17. Chapter Seventeen
”It’s weird that we live so close to each other, yet we’ve never met before this.” I nod absentmindedly at Kat while my eyes stay locked on the blank screen of my phone. I haven’t heard from Ryker since last night, and I’m worried sick. Fearful thoughts keep trying to push into my mind.
Has he left again? Surely not. It was only last night that he told me he was back for good…
Has something happened to him?
Did my father see him last night?
That’s another thing that is playing on my mind – the fact that my father sent people after Ryker. It doesn”t make sense to me.
He was livid about me getting pregnant, but he was grateful I’d had a miscarriage. When he’d gotten home, he knocked me around for an hour or two and then sat in his chair at the head of the table drinking a bottle of vodka, telling me that he was glad I’d lost the baby whilst I laid on the floor in front of him crying. I remember him calling me a dirty, shameless whore every time his knuckles smashed into me, telling me I was worthless to him.
But he never said anything about Ryker. He just used venomous words to degrade me and kick me whilst I was down. After that, it was never mentioned again.
“Are you going to pick that up?” Kat’s voice pulls me back to the present and I feel my phone vibrating against my hand. Quickly unlocking it, I see a missed call and two messages from Ryker’s number.
I try ringing him, twice, but both times it goes straight to voicemail, making me frown. I pull up our message thread as Kat turns one more corner and then starts slowing the car down.
Ryker:
I’m fine Pretty Girl. Gonna be busy for a while tho. Will message you when I can 3
Dropping my phone into my lap with a sigh, I look out of the window, taking in the street we’ve stopped on. Each house is white bricked with tan-framed windows and doors, and the small patch of grass in front of each house is vibrant, healthy green and neatly trimmed. Multiple houses have colourful arrays of flowers spread around the outside: bushes, plant pots, hanging baskets. It looks lovely.
“Are you okay, Callie?” I turn to face Kat and smile, nodding.
“Yeah, I’m good. Your street looks so cosy and charming.” She scoffs and turns her keys, switching off the engine.
“Looks can be deceiving. Honestly, we have the neighbours from hell, and they own a demon dog as well, so if you hear barking, run for your life!” A laugh bellows out of me, shocking Kat and even myself. “Come on, we can go in before we head out for lunch. You can meet my mum and dad.”
We both climb out of the car and walk up the pathway to their house. Kat unlocks the door and walks in, shouting out to her parents. I step in, and instantly, my gaze catches on the myriad of pictures hanging on the walls in the hallway and living room through the doorway on my left.
Pictures of Kat and Nate through the years, a couple with Brad in them, too. My heart tightens as I take in the pairs of shoes thrown to one side of the entryway, the big sprawling words of love painted on the wall above the sofa and the cabinet in the corner that is filled with trophies, medals and achievements throughout the years.
This is what a family home is supposed to look like. I think about my own house, the bare walls, the cold and uneasy feeling I get whenever I walk around. Even before Mum left, our house was the same.
My father has always been stern and callous, but I never knew how cruel he could be until my mum left us. Cameron was basically my father”s double. He’s been cruel ever since we were kids, and for as long as I can remember, he’s always had this calculating look in his eyes that gives me shivers. Callum’s always been convinced that he’s a sociopath and honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me if he is.
Shaking myself out of my depressing thoughts, I follow Kat through the living room and into the kitchen, where an older version of Kat is sitting, sipping from a cup and flicking through a bunch of papers that are spread across the table in front of her. Her eyes flick up to us, her head cocking to the side as she takes me in, and then she jumps up from her chair and rushes over to me.
“You must be Callie!” As I’m about to reply, she crushes me into a hug and kisses my cheek. My whole body tenses for a few seconds before relaxing.
“Oh, it’s so great to meet you! My kids have rambled on about you for days, and I was just waiting for the day I got to meet you and see what all the fuss was about.” She pulls back, smiling at me, her hands still clasping my shoulders. I laugh awkwardly, looking over at Kat for some guidance because I have no idea what to say or do in this situation.
“Mum, chill out and let the poor girl breathe.” Her mother’s eyes go wide, and her hands slip from my shoulders, taking a step back.
