand to mine. I pull my hand back and look down at the switchblade with Ryker's initials scratched into the side of it. I peer down at him and see his eyes watching through the downstairs window again.

“You’re staying this time, right?” His eyes find mine and his mouth stretches out into a smile. He nods, lifting a hand and drawing a cross against his chest over his heart. My heart lifts, and I can feel the apples of my cheeks rising as a bright smile appears on my face.

“Callie, come on!” I jump, grasping tighter on the tree so I don’t fall and glare up at Callum.

“Chill out. I’m coming up. And keep your voice down!” I whisper, lifting myself to stand on the branch and grab another one above my head.

Chapter Seventeen

Callie

"It’s weird that we live so close to each other, yet we’ve never met before this.” I nod absentmindedly at Kat while my eyes stay locked on the blank screen of my phone. I haven’t heard from Ryker since last night, and I’m worried sick. Fearful thoughts keep trying to push into my mind.

Has he left again? Surely not. It was only last night that he told me he was back for good…

Has something happened to him?

Did my father see him last night?

That’s another thing that is playing on my mind – the fact that my father sent people after Ryker. It doesn't make sense to me.

He was livid about me getting pregnant, but he was grateful I’d had a miscarriage. When he’d gotten home, he knocked me around for an hour or two and then sat in his chair at the head of the table drinking a bottle of vodka, telling me that he was glad I’d lost the baby whilst I laid on the floor in front of him crying. I remember him calling me a dirty, shameless whore every time his knuckles smashed into me, telling me I was worthless to him.

But he never said anything about Ryker. He just used venomous words to degrade me and kick me whilst I was down. After that, it was never mentioned again.

“Are you going to pick that up?” Kat’s voice pulls me back to the present and I feel my phone vibrating against my hand. Quickly unlocking it, I see a missed call and two messages from Ryker’s number.

I try ringing him, twice, but both times it goes straight to voicemail, making me frown. I pull up our message thread as Kat turns one more corner and then starts slowing the car down.

Ryker:

I’m fine Pretty Girl. Gonna be busy for a while tho. Will message you when I can <3

Dropping my phone into my lap with a sigh, I look out of the window, taking in the street we’ve stopped on. Each house is white bricked with tan-framed windows and doors, and the small patch of grass in front of each house is vibrant, healthy green and neatly trimmed. Multiple houses have colourful arrays of flowers spread around the outside: bushes, plant pots, hanging baskets. It looks lovely.

“Are you okay, Callie?” I turn to face Kat and smile, nodding.

“Yeah, I’m good. Your street looks so cosy and charming.” She scoffs and turns her keys, switching off the engine.

“Looks can be deceiving. Honestly, we have the neighbours from hell, and they own a demon dog as well, so if you hear barking, run for your life!” A laugh bellows out of me, shocking Kat and even myself. “Come on, we can go in before we head out for lunch. You can meet my mum and dad.”

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