“Shit, Sin. We need to get you out of there.”
“I know.”
“Who’s with you?”
“Tris is here.”
“Tris?”
“Tristan Cameron.”
“No shit? You know Tristan Cameron?”
I grunt a laugh, but Ryder stops talking. I can feel him snapping shut in our chat.
“What, Rye?”
“That laugh. I can’t see your face so I’m not a hundred percent sure how to interpret it, but it felt a lot like the next thing you were going to say is that she is the most beautiful person in the world.”
“She is.”
“To the masses maybe. I know she’s a model, Sin, and I know she’s your friend, but I don’t lose my breath or skip a heartbeat when I look at her. Whereas when I think of you, my stomach drops, my heart races. No one compares to you.”
“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better. I know she’s gorgeous.”
Ryder growls. And through our phone call I get an insightof his designation. He hasn’t shown much of his Alpha yet, but in that sound, I get a better understanding of that side of him “I’m telling you, Sin, I can’t see beauty and not see you. And I seriously can’t wait to have more times like this, where I get to tell you over and over again you are my girl, and I think you’re perfect.”
Instead of tears, because I seriously think I have none left, Ryder gets a throaty laugh. But his bold declaration was like unleashing a jar of butterflies inside my chest, sending me soaring with their gentle fluttering.
“I want those times,” I admit.
“Good. Let’s make them happen. Dominic wants to call Unity as your lawyer and have all your family, including Brody pretending to be your brother, and his extended family registered as ‘persona non grata’. Loose legal term that defines people or persons no longer welcome.”
“Okay,” I say, “Omega Mother Beatrice is who he should speak with. And it’s good timing, she called to tell me.”
Ryder smiles, I can hear it. “Sin, I am proud of you. I knew this would be so hard for you.”
“Surprisingly not. I have a newly discovered desire to stay alive.”
He’s quiet and I think our call has terminated. “Sin, please don’t joke about that. I’d be a changed man if something were to happen to you like that.”
I sink into a space of quiet at his sweet declaration. It doesn’t spur me on, but it reinforces the time to start and finish this claim Brody and the founding family have on my future is now.
“Rye, Dominic wrote something in his notebook. We didn’t speak about it but I’m starting to believe it might be the only way to do this.” I shut my eyes not wanting to lose my focus. “I’m scared though. If it works, the only thing I would have is me.”
“Baby, you are more than enough.”
“I’d have no money, no family…”
“We’ve got money, Sin. And sometimes family are the very people holding you back. Love is meant to be unconditional; it’s meant to be your key to freedom. It’s not meant to be oppressive, nor are those who say they love you meant to hold you back. They’re meant to inspire and protect, push you to be better because they want you to be the best, freest version of who you ever could be.”
“I’m not just scared, Ryder, I’m petrified. What I’m thinking I need to do fills me with guilt, and grief.”
“You know you have three Alphas who are going to be with you every step of the way, right?” His voice is full of the same conviction as his words.
“It’s a lot to ask of you to do.”
“Spending time, caring for you is not an arduous task, trust me.” Ryder chuckles before getting serious. “We’re with you, Sin. And then once you’ve done whatever it is you want to do, we’ll be there with you, making our own way, with you by our side.”
