Page 64 of Bound By Secrets

“They’re all being weird because they’ve found something.” I reluctantly pull my hand from Brad’s and walk over to where they’re standing. “Ryker wouldn’t tell me what they’ve found.”

Ryker straightens his form before turning to face us. The twins are openly glaring at him as they stand tall with their arms crossed.

“It’s not like I was planning on keeping it a secret. I just wanted to wait until Connor and Callum were home. This involves all of you.”

“In all honesty, Kat and I weren’t sure about telling you just yet, but Ryker was the one that suggested we should,” Nate says, moving to stand beside Ryker as he nervously glances between the twins and me.

My brows raise in surprise, and my eyes dart over to Kat. She must see the hurt in my eyes because she stands and starts to walk towards me, but I shake my head before turning my attention back to Ryker.

“What did you find?”

He reaches behind him, retracting folded papers from his pocket. He stares down at them for a few moments, blows out a heavy breath and then passes them over to me.

Connor and Callum move closer to me, waiting for me to unfold the papers and see what information is on them, but I stand frozen, clutching the papers in my hand and staring at the textured paper.

I feel a warm, heavy arm wrap around my waist as Brad slips beside me.

“It’ll be okay, cutie.” He reaches for the paper, slipping it from my grasp and hands it over to Callum as he pulls me tighter into him.

I breathe him in and melt against his side.

My eyes travel towards the window facing the front of the house, and the sight of the unmarked police car parked at the end of our driveway causes my stomach to twist uncomfortably, dread sitting heavy in my gut.

I understand that the car and the officers are here for our safety, but they're a constant reminder that we’re still in danger. Any slither of safety that I feel now that Cameron and my father are gone disappears when my eyes catch on that black BMW.

A sharp intake of breath has my eyes darting to Callum’s face. I watch his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he swallows and frantically flips the first piece of paper over, scanning his eyes over the next one.

His eyes widen as the colour drains from his face and his eyes flit up to meet mine.

“Callie,” he croaks.

I feel my stomach plummet when he says my name. Connor snatches the paper from Callum as he continues to stare at me in a state of shock – or maybe it’s fear. I’m not too sure.

“Will someone just tell me what thefuckis on those papers?” I snap, forcing my gaze away from Callum. Brad softly squeezesmy shoulder, but the comfort he’s trying to provide me doesn’t come.

Instead, my body turns rigid when Connor curses, the paper crinkling in his hand from his tight grip.

“Take it, I need to call Johnny.” He shoves the paper towards me, and as soon as I grasp it, he storms out of the room, Ryker hot on his heels.

“Is it bad?” I ask, not daring to glance down and see for myself.

When Callum doesn’t answer me, Brad removes his arm that was securely wrapped around my shoulders and nudges my brother.

Callum clears his throat and steps towards me, a sympathetic look on his face.

“It’s shocking, that’s for sure,” he mutters, blowing out a choppy breath and looking toward the ceiling for a moment, gathering himself. “Honestly, Little C, I’m not sure if it’s good or bad… Do you want me to tell you what it says?”

I contemplate his suggestion for a moment and then slowly nod my head. Callum mutters an ‘okay’ and takes the papers from me, folding them back up into a square.

Whatever is on those papers must be serious to have everyone freaking out and for Connor to call Johnny, and I don’t think I’m prepared to read the contents of this page.

The last few days have been a whirlwind for me. Hell, the past few weeks have.

Meeting Nate, Kat and Brad was unexpected, but I think, in a way, it was fate. I’ve never clicked so easily with people in my life.

Then Ryker coming back stirred up a whole new wave of emotions for me, but after learning the reason behind his absence and then spending that night together, having compassionate, emotional, consensual sex, I could feel within myself that something was starting to heal.

Plus, you have the matter of Colin Johnson.

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