Page 93 of Bound By Secrets

As I sit here, peeling the wrapper off of the water bottle that my mother gave me, the door opens, and Brad nudges me.

I look up and I’m shocked to see my father standing there, a solemn look on his face as his gaze scans across us all.

He walks towards me and I stand to give him a hug.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been to see Kat and your mother already, I wanted to check in with you all and see if there’s any update on how Callie is doing?”

I shake my head and he frowns, patting me on the back.

“I’m sure she’ll be okay, son. She’s a strong girl.” He then turns towards Callum. “I also came here to talk to you. As you know, your father and most of his associates have been arrested. There is going to be an investigation into some of the people we believe he has connections with as well. I want you to know that with all the information we have on your father now, thanks to all of you, I’m certain that he will be going to prison for a very long time. I hope that can bring you some peace.”

Callum nods, standing up and holding out his hand for my father to shake.

“Thank you, Colin. I really appreciate everything that you've done for us.”

My father shakes his hand before slipping them into his pockets and rocking back on his feet.

“I’ve also arranged for your mother and Crystal to be picked up and brought home, now that it’s safe and due to Callie being in hospital. She should arrive within the next couple of hours.”

Ryker scoffs from where he’s sitting, and we all turn to face him. He glances up at us and rolls his eyes.

“She’s not going to want to see Clarissa after everything that’s happened.”

“You can’t be sure of that,” Callum interjects, shaking his head.

Ryker gives him an incredulous look. “She’s been through absolute hell these past few years since Clarissa left. She may have forgiven her after reading Clarissa's letter, but since then, she’s found out that she was lied to for her whole life. She’s been raped, beaten, kidnapped and fucking branded! None of that would’ve happened if Clarissa hadn't left or if she’d done more to help save you all from Derek.”

“You’re being out of line, Ryker,” Callum spits.

“No, he’s not.”

I spin around to see Connor standing behind us, looking at his brother with a pained look on his face.

“He’s stating facts, Cal. I’m not putting all of the blame on Mum because she’s a victim in all of this as well, but she could’ve done more.Weshould’ve done more. Callie’s in this mess because of all of us.” A tear escapes the corner of his eye, sliding down his cheek. “I’ll be ecstatic to see her, and I know you will too, but I’m not sure that Callie will be happy about it. She’s gonna have a lot of questions, and after everything with Cameron, I don’t think it would be best for her to see Mum straight away.”

Callum looks torn as he listens to everything that Connor’s saying.

My dad clears his throat. “Should I arrange for them to be taken somewhere else instead?”

Callum shakes his head, declining the offer.

“No, she can still come here. I want to see them both. We’ll just keep her away from Callie until we know if Callie wants to see her.”

My father nods and faces me, clapping his hand on my shoulder and telling me he’s going to go back to Kat’s room. Connor and Callum thank him again for helping them and then he makes his leave.

Connor trudges over to the seat beside Ryker and slings his bulky arm around Ryker’s shoulders, pulling him into a brotherly embrace.

“Stop worrying, Ryk, she’ll be alright.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Ryker

After sitting in squeaky plastic chairs for the past few hours, I relish the feeling of the soft leather beneath me as I sink into the chair beside Callie’s hospital bed.

She’s been out of surgery for an hour now and hasn’t woken up. She lay completely still, wrapped in a polka dot gown and hooked up to multiple machines with bandages covering parts of her body.

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