“I’ll leave you alone.” I loosen my hold and back away.
Ryder catches my wrist and faces me, his eyes narrowed and lips pulled down in a scowl. “Do you trust me?”
I don’t hesitate with my answer. “Yes.”
He tugs me closer, and I lay my hand over his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
“Then trust me when I say that I’ll always keep you safe and we’ll always be together. There’s nowhere I won’t follow you, in this life or in death.”
I shiver at the conviction in his deep, husky voice. “You don’t plan on hurting yourself, do you?”
Ryder shakes his head, and wet strands of hair flop into his eyes. “No, baby.”
Taking a calming breath, I nod.
I trust him and his promise that he’ll take care of this. It’ll be scary, facing my father about my relationship with Ryder, but I can’t deny us anymore.
I push up on the tips of my toes and kiss him. Ryder groans and releases my wrist to cup the back of my head. My lips part on a sigh, and he takes advantage by slipping his tongue into my mouth. It’s not a sweet kiss like we shared moments ago in his bedroom. This one is full of desperation and a fiery need to consume. It’s full of hopes and promises, putting my mind at ease; he’ll take care of me. Whatever happens will happen, because in the end, we’ll still have each other. We’ll still be together.
What Dahlia told me the other day finally clicks.
Fuck what people have to say about my relationship with my brother. No one else matters because the only thing I care about is the man holding me like he’s terrified I might disappear. He loves me. I’m not the ghost anymore, and I refuse to lose him because I’m too much of a chicken to face my fears.
Ryder ends the kiss and rests his forehead against mine. “I’ll say it one more time, doll.”
I stare into his eyes, silent and waiting.
His fingers tighten in my hair, pulling at the strands. “You’re moving out in the morning and living with me. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
I brush my lips against his. “Okay.”
Ryder blesses me with a brilliant smile, then turns us around and shoves me against the shower wall. “Good. Now, hold on to me. I’m about to use you like a toy.”
“LAST RESORT” PAPA ROACH
The house was quiet when Madison and I gathered some of her belongings and packed them in her car. The sun hadn’t risen yet, and everyone was still asleep. We grabbed only the bare necessities—clothes, makeup, toiletries, and whatever prized possessions she couldn’t part with. I plan to get the rest of her things, but I warned her she may never see them again. Jerry is a malicious cunt, and once he knows I “took” his daughter, he may destroy everything.
If I’m gonna be honest with myself, I’m preening over the fact that I’m taking his daughter from him. It’s one of the best paybacks I’ve come up with. I’ve hated this man since the first day I met him. For years, I thought of ways to make him pay for every bruise he left on my body.
But this is bigger than payback.
I’m in love with Madison. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about her, even if I just steal glances at her to make sure she’s okay. Now she gets to be my safe place to landandmy epic vengeance.
I eye the kitchen entryway, checking if Madison has come down from our bedroom yet. She’s been up there for most of the day, arranging her clothes in our closet and making it into her room too. Warmth fills my chest at the thought of us sharing the same space. When I grab a T-shirt from my dresser, I’m sure I’ll find her clothes next to mine. It’ll be a nice reminder of her always being within touching distance.
I head toward the staircase so I can let Madison know I’m going to the grocery store to stock up on food. The cupboards are still bare to the point of embarrassment, and now I have more than myself to worry about.
My phone vibrates in my pocket from a new text message. I grab it, and my eyes narrow at the unknown number.
Unknown sender
I have something of yours.
My head snaps up and I look at the staircase.
Madison.
I bolt toward the stairs, my mind blazing with the visceral need to check on her. She’s been upstairs this whole time. Ididn’t hear anyone come into my home or any sounds of a struggle.
