Page 36 of Bound By Secrets

“It’s your dad that caused the scars and gives you all those bruises, isn’t it?” Kat’s question gains our attention. We turn to see Callie’s tear-stricken face being held in Kat’s hands. She glances at us all cautiously before she turns and quickly searches outside again. She faces us and hunkers down in the booth, almost as if she’s hiding.

She timidly nods her head and mutters. “Yeah, but it’s not just him.”

Chapter Twenty

Brad

Callie’s haunted expression has my muscles tightening and my heart palpitating. What has this poor girl been put through by this bastard of a father? Why hasn’t anyone been able to stop this yet?

“Callie, who else hurts you?” Kat’s voice is soft, her eyes imploring. Callie’s mouth opens and then closes, once, then twice. She starts shaking her head, her knee slowly starting to bounce up and down as she, yet again, glances outside.

“I d-don’t want to talk any more.” Her voice is shaky. Clearly, she’s spooked about something. I rest my palm on her shaking leg and she jumps backwards, her shoulder whacking against the glass window of the diner. I raise my hands and shuffle myself back, giving her some room.

“Sorry, I-I need some air, I just need to cool down.” She’s visibly shaken and her voice is rising with panic. I quickly move out of the booth and she rushes to get out before speeding towards the door of the diner. Once she’s outside, I turn to Kat and Nate who are both sat with shock evident on their faces as they stare at Callie out the window.

“How badly do you think he hurts her?” Nate asks, turning to me with a heavy brow and misty eyes. I shake my head, my gaze flicking back to the window to see Callie now sitting on the bench outside, her phone pressed against her ear as she stares towards the parking lot entrance.

“I saw scars when we were in the locker rooms. She had scars on her thighs. And I’ve seen some bruises, plus the state that her dad left her mother in all them years ago. I think it’s safe to say that it’s quite bad,” Kat adds.

Nate’s features darken a tad, showing that this information is unsettling for him.

“Why hasn’t your dad been able to catch him yet? If she has physical injuries, then there’s proof right there!” I growl. Kat glares at me.

“He’s trying! He said earlier, that there’s no evidence and no proof. Callie also told us that her dad has connections. It doesn’t seem like it’s easy, Brad, so back off.” She crosses her arms over her chest and slumps back against her seat.

“Well, we can get evidence. Right? We can take pictures, get Callie to write a statement or someth-”

“What do you think she meant when she said it wasn’t just him? Do you think it’s her brother’s hurting her as well?” Nate murmurs, interrupting me. My brows pinch. Maybe he’s onto something here. Kat scoffs as she looks between us both.

“No, definitely not. You’ve seen how they are with her, they wouldn’t hurt her, they wouldn’t let anything happen to her.” Kat smacks him upside the head, showing how idiotic she believes his question to be.

“They've already let shit happen to her, though, Kat. You said you’ve seen scars and bruises, and she just admitted that her dad abuses her!” Kat’s narrowed eyes crash with mine, but my gaze is pulled away from hers when strong, clenched hands smash down against the wooden table. I lift my head, and my gazeconnects with Callum’s thunderous one. Oh shit, this is new and troubling.

“If Ieverhear you suggesting that I’d hurt my sister or allow her to be hurt again, I’ll break your fucking jaw so that you never speak again.” His voice is low, menacing. He leans down till his eyes are level with mine. “We protect our sister as much as we possibly can. Ask yourself why Connor has that bruise on his face and why he goes to that fight club to earn some money. Or maybe try and guess why I only have four fingers on one hand,” he growls out.

My eyes drop to his fists that are still resting on the table in front of me. He uncurls them, laying his palms and fingers flat, and I gulp when I see his baby finger missing from his left hand.

“Callum, we know you wou-” His angry glare transfers from me to Kat, cutting off her sentence.

“Don’t.” He pushes off the table and stalks outside, going over to join Callie and Connor on the bench.

“You stupid arseholes!” Kat rages, staring both of us down.

Nate has the nerve to look at her innocently and ask, “What did I do?” She smacks him again and clambers over him to get out of the booth.

“You suggested that it was also them hurting her.” Her gaze then slices over to meet mine. “Andyou.” She jabs her pointer finger towards me, “Ugh, I can’t even believe you right now! I’m going out there to try and salvage this friendship that we’ve made with these people and to try and find out more information so that I can hopefully help them. You two can sit here until you realise how ludicrous you both were, and then I expect you to go and apologise to Connor and Callum.” She finishes her breathless spiel and charges out of the diner.

Nate and I sit in silence for a minute or two before Ruth walks over with a tray in hand. “She’s a good one, that girl, I’m not too sure about you two though from what I’ve just heard,” shesays whilst picking up our untouched milkshakes and fries. “I’ll be taking these back.” With that said, she turns and leaves us to sink back into quietness.

Callie

Callum stomps out of the diner with a scowl set on his face. As he sits down opposite me and Connor, a muscle pops in his jaw as he grinds his teeth in anger. I sniffle and glance at Connor, who’s also curiously observing our brother.

“Callum, what’s going on?” I ask. His fists clench and he stares back at the diner, a murderous glint in his eye. Have these two switched bodies in the last half hour? This is a rare mood for Callum to be in. Even Connor looks confused about Callum’s noticeable anger. “Cal, talk to me, what’s happened?” He shakes his head, an obvious denial to answer me.

I’d already texted them earlier when we got to the diner to let them know where I was. When I called them, asking them to come to the diner, they were already on their way here so it didn’t take long before they arrived. I just needed to clear my head and I wanted them to come here so that I didn’t have to ride back with Kat and the boys after having an overwhelming conversation.

“Callie!” Kat’s shout has me turning towards the door of the diner as she comes rushing out, barrelling towards me. “They’re stupid, okay? They never should’ve said that, and I just haveto tell you that the thought never even occurred to me. I knew they’d never be at fault for you getting hurt, but I still want to apologise on behalf of them and I don’t want to lose you as a friend so-”

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