He follows behind and waits until we’re alone in the corridor to grab me by the arm. I try to wrench away, but he holds strong, like his life depends on it.
“You don’t get to risk your life like that!” he snaps. His face is red, and his eyes are filled with rage.
“Get off me!” My nostrils twitch as his scent hits me. It’s like coming home to something familiar and expected.
“Ishould have been the one to deal with this problem,” he snarls. “You’re only eighteen. You have no idea how fast this world kills people you care about!”
“Um, do I have to remind you that I basically kicked your ass when we first met?” His eyes narrow, and I swallow hard. “You’re not angry because I put myself at risk. You’re angry because I didn’t need you.”
His expression shifts to something so deadly that for a moment, I’m absolutely sure he’s going to hit me.
But he doesn’t.
I watch his jaw tremble, and his eyes burrow into mine, feeling the intensity.
My heart is pounding like I’ve just run a marathon, and my cheeks are tingling all over.
Slowly, he leans in until our faces are almost touching. Is he going to kiss me?
“Next time you want to do something like that,” he says slowly, “it goesthrough me.”
“Fuck you,” I gnash back. “You don’t get to decide how I live my life. I don’t need your protection.”
Again, Ryker’s face shifts. But this time, his lips part, and he looks at me almost like he’s afraid.
“Fine,” he replies, releasing me. I suddenly feel like I’ve been struck too.
My legs tremble as I turn and walk away.
9
RYKER
I findmyself standing behind the house in the shadows of the trees, the wind blowing against my face, my mind searching for an anchor point but not finding one.
I glance down at my hand, recalling the memory of her skin, the warmth of her flesh as I held her.
Only now, my knuckles are torn and bloody, and the wall of the foyer is filled with holes the size of my fist. The bench by the door is also split in half…
“Fine.”
That’s what I said to her. But did I mean it?
Doesn’t matter anyway at this point. She made her choice, and who am I to stop her? Besides, letting her do her thing makes sense. It’s cleaner. Even safer—at least in one way.
I go inside and wash my hands and bandage them. When I come out of the bathroom, I find my father in the foyer, a grim look on his face. Without a word, he motions for me to follow into his office.
Pushing Sable from my mind, I go with him, only to find Valeria seated within.
“Is this truly necessary, Dominic?” she asks. I sit between them.
“It is.” He nods. “Your daughter’s recent…activities have attracted some unneeded attention.”
“From who?” Valeria laughs. “That little gang of nobodies?”
“That little gang of nobodies is being backed by Tony Brambilla. They’re connected.”
Valeria scoffs and waves her hand. “They can’t hurt us.”