“Oh, I’m so sorry honey, I guess I got a little excited.”
I assure her it’s okay, and she leads us over to the table.
“Here, sit down. Would you both like a drink?”
“Sophie, stop coddling Kat and her friend. You know it embarrasses her.” A deep, familiar, gruff voice says from around the corner.
My head whips to the side, eyes narrowed as I search the empty doorway for the owner of the voice. He steps around the corner, and the moment his eyes meet mine, his footsteps falter, his mouth popping open in shock. His eyes flash with recognition as they assess my face, exploring every detail before locking with mine again.
My brows furrow as I take in his weathered features, his dazzling green eyes and thick brows that are raised high on his forehead at this very moment.
Okay, so he seems to know me, but how do I know him?
I feel like the answer is on the tip of my tongue, but my brain is having a hard time connecting the dots. His voice is so familiar. I’m sure that I’ve heard it before. I just can’t for the life of me remember where.
“Calliope?” His voice rings inside my head as my brain scrambles to place it. He steps forward and then glances at Kat and her mother, who are both watching us with confusion etched onto their faces. “Calliope Conrad?” My heart starts pumping violently inside my chest. He knows me, but I still can’t figure out where I know his voice from.
Does he know my dad?
I shoot up out of my chair, panicking at the thought of this man being connected to my father. My abrupt movement distantly impacts my chair against the floor. Kat rushes over and pulls me to her side, glancing nervously between me and her dad.
“Colin, what’s going on?” Colin. His name is familiar too…
Oh my god! Colin… that’s the moment it clicks in my head, and I realise why I know his voice.
Through hazy vision, I can see that he’s talking, I can see his mouth moving, his eyes shooting over to his wife and then back to me, but my head is spinning. The sound of my pulse thumping in my ears, drowning out the sound of anything else. I take a couple of steps back, pulling myself from Kat’s hold and trying to make sense of the memories rushing into my mind.
My neck was aching from being slanted in an uncomfortable position for so long, but I forced myself to stay still as I strained my ears and tried to hear what my mum was talking about. She was standing outside the car under an umbrella in the torrential rain, talking to someone, and she sounded like she was crying. It was hard to make out what they were talking about because all I could hear was my sister softly breathing beside me and the rain pelting down on the outside of the car. I cracked my eyes open again, trying to see the person that she was talking to, but he was standing off to the side, out of view. Mum kept nervously looking back at the car and peering through the windshield to check that Crystal and I were still asleep so I couldn’t move to try and get a look at him. But I could hear parts of what they were saying. Mum was talking about Dad, she mentioned Paul as well and something about a warehouse. The man shouted back at her, not in a nasty way, though. It was just so that he could be heard over the downpour. He said he needed more time and then mentioned Johnny. A crease formed between my brows as I wondered what they could be talking about. I quickly flattened my brows when my mum pulled the door open to the car.
“I’m not leaving without my boys. They need to get out, too.” She sounded determined, her voice strong and biting.
“We’ll get something sorted soon, Clarissa, but it’s not a great life on the run.” The caring tone of his voice made my heart twist. My mum huffed out a laugh.
“Staying won’t make for a great life either. I’ll work on getting some evidence, but please, Colin, you need to get us out of there before things get worse.”
My chest gets tight, and my breathing shallows as the memory crashes into me. My hands start shaking, and I can feel my legs getting weak as my mind is still warring with what I’ve just remembered.
Warm hands cup my cheeks before I’m pulled against a firm, solid chest. Arms wrapping around me. I can hear voices whispering around me as I try to get my breathing under control, inhaling the smokey, lavender scent that seems to be doused on the t-shirt that my face is buried into.
“Are you okay?”
I pull back to look up at Brad’s swirling chocolate eyes that are staring back at me with so much worry. I peek over his shoulder and see Nate behind him with the same expression. I peer into his eyes for a few more seconds, he has the same eyes as his father… Colin Johnson.
I nod and lean back into Brad’s warm embrace, needing a little more comfort before I face the other people in the room.
