He looked at her dumbly, then clenched hishands to fists.“That’s next Monday.”
“Wow, you can count the dates?”she asked,letting him hear the sarcasm in her voice.“I’m sure you can figurethings out.”
“You insensitive, useless bitch,” hemuttered, walking right up to her face.
Sky didn’t back down, although her heartthudded against her chest.She hadn’t thought Rodney was capable ofviolence, not until last night.The front door slammed wide open.Rodney must have forgotten to lock it again.
Both of them turned their heads.She widenedher eyes.Ryker hadn’t changed one bit in the last two years.Withhis intimidating size, he practically filled up the entire doorway.Rodney looked so tiny in comparison.
“Who the hell are you?”Rodney demanded whenRyker shut the door behind him and locked it.
Heart in her throat, she let out a breath.She recognized that look, the way Ryker’s blue eyes seemed to turnglacial.Ryker curled his lips to a wolfish smile.In a span ofseconds, Ryker had Rodney up against the wall, one large hand overRodney’s throat.Rodney gasped, clawed, punched at Ryker but to noavail.
“What the fuck did you call her, you uselesspiece of shit?”Ryker practically growled into Rodney’s face.Rodney sputtered more words.Ryker released him, only to pull outhis gun and shove the barrel down Rodney’s throat.“What’s that?I’m not interested in hearing scum talk.”
“Ryker, please.”She appeared by his side,gripped one muscled shoulder.“He’s not worth it.”
Tension mounted.It looked like Ryker rodethe killing edge, and nothing and no one could stop him.
She always knew what Ryker did for a living.He’d never hidden anything from her.Heck, Ryker always warned herhe wasn’t a good guy, that it was better if she stayed away, but toher, he’d always be her black knight.If it wasn’t for him, shewould have died, and no one would give a damn.
She never told Rodney about her past.He’dnever understand, but Ryker would.
She didn’t know what possessed her to hughim from behind, to bury her face into his broad, warm back.Sheinhaled the familiar smell of his cologne, the soap he used.HerRyker.She only associated two words when it came to him.
“Mine.Home.”She didn’t realize she’dwhispered the words until she felt his back muscles bunch up.
Ryker retrieved his gun and released Rodney.“If I ever see you again, you’re a dead man, Rodney Madison.”Rykerleaned in close to Rodney’s ear, and she took a step back so Rykercould finish up here.All she wanted was to be back in his truck,secure in the knowledge she’d wake up to her old bedroom the nextmorning.
Ryker continued, “I know where you usuallyhang out and who your friends are.Talk to the police and I’ll buryyour body somewhere where no one will find you.”
Rodney paled, looked like he was about tosay something, but wisely shut up.Rodney didn’t look at either ofthem as Ryker grabbed her bag from the floor, then walked up to herand gave the back of her neck a squeeze that almost seemedpossessive.
She shivered, liking the feel of his big,callused fingers on her skin.In the past, Ryker would back away,mumbling an excuse, but this time, he pinned her with his intenseblue gaze.No longer filled with icy rage, Ryker’s gaze seemeddifferent now.Hungry.
Her nipples tightened, and heat floodedbetween her legs.How many lonely nights had she spent fantasizingabout him?What it would be like, being his woman?Even the fewtimes she and Rodney had dismal sex, she’d kept wishing it wasRyker above her.
Hope fluttered in her chest as they walkedaway from her apartment.Now that they were alone, she could studyhim closer.Ryker still kept his black hair short, cropped close tothe skull.He wore a thin, faded, black shirt, jeans, and scruffyboots—what he usually wore in a casual setting in the past.Helooked good.Sexy.
Crap.She shouldn’t think of him thatway, because once she started on that path—no.Sky already had herheart broken by him once.She couldn’t endure it again.
“I need to stop by the landlord’s unit, tellhim I’m moving out,” she said.Ryker nodded, not saying a thing asshe led the way to the end of the corridor and knocked on the door.The landlord, Mr.Samuels, looked somewhat intimidated by Ryker.They conducted their business quickly.
The next thing she knew, Ryker spirited heroutside the building and into his truck.He started the engine, andshe looked out the windows, at the city she thought could be herhome when she first arrived.
“What’s going on in that pretty little headof yours?”Ryker asked.
“That I’ve never liked this city.”
“Then why stay?”
“Because I made you a promise.”She shookhis head.“It’s not just that.I wanted to prove to myself I canlive out here on my own, but it’s different.Lonely.I missed youso much and the rest of the Familia.”
“Giovanni said you sounded fine on thephone.”
She bit her bottom lip.“I lied, because Ididn’t want to worry him.”
“We need to talk.I want to clear up somethings, about what happened two years ago.”
