Claiming Felicity (Ace Security #4)(9)

And Felicity.

His enemies had a pretty huge fucking bargaining chip now, and he wouldn’t give them a chance to use it. No fucking way. He needed to talk to his handler soon, officially tell him of his plans to be done with Mountain Mercenaries, although the man probably already guessed. But not until Felicity was safe.

“I’m not going to hurt her,” Ryder repeated firmly. “Not physically. Not mentally.” He looked his brother in the eyes. “She’s mine, Logan. I knew it the first time I laid eyes on her. I’d kill for her. No one puts their hands on her without her permission ever again. No one.”

“You’ve killed before.” It wasn’t a question.

Ryder didn’t respond but met Logan’s eyes with an unblinking stare.

After a long pause, Logan said, “I want to know whatever you find out.”

“I got this,” Ryder told him.

“I have no doubt, but I owe Felicity more than I could ever repay. She was Grace’s friend when she had no one. She got her out of her parents’ house and away from them. If what you say is true, I need to help.”

“It’s true.”

“Then let me help. Let all of us help. We might not be as good as you are, but we’re no slouches. Let Alexis and Nathan see what they can ferret out online. Let me and Blake help keep watch over her when you can’t. Cole can only stay by her side so long. Don’t shut us out. She’s like family.”

“She’ll be your family by marriage if I have anything to say about it,” Ryder said definitively.

“Felicity is already my sister in all ways that matter,” Logan said firmly. “I’m having a hard time being pissed at you for staking your claim because from where I’m standing, Felicity needs a man like you to have her back. But let us fucking help, dammit.”

Ryder nodded. “When I have more information, I’ll let you know. But you should know, I have my own backup as well.”

“But they’re not here. They’re in Colorado Springs,” Logan guessed—correctly.

“True.”

“But we are here. We’re going to help,” Logan told him.

“You’re a pain in the ass,” Ryder commented dryly.

“So Grace tells me. This settled? You’ll keep us informed?”

“Yeah. As soon as I find anything out, I’ll let you know.”

“Good. Oh, and Ryder?”

“What?” he asked, exasperated. “Jesus, I think I might just miss being an only child if you keep this badgering up.”

Logan’s lips quirked up into a smile, but then he tilted his head to the window and said, “If you want to find anything out today, you might want to get going.”

Ryder’s head whipped around, and he saw Felicity walking quickly down the sidewalk toward the parking lot and her PT Cruiser. He was up and moving in a moment. He heard Logan chuckling behind him, but all his attention was focused on Felicity’s hips as she headed away from him.



Felicity turned the key in her little PT Cruiser, and just as she was putting the car in gear, the door on the passenger side opened, and a man fell onto the seat next to her.

She screamed and scrambled for the handle of the door, trying desperately to get out.

“Jesus, it’s me, Ryder. Fuck. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Felicity turned wide eyes to the man next to her and tried to catch her breath. She closed her eyes and concentrated on lowering her heart rate. “You scared me to death.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But you know . . . I could’ve