Page 73 of Callum
His fingers tightened. “If you do, we’ll tackle it together. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, it’s that it’s better to have more information than less.”
She frowned. “Did you learn that when you were taken by the people behind Project Arma?” Her words were quiet, like she was unsure whether she should be talking about the horrific project.
“When I was first taken, I didn’t know what they wanted. We were put into this big house on a large property, drugged and forced to train. We had no idea what the drugs were until we started feeling the effects of increased strength and speed. I remember being able to hear things I shouldn’t have been able to hear, having no idea what was going on with my body.”
She swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
“When I found out they were turning us into weapons, it was at once a relief and a weight on my shoulders. I was so damn angry that I was being treated as a possession. Turned into a tool for someone else’s war.” He took his eyes off the road to look at her. “Knowing was hard. But it also took the blindfold off and let me see exactly what and who I was fighting.”
She placed her other hand on top of his. “I’m really glad you got out.”
“We were lucky that the team in Marble Falls was able to rescue us. Now we try to use what happened to us to help others.”
“You’re a good man.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Most of the time.”
“All the time.” He turned right, and her hand tightened on his. “My sister’s car is the red Civic. She’s parked in front of my parents’ house.”
He pulled in behind it, but Fiona didn’t move to take her seat belt off or get out. “If my parents are keeping some big secret from me…I wonder if Amanda knows, and that’s why she’s always hated me.”
“Maybe. But I have a feeling her issue with you is more an issue of her own. The woman likes attention, and her beautiful sister takes that attention away from her.”
Fiona didn’t look convinced, but she smiled. “All right. Let’s do this.”
He kept close to her as they moved up the walk. She took a beat longer than normal to knock, but when she did, the door flew open, and her mother’s mouth spread into a wide smile.
“Hello, my darlings! Come in.”
She gave them both big hugs, and when they stepped inside, her father moved out of the adjacent hall and enveloped Fiona in a hug before shaking his hand.
Amanda’s greeting was more subdued, offering her normal tight smile. “Nice to see you both actually came.”
Fiona’s muscles visibly tensed. “Just like you, I have things to discuss tonight.”
“Well, Freddie was supposed to be here, but he’s away for work and hasn’t been able to get back.”
Away for work? Or away in Ketchum, spending time with a woman he thought was Fiona?
To Fiona’s credit, her features didn’t change at all. “Guess it’s just us then.”
“And me!” Stacey said, as she stepped out from the hall.
Fiona’s smile returned. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”
The women embraced, and Callum was grateful her cousin was there to take the edge off.
The next half hour was busy, with Fiona and Stacey helping Edna in the kitchen and Callum helping her father start a fire in the fireplace. Amanda spent most of the time on her phone. It wasn’t until they were sitting at the table that he was with Fiona again. He squeezed her knee, and immediately, her hand covered his.
Callum looked at Edna across the table. “This looks and smells amazing.”
The woman beamed at him. “It’s just roast chicken and vegetables.”
Fiona scoffed. “Just? You do the best roast in the Northwest, Mom.”
If possible, the older woman’s smile widened. “The secret’s in the seasoning.”
Throughout the meal, the rest of the family talked while Amanda kept her phone beside her plate. She appeared to be madly texting the entire time. She never looked happy, and every so often, released angry huffs.
