Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(8)

Felicity Jones was his. He didn’t question it. It just was.

He’d seen a lot of bad things in his life. Had done things that would make people call him a monster. But Felicity was his reward. His reward for all the shit in his life.

The second he’d looked in her eyes, he’d seen through all her lies.

The bravado.

The toughness.

She was hurting. Badly. And he was dying to know why. Dying to fix it. To make the hurt he could see clearly in her eyes go away.

But it was more than obvious she didn’t want to expose any of her vulnerabilities. He wanted to demand answers to the million and one questions he had, but knew it would make her more wary of him than she already was.

“You never did say what it was that you do down in the Springs,” Logan said not quite nonchalantly.

Ryder tore his eyes away from the doors of the gym and met his brother’s. “I’m a private investigator.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”

Logan didn’t say anything for a moment, then asked, “That all?”

Ryder wanted to smile, but refrained. His brother wasn’t dumb. Not in the least. “Nope.”

“Didn’t think so. I won’t ask, because it’s obvious that you won’t answer.”

Ryder grunted as he took another sip of his coffee. His eyes went back to the window.

“Nathan’s been doing some poking around. Says you were only in the Army for a couple of years before you got out.”

Ryder nodded. “Went in straight out of high school. Wanted to make some money to send back to my mom, to make her life easier. Was in for two years before another opportunity came up.”

“Interesting,” Logan said, trying a bit too hard to sound disinterested. “The usual hitch is four years.”

Ryder didn’t respond, but held his brother’s eyes for a beat before turning to look out the window at the door to Rock Hard Gym once more.

“I don’t know what’s going on with Felicity, or you, for that matter, but don’t you hurt her. She’s the toughest chick I know. And if it wasn’t for her, me and my Grace wouldn’t be where we are. I wouldn’t have my sons,” Logan said after a minute.

Ryder turned his gaze back to Logan’s. “You think Felicity’s tough?”

Logan’s head cocked and his brows shot up. “You don’t?”

“She’s scared out of her fucking skull, and she’s this close to bolting.” He held his thumb and index finger up, almost touching.

“She might be scared, but that doesn’t mean she’s not tough. When Grace was taken from me, Felicity stood by my side and did what she could to help her out. If she had two minutes alone with Margaret Mason, Grace’s mother, I’m afraid of what she would’ve done to her. She’s got a backbone of steel.”

Ryder shook his head. “It’s all a facade. You have to see it. I’ve been here a week, and it’s as clear as day to me. All you have to do is look into her eyes, and you can tell she’s broken inside.”

Logan shook his head. “Not to me. Talk to me. Tell me what I’ve missed.”

Ryder put down the coffee and sighed. “I haven’t looked into her background. But I don’t need to have her background to know she’s a woman on the run. With her coloring, it’s obvious that her jet-black hair came out of a bottle, which makes me wonder if she’s trying to disguise her appearance. Her eyes never stop moving; she’s constantly scanning her surroundings, as if looking for danger. She lives above the gym she co-owns, so I’m assuming she doesn’t pay rent and didn’t have to fill out an application. I overheard Grace complaining, good-naturedly, that Felicity doesn’t have any bills—paid cash for her car, doesn’t have a credit card. Her cell phone is one of those pay-as-you-go jobbies. And last, but certainly not least, she’s a silent partner in that gym. Cole said she didn’t sign one paper. And now she wants fifty Gs in cash.”

The napkin Logan had been using was now clenched in his fist. “So what can we do?”

“You want honesty?”

“Always.”

“Let me handle it.”

Logan was shaking his head even before Ryder had finished speaking. “She doesn’t even know you, man. She’s not going to trust you.”

“It’s why she will trust me,” Ryder retorted. “Think about it. Grace is her best friend. She’s godmother to your kids. She loves you and your brothers like family. She wants to run to protect all of you. She’s not going to tell you shit. To keep you out of whatever it is that’s haunting her. Me? I’m an outsider. She’ll tell me.”

“You’re awfully sure of yourself,” Logan observed.

“It’s because I’m right. I’m not going to hurt her,” Ryder told his brother, bringing the conversation back full circle. “The last thing I want to do is hurt one hair on her head.”

“I wasn’t talking physically,” Logan said. “I’m not as unobservant as you think. In all the time I’ve been back in town, she hasn’t dated. Cole said he’s never seen her with a man since he’s known her. Five years is a really long time to go without being with someone.”

Ryder didn’t argue. It was a long time. He knew firsthand. He hadn’t been with anyone since he’d gotten out of the Army and started his new life. Being with someone meant giving his enemies a way to get to him. He hadn’t ever wanted to open that door, but it had been blown wide open with his trip up to Castle Rock. He knew introducing himself to his brothers meant changes in his life, but he’d been ready for them. He was almost thirty. He wanted what his brothers had. A wife. Kids. Family. He’d been alone for so much of his life, and now he had not only three brothers, but three sisters-in-law and nephews as well.