Gage throws an arm around Les’ shoulders. “Nah. I think they should either fight or fuck. Get it out of their systems.”
Les chokes out a laugh. “I don’t think either of those is a good idea.” She pecks Gage’s cheek and walks to stand between Ryder and Zane. She turns to Ryder. “He’s been staying out of the way, so he doesn’t make you uncomfortable in your own home.” She runs her hand up his chest, laying it over his heart. “He’s trying to make it as easy for you as he can. Cut him some slack,” she whispers so that we can hear.
I can see the war Ryder is fighting with himself; even I can feel the tension in the room. It’s so thick it could fucking choke you. “I’m trying,Il mio sole,” Ryder finally says, then glancesover her head to Zane. “Quit fucking hiding or leave.” Ryder pecks her lips, then disappears back toward the living room.
Les pecks my lips before she spins around to Zane. “What’s it going to be?”
Ryder threw down a challenge when he told Zane where the door was; I don’t think Zane will back down from it. “I’ll fix lunch,” he says in answer, letting her know he isn’t going anywhere.
She claps her hands and jumps into his arms. He rolls his eyes, but I can see him squeeze her before setting her on her feet. They disappear around the corner, and I catch Gage watching them walk out of the room, a weird expression on his face.
“What’s up?” I ask him.
“Huh?” he says, jerking his head toward me. “Oh.” He shakes his head with a laugh, “Before that would have bothered me.”
“And now?”
He shakes his head again. “Not since I’ve seen the changes it’s made in her.”
I nod my head in agreement because I see it too.
We just need to accept that this is how it will be. I don’t know Zane like the others, but he doesn’t seem like a bad guy and got Les out. He ran when she needed him, no questions asked. I can respect that.
I just need to make sure Ryder doesn’t kill him in his sleep.
“Dad wantsus to come to dinner,” Ryder says from his spot on the back patio. We all ended up out here after lunch. I have to admit Zane is a damn good cook. Even up there with Micah. Not that I’ll tell him that. Ryder looks at Zane. “I don’t have to tell you why you aren’t invited.”
Zane shrugs. “I get it.”
“That’s fine with me,” Les says softly. “It would be nice to see him and Katherine.”
They stop by occasionally, but it isn’t safe to be out long. We’ve been watching Viktor, and he’s up to something again. Ghost and Squid are following through with watching his every move, putting pressure on him to fuck up.
“We can go around five if you want,” Ryder says, slinging his arm around the back of my chair, his fingers resting on my shoulder like he always does. Does his dad know about us? I don’t know if he does, and I’m not sure how to ask.
Les nods and looks at Zane. “What’re you going to do?”
“I’ll be fine, Beautiful,” Zane answers, running his knuckles down her cheek. I glance at Ryder from the corner of my eye, and that muscle is ticking in his jaw. I reach down, squeezing his thigh.
He slowly turns to me, and I see him take a breath. This is testing every bit of Ryder’s protective instincts when it comes to Les. He’s run interference between them for so long that he doesn’t know what to do now.
While we’re waiting to go to Ryder’s dad’s house, I decide to go to my office after everyone splits off to do their own thing.
I’ve been working on a prototype for a tracker that can’t be found by normal means or removed, like throwing a phone in an abandoned parking lot. They don’t know it goes under the skin, so we can always be found, no matter what happens. I’m not sure how they’ll feel about that. I’ve already put it into action, so I’m going to find out when I show it to them. I never usually personally address anyone, so when I made that first phone call, I was a damn nervous wreck. It got easier and easier with each one, though. Now, I just have to wait for the product to be delivered.
I know it’s overkill, but I can’t fucking stand the thought of something happening to Les ever again. Things would have been so much easier if I had worked harder to protect her the only way I knew. With my brain.
I hear the office door open, and Ryder sticks his head in. “It’s time to go,Bello.” I look at the time and realize I’ve been working for hours and didn’t even know it. Nerves attack me double time about going to Rocco’s, just like they always do. He’s larger than life, much like Ryder, but I’ve seen the softer side of Ryder that I don’t see in Rocco.Plus, I don’t know how to act around him. I don’t want to tell Ryder’s dad something he might not know, like my relationship with his son.
“What’s wrong, Holden?” Ryder asks, picking up on my mood. He walks further into the room, shutting the door behind him.
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Does your dad know about us?”
Ryder shakes his head. “Not yet.”
I understand things moved fast between us then everything with Les and Gage happened, but I still can’t stop the disappointment from hitting me. “Okay,” I answer, standing up from my chair. When I go to move around him, he grabs my arm.
“What’s wrong?” he asks again. He could always pick up on my moods or insecurities.
