“It’s not that bad.” I fill my lungs with his scent, doing my utmost not to rub my thighs together. “You can keep going.”
He brushes his thumbs under my eyes again before dropping his hands. “Tell me if I’m hurting you.”
I nod, grit my teeth, and summon our arguments to the forefront of my mind, fighting the helplessness chewing at my brain with anger.
Red-faced, Arthur slinks out as if he’s intruding on something indecent.
Maybe he is.
***
Ryder’s mood fell faster than a boulder dropped into a lake once my wound was dressed and I hopped off the kitchen counter, armed with determination.
It might’ve had something to do with me grabbing the suitcase with my injured hand. I wasn’t thinking straight, my mind a hive of emotions, feelings, and ideas. Ideas are the worst.
Could I seduce him?
Could I demand just one more night?
Could I make him see me in a different light?
Fuming at him and myself, I jerked up the suitcase and tore one of the strips. The bandage ran red in seconds.
An argument ensued, successfully killing the remnants of melancholy infesting my mind. Ryder ranted about how infuriating I am, while I fumed that I don’t need him to baby me.
While he rebandaged my hand, Arthur loaded the suitcases into the Jeep, and we spent the ride to Columbus in silence.Again.
I stewed in the passenger seat, arms crossed over my chest, wondering what the hell Ryder’s problem is, while Ryder gnashed his teeth and nearly ripped the steering wheel off the column.
I bend over backward trying not to be any more of a burden than I already am as theirassignment, but no matter what I do, Ryder’s constantly pissed off.
“You can either stay in my apartment with Arthur for the rest of the day, or I can drop you off at Hailey’s,” Ryder tells me as we near Columbus. “I should be back around eight, and we’re heading toScarletttonight.”
“Where are you going?” I ask before I can bite my tongue. It’s none of my business.
“You wanted to know who I found earlier. Well, Broadway’s on a killing spree and I’ve located the last man on the list who also happens to be the one he wants most.”
I definitely shouldn’t have asked.
My stomach churns. The takeout coffee I finished seconds ago threatens to leap from my stomach, but it’s too late now. He answered my question without hesitation... as much as the topic scares me, I’m also beyond curious.
“Why’s he on a killing spree?”
“He’s murdering every man who ever laid a finger on Violet.”
Another warm feeling spreads across my nerve endings. It’s the same sensation I experienced when Vaughn told me Carter killed his own father to protect Hailey.
It’s sick, twisted, deranged in the worst way, but I can’t stop wondering what it’s like knowing your man will always keep you safe, that you’re his utmost priority. That he’ll maim, torture,killanyone who hurts you.
I guess I’ll never know.
“I’ll stay with Hailey if that’s okay.”
22
Ryder
Broadway vibrates with excitement, evident by the subtle shake of his hands. He stands beside me, his dark eyes on Vincent. The grab-and-go only took three hours. I located Vincent at a hotel in Pittsburgh where he’d most likely traveled for another one of Noretto’s auctions.