His arms band around me, pulling me in tight. Our chests are pressed so close that I can feel the cold steel of the knife that”s stuffed into my bra, causing thoughts of Ryker to swarm into my mind again.
I can hear the hushed conversation that Kat’s parents are having from across the kitchen. When Sophie quietly gasps, I pull myself out of Brad’s hold and turn to face everyone.
Colin stares at me with a pained expression. The pity he feels for me is strongly evident. Sophie stands next to Kat, both of them looking equally concerned and confused. Nate stands off to the side, his eyes flicking back and forth between Colin and me. I take a deep breath and close my eyes before counting to five. As I breathe out, I open my eyes again and meet Colin’s gaze.
“I’m so sorry.” His words cause tears to form, and my sight gradually grows blurry. He stands from the chair where he is seated and takes a step towards me. “I shouldn’t be asking this, but can we sit down and talk?” His tone is soft, as are his eyes.
He gestures towards the table and I give him a slow nod. I wipe my eyes to clear away the tears that are threatening to fall and I wait until he’s sat at the table before I take a seat. I glance around at the others who are still awkwardly standing around the kitchen. Brad scratches at the back of his neck, looking towards Nate and then back at me. Clearing his throat, he walks over to the fridge and pulls out a pitcher of juice.
“Drink, anyone?” I internally chuckle at his awkward but sweet gesture. No one replies to him so he quickly shuffles over to the cupboard and takes out glasses for us all before filling them. I focus back on Colin who’s sitting opposite me, his hands resting on the table between us with his fingers interlocked.
“You know my Mum, right?” He glances nervously towards his family and then nods. He leans towards me and motions me closer.
“We can talk about this without everyone here if you’d be more comfortable with that?” he asks, his voice a hushed whisper so that only I can hear him. I shake my head immediately. I’d rather have them here. I’m still unsure of whether to trust Colin yet. He seems genuine enough, but I’d feel much safer having Kat, Brad and Nate with me.
“I’m fine with having them here.” I look up at the guys, wondering whether they’ll think of me any differently after hearing the things that Colin is undoubtedly going to talk to me about. My gaze travels over to Kat and she gives me a reassuring smile, walking over and taking the seat beside me. She grasps my hand.
“This doesn’t change anything, Callie. I’m still your friend. Anything that I hear won’t change that. I promise.” She smiles at me sympathetically and squeezes my hand.
I take a deep breath, readying myself for this conversation. I quickly glance at Nate and Brad, noting that they’re quietly talking whilst making drinks and putting some biscuits on a plate. I lean forward in my seat, my gaze colliding with Colin’s.
“Some things I won’t be discussing with you. I just want to know how you’re connected to my mum and I want to know why I remember you talking to her three years ago when I was in the car.” Shock splashes across his face, but he nods, glancing over at the boys and back to me, sorrow clear in his eyes. I lean back in my chair, my sweaty fingers gripping Kat’s as tight as possible.
“I guess I’ll start with that first.” Colin clicks his knuckles and then rubs his hands together, seemingly not sure what to do with himself. “That night, when you and Crystal were in the car, was the first time I’d ever met your mother.” He clears his throat, threads his fingers through his hair and then drains half a glass of juice as soon as Brad sets them down on the table in front of us.
“I’d been looking into your dad for a while before that due to him being connected to a drug dealer we’d caught shortly before. I didn’t have anything to go on, but I had a gut feeling that something about him wasn’t right. No one else in my department agreed with me, so I took it upon myself to try and find some dirt on him.” He pauses, looking around at everyone in the room. I’ve been so focused on Colin and what he was saying that I hadn’t noticed everyone now surrounded the table. Sophie”s sitting next to her husband, her gaze ping-ponging between us while Nate and Brad are standing at the end of the table, just watching and listening, both of their brows furrowed.
“I’d watched him for a couple of weeks. I even followed you and your brothers a time or two as well and also your father”s brothers.” His hands slide across the table in my direction, causing me to scoot back in my chair. His worrisome gaze holds mine, and he slowly pulls his hands back towards himself.
