Page 57 of Bound By Secrets

“Have you also got Connor’s and Callum’s letters?”

“I do. They’re in a folder tucked away safely in my car. I’ll add this one to the folder as well. I’ll make sure she gets them.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Callie

Once Nate and Kat exit the kitchen with Colin to say goodbye to him, I feel the tears start to drip down my cheeks.

“Callie, it’s going to be okay,” Johnny says, trudging over to me and cautiously pulling me into his chest. “Everything’s going to work out.” I sniffle and brush the tears away from my face. I pat his arm and he releases me from his hold, peering down at me with concern.

“I really hope it does work out, Johnny,” I tell him, smiling briefly. He purses his lips, glances towards Connor and then sighs.

“I better get going, need to clean up after Johnson’s taken care of Fraser. I’m only a call away if any of you need me.”

Connor scoffs, “Won’t answer the phone though, will ya?” Johnny rolls his eyes and walks over to where he’s seated, ruffling his hair as if he’s an annoying child.

“See you later, you little shit.”

When Johnny leaves, Brad glances around the kitchen from his place beside the twins. His gaze moves in Ryker’s directionfirst before he quickly averts his eyes to roam. When his eyes connect with mine, he smiles.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asks softly. I nibble on my bottom lip and shake my head.

“Anything to eat or drink?” I shake my head again and he flatten his lips before nodding, accepting that I don’t need anything.

He then turns to Connor and Callum, asking the same questions. When they both give him the same answers, his gaze swings over to Ryker.

“How about you?”

Ryker raises a brow and releases an amused snort.

“Why, you wanna share some food as well as my girl?”

Brad chokes on his spit at the same time that Connor and Callum both turn to me with shocked expressions. I roll my eyes at each one of them and walk over to where Ryker is leaning against the side, elbowing him in the ribs as I pass him.

“Don’t be a dickhead,” I chastise, turning to glare at him over my shoulder as I grab a cup from the cupboard. “He was trying to be nice.”

“Wait, is this going to become a thing?” Callum asks, his eyes darting between Ryker and Brad.

“Oh my, can we stop talking about this right now?” I grumble, nudging Ryker out of my way so I can get to the kettle. “It doesn’t involve you anyway, Callum. Stay out of it and mind your own bleeding business.”

“What did we miss?” Kat asks, strolling into the room with Nate.

“Nothing,” Connor mutters.

As I'm making my coffee, Kat sidles up beside me, pushing Ryker further away. “Are you good? Do you need anything?” I shake my head and quietly thank her.

I’m beyond grateful that they’re here, and they all seem to want to help me, but in all honesty, I don’t know what I need at this moment. My body is aching, my emotions are still uncontrollable, and I feel so drained and tired.

“So, does everyone know everything then?” Ryker asks as he sweeps up the remainder of the glass scattered across the floor.

“Yeah, I think. Although we don’t know much about you… Well, I know you left Callie high and dry, and I also know that Brad seems to have some sort of man crush on you, which is understandable because you’re gorgeous, but honestly, I don’t know a lot so, I’m mildly curious.”

Ryker's back muscles tense at first when Kat speaks, but I watch as he begins to snicker by the end of her odd little speech.

“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to learn more about me, Shortcake. I’m sticking around this time,” he says earnestly as he turns around, eyes locked onto mine.

Kat grumbles something about Ryker’s nickname for her, but I have no idea what she says. My heart is thumping wildly in my chest, and that's all I can hear as I watch Ryker wink at me after his small declaration.

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