Page 95 of Bound By Secrets

She looks hurt by my sharp tone and curt words.

“I just wanted to see her for a moment, make sure that my little girl’s okay. I know she still hasn’t woken up so I assumed it would be okay to do so whilst Connor and Callum watch Crystal for me.”

“She’s not exactly your little girl anymore,” I spit.

“Ryker, I understand that you probably blame me for-”

I hold up my hand and shake my head, cutting her off.

“Save your excuses. I don’t need to hear your reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, Clarissa, I’m glad you’re safe and that you managed to escape from Derek. I also understand that you’re not at fault for everything that’s happened. However, I don’t think I can forgive you for leaving them behind and not doing more to save them.”

Her mouth opens, but I shake my head again, indicating that I’m not finished.

“Each of them has been put through hell these past few years, and I just think that you could’ve done more to help them, to save them from the horrors that you knew they were facing.” Her face crumples and tears line her eyes, causing guilt to bubble inside my chest. “I’m not trying to be cruel, and I’m sorry if my words hurt, but I had to say my piece.”

Her eyes settle on Callie and a tear drips onto her cheek.

“I just hope that everyone can forgive me in time,” she whispers, placing her hand against her chest. She watches Callie for a few more minutes and then slowly makes her way towards the door.

She opens it and turns to me, a saddened smile on her face.

“I appreciate you being here for her, Ryker, and I hope that all three of you boys will be able to bring her happiness.”

Once she walks out and closes the door behind her, I hear movement from behind me before I hear Brad’s voice.

“That was intense, but it sounds like we’ve got her blessing for this polyamorous relationship that we’re in.”

I sigh and roll my eyes, then reach over to the lamp and switch it on now that we’re all awake.

“Will you stop saying it like that,” Nate grumbles. “It makes it sound like we’re all getting it on with each other.”

“We are,” Brad argues.

“No, we’re not. We’re all in a relationship with Callie, not each other.”

Brad hums, standing from his chair and peeking his head around mine.

“Ryker, you’d agree with me, right? You’ve had my balls in your face, so surely that-” I push my hand against his face, covering his mouth and pushing him away from me.

“For the love of God, I really wish you’d stop bringing that up.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Callie

The sound of an incessant beeping rattles around my brain, along with a mix of voices, some familiar and some not. I can feel a numbed, burning sensation coursing through my body and the discomfort that it causes has me forcing my eyes open.

Blinding light enters my vision, and when I turn my head to the side, trying to avoid it, pain shoots through my skull.

A deep, manly voice calls out my name and I slam my eyes shut as a whimper makes its way up my throat.

Memories crash into me at full force.

Cameron, the knife, the blood, the video and the burning.

“No,” I mumble, the images of everything that happened before I passed out crashing around inside of my mind. “No, please. Let me go.”

“Callie, open your eyes.”

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