“The only thing I ever saw in those weeks was a few bruises on your mother that she’d tried to cover up and a few large deliveries to the house. My supervisor said I didn’t have enough evidence to look into him any further and told me to let it go. That’s when I decided to follow your mother that night.” He refills his glass before guzzling the contents down again.
“She’d stopped to get something from the store. She was coming around the car to open your door when I stopped her. I was surprised that she spoke to me. She”d told me about a warehouse that your father had, and she admitted to me about him beating her. I gave her the option to come with me at that moment. I thought I’d be able to help. She refused because the twins weren’t with her and in all honesty, I’m glad she did because, at that time, I had no way of really helping her. I gave her my card and told her to use it if she ever had a chance to run.” That’s when another piece of the puzzle clicks, a gasp escapes me, and everyone’s eyes fall on me.
How have I only just realised?
“You’re Detective Johnson, the one Ryker told me about!” He looks a little confused at my sudden outburst.
“Wait, the sexy guy has met Colin?” My eyes meet with Brad’s confused ones. His face scrunched up in thought. His eyes flick from Colin to me and then down to the floor before muttering “I’m so fucking confused.”
Nate elbows him in the ribs and hisses at him to shut up. I turn away from them and focus back on Colin. My grip on Kat’s hand had loosened during the conversation, but she’s still held on to mine, giving me a little support.
“Are my mum and Crystal safe?” I ask, hope rising in my chest as I await Colin’s reply. He smiles at me and nods his head.
“I’ve been keeping them safe ever since I saw your mother in that hospital bed after the incident with your father. I can’t tell you where she is, Calliope, but I could talk to her if you wanted me to, or you could write something for her.” I feel my lips pull up into a smile, knowing they are safe makes everything feel like it was worth it. I nod and bite down on the inside of my cheek to stop tears from forming in my eyes at the thought of being able to converse with my mum, even if it is through someone else.
“I’d like to do that, thank you. Is it okay if my brothers write something for her as well? It won’t take long, I promise.”
“Of course it is. I’m still home for a few more days before I leave, so just pop the letters over, and I’ll make sure she gets them.” He pauses, his eyes examining my face. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
“Are you close to being able to put my father behind bars and ensure he’ll stay there?” His gaze drops to the table and he clears his throat.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss the-” A hissed breath leaves him as Sophie pinches his forearm. He peeks over at her and she raises a brow, a stern look on her face. He huffs like a child being told no. “Truthfully, we don’t have much to go on at the moment.” My heart drops into my stomach.
Three years my mother has been gone, three years they’ve been looking into my father, and yet they don’t have any evidence of any crimes that he’s committed? How is that even possible?
“We are trying our best, Calliope, but your father has some officers he’s in cahoots with. They help hide whatever he’s doing. Your mother and your, uh, uncle have been giving us locations of his warehouses and his storage lockers but every time we get there, everything’s gone, and there’s no proof of anything.”
A tear trickles down my cheek as I think about the years of abuse that I’ve experienced. I think about Callum with his missing finger, and Connor with his troubled mind. Kat swipes the tear away as the warm, salty wetness drips towards my lips.
“What if I can get you some evidence?” Colin begins to shake his head, but I ignore him and continue. “My brothers can get you information on his business dealings, and they’ll most likely have dirt on my Uncle Paul as well. I’ll get you evidence of everything else.” Kat’s hand tightens around mine and Colin’s eyes are filled with uncertainty and pity.
“Callie, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Nate’s soft voice filters across the room.
I don’t look at him, I can’t. I don’t want to know if he and Brad would look at me differently now that they know something is going on with my family. I stare intensely at Colin, willing him to let me help.
“If I help, then it’ll get you what you need to put him away. Then I can see my mum again, she can come home.” His eyes hold mine. He’s hesitant to agree with me, but after a few moments, he reluctantly nods.
“Be careful though, Calliope. I don’t want you getting hurt.” His caring words have my heart crumbling a little, I draw my lips into a tight-lipped smile and then lean across the table, tentatively wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders and his hand comes to rest on my back.
“I’m already broken beyond repair, Mr Johnson. I’ll be fine, and if not, I can handle it.”