Page 80 of Bound By Secrets

“I’ll happily give you those details if you want them, Shortcake.”

We pull away from each other and turn to face Ryker, who's standing beside us. He winks at me and then looks back to Kat with a cheeky grin on his face.

“I’m sure you’d prefer to hear it from my point of view instead of Callie’s.”

My brows furrow at his statement. Kat steps back, suddenly stuttering and nervously looking around before shouting goodbye and rushing out of the room.

“What was that about?” Callum asks.

Ryker shrugs, bending down to press a kiss against my lips and then saunters out of the room.

Weird.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Callie

The last few days have been a complete waste of time. Callum, Connor and I searched every nook and cranny of our house, hoping to find something else that would incriminate Derek or Cameron and have come up empty-handed.

Ryker even helped us crack into the safe that was hidden in the wall behind a portrait of Derek, and all that was in there was a scattering of bank notes.

I still feel uncomfortable whenever I’m in the house, so I’m glad to be out today with Kat, doing some shopping for an outfit to wear tonight. Hopefully, this will take my mind off things and relax me before we go back to my house to get ready.

Kat’s fingers link with mine and she drags me towards a little boutique that’s filled with racks of clothes.

“We have to get you that little black dress that’s in the window! It would look amazing on you.”

I look over my shoulder at the mannequins lining the windows and see one that has a scrap of fabric over it.

“Kat, that is way too revealing. I can’t wear that,” I tell her, shuddering at the thought of how much skin would be exposedif I were to wear that dress. “Besides, we’re going bowling before we go to the club, so I want something practical."

“You’re so boring,” she huffs, playfully rolling her eyes. “Okay, let’s go over here and look through the two-piece sets then. I’m sure there will still be something sexy but practical.”

I agree, following her lead through the store until we reach a section filled with a multitude of colours. There are sets with trousers, skirts and shorts. The tops are varied styles too; cropped tops, a few with long sleeves, and some are simply a band of fabric that’s supposed to cover my boobs.

Kat giggles beside me, drawing my attention from the silky white trousers that I was admiring.

“Look at those guys. They look so out of place standing in this shop.” My gaze follows where she’s pointing and I see the two officers who’ve been appointed to us standing a few feet away amongst the racks of women's clothing.

“I feel bad for them having to follow us around all the time, especially when we’re out shopping. Imagine if we went into a lingerie store.”

Kat cackles, slapping at my arm. “We should totally go to a lingerie place now, I have to see that!”

“Don’t be so cruel, Kat.”

Her laughing sobers. “Okay, but seriously, let’s go get some lingerie after we’ve picked an outfit. You should get something lacy or maybe something silky!”

I shake my head, already opposed to the idea.

“I don’t want to wear any lingerie. Just because I had sex with Ryker and Brad the other night, it doesn’t mean it’ll be happening again any time soon… I also need something supportive to wear. I don’t want some flimsy lingerie.” My hand lifts to the underside of my bra, and I feel for the hard metal handle of Ryker’s knife through my top.

Kat’s eyes follow the movement, and she sighs, smiling sadly.

“You still have that on you?”

“Yeah, it makes me feel safe. I know I probably don’t need it, but my family is unpredictable and clearly unhinged. Ryker also made me promise that I’d keep it with me whenever I wasn’t with any of the guys or the twins.”

“Okay, no lingerie shopping then. We can do that at a later date.”

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