“Late afternoon.”
She blinks, her brows knitting together. “You don’t sound like you’re pleased about it.”
“Because I’m not. It’s not safe.”
“Not safe? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Bianca, don’t—”
“Don’t what?” she snaps. “Don’t ask questions? Don’t demand answers? You brought me here last night after ignoring me all evening, barely said a word, and now you’re telling me that going home isn’t safe without any explanation!”
I scrub a hand down my face, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You’d be much safer here, but we’re going back.”
“Safer?” she presses, her hands gripping the edge of the blanket. “Is this about Jax? Or something else?”
“Both. Jax made it clear you’re a target. You, Hailey, Violet... If it were up to me, we’d stay here, but Carter doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Not until he figures out our next move.”
“Ryder...” She swallows hard. “What’s happening?”
Her lip trembles, the sight putting a seven-inch blade through my heart while simultaneously hardening my dick.
“Don’t worry your pretty head, okay? I’ll keep you safe.”
She shakes her head, standing abruptly. “Fine.”
“Fine?” I swing my legs off the bed, that one word making my teeth itch. “We’re back to that, are we?”
She doesn’t look at me as she grabs her hair tie from the dresser, pulling her messy strands into a bun. “You’re the one making the rules. What else am I supposed to say?”
“What the hell changed?” I demand, following her toward the bathroom. “You promised you’d drop the tough-girl act.”
“What’s the point?! You can’t dismantle my personality, demand I open up, then toss me aside!”
“Toss you aside?” My brows draw together. What the hell are we arguing about? Weren’t we establishing how worried I am about her safety? “When have I tossed you aside?”
She lets out a bitter laugh, brushing past me into the bathroom. “Are you serious? You hardly looked at me last night. Didn’t touch me once inScarlettthen you dragged me into your bed without a word. You don’t want more than a good fuck? Fine, but don’t string me along!”
Her words hit like a slap. I’m frozen in the doorway, my chest tight, my mind scrambling to keep up. “Is that what you think?” I grit out, stepping inside as she turns on the faucet.
“What else am I supposed to think?” She grabs her toothbrush, fumbling with the toothpaste. “I thought—” She cuts herself off, stabbing the brush into her mouth like she can scrub the words away.
“Say it,” I demand, grabbing my own toothbrush.
Her eyes flash to mine, wide and glossy. She takes a long time to answer, brushing furiously. Then she spits into the sink, gripping the edge like it’s the only thing keeping her standing.
“After you kissed me yesterday morning, I thought I wasn’t just...” She falters, her cheeks burning red. “I thought I was more than a booty call, okay? Looks like I got ahead of myself.”
“You didn’t,” I mutter around a mouthful of foam.
“Then why didn’t you touch me last night?”
I rinse my mouth before answering. “You’re already a target because you’re Hailey’s sister, but if they know you’re more to me than that...” I trail off, shaking my head. “I can’t risk giving them more ammunition. The less they know, the less reason they have to hurt you.”
She blinks at me, reaching for a towel. “You mean that?”
I wipe my mouth and step into her personal space, one hand ghosting her cheek. “Every fucking word.”
“You could’ve told me.”
