Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(5)

Ryder took a deep breath as they reached the door to the gym. He’d thought his half brothers had purposely been ignoring his existence. He had no idea they didn’t know anything about him or his mom.

They walked past the front desk, past a large room filled with weights and other cardio machines, and down a hallway that held offices.

Grace Anderson opened one of the doors, and they all filed in.

Ryder took one look at the woman in the room, and his breath caught in his throat.





Chapter Two

Felicity Jones glared at her business partner, one of her closest friends. She and Cole had made an agreement when they’d first opened Rock Hard Gym. He would legally own the gym on paper, but she was an equal partner, as she’d ponied up a good amount of the cash to get the gym going. She’d thought there was an implied agreement that anytime she wanted out, he’d pay her back the money she’d put in. But now he was refusing. Not only that, but he was demanding more information.

Why did she want the money?

Why did she want to leave Castle Rock?

What wasn’t she telling him?

All very perceptive questions, and things she wasn’t ready to talk about. Not with him. Not with anyone. Not now, and not ever. It was for their own good.

But then Cole had gone and called Grace. And Felicity knew without a doubt she’d bring reinforcements—namely, her husband and his brothers.

It wasn’t fair.

But what about her life had ever been fair?

When the door to the office opened, Felicity wasn’t surprised to see Grace and her husband enter. And Blake and Nathan. She had no idea who the other man was, but she barely glanced at him. She turned to frown at Cole.

“Great. Now it’s five against one. You think intimidation will work? You should know me better than that.”

The unknown man pushed through the others to stand by her side. “Five against two.”

Felicity gaped at him. “Who the fuck are you?”

He held out his hand as if they were in the middle of a formal gathering. “Ryder Sinclair. And you?”

Felicity’s hand was moving before she could call it back. Manners her mom had instilled in her at an early age were hard to overcome. “Felicity Jones.”

The second Ryder gripped her hand, Felicity knew she was in trouble. His hand was warm, but not sweaty. He didn’t squeeze her hand too hard, but used just the right amount of pressure as he shook her hand. But more than that, the second he touched her, goose bumps raced down her arms. She had the feeling that if she threw herself into his arms, he’d keep her safe. She couldn’t take her eyes off his hazel ones. He looked familiar. She stiffened. Shit, had she met him before? “Have we met?” she blurted as she tried to drop his hand.

Instead of looking offended or put out by her question, he merely shook his head and refused to let go. “No, we haven’t met . . . much to my disappointment. But we know each other now.”

Felicity felt a strong urge to burrow into his chest and let him take care of her. He was taller than she was by a couple of inches, the perfect height for her head to rest comfortably on his broad shoulder, but she straightened her spine and used her free hand to pry his fingers off her instead of throwing herself into his arms. She was an island. Couldn’t rely on anyone. Not if she wanted to keep them safe.

“Whatever, Casanova.” She turned to the best friend she’d ever had and raised her eyebrows as if to ask, “What the fuck?”

Grace smirked at her in return and crossed her arms over her chest. Then she turned to Cole. “What’s Felicity done now? Why are we here?”

Felicity opened her mouth to forestall anything Cole might tell them, but he was faster.

“She wants her half of the business in cash and is gonna bolt if I give it to her.”

There was silence in the small office for a heartbeat before Grace gasped. “What? Leese, you can’t go. I need you. You’re Ace and Nate’s godmother.”

“I didn’t say I was leaving,” Felicity protested weakly.

“But you didn’t say you were staying either,” Logan wisely deducted.

Felicity scowled at him, having no clue what to say. They were all looking at her with disapproval, which cut her to her core. But she couldn’t stay. She’d stayed way too long as it was. The horrible feeling inside her was why she hadn’t ever tried to make friends before. Why she moved around as much as she did. She knew it would hurt to leave Castle Rock, but hadn’t known how badly.

“I don’t know why Cole is making such a big deal out of this. It’s not like he doesn’t have the money.”

“Swear to me right now that if I give you the money, you won’t leave,” Cole ordered.

Cole was taller than everyone in the room, and Felicity hadn’t ever been intimidated by him, but she couldn’t look him in the eye and lie.

“I won’t leave.”

Her words seemed to echo in the room.

Felicity looked at the scarred desk across from her. She remembered the day she’d found it. She’d been driving around Castle Rock and had seen it on the curb with a “Free” sign next to it. She’d immediately called Cole and made him come and haul it away. She’d spent hours sanding it down and fixing it up. It seemed to fit here. Battered and broken, but just needing some TLC to be perfect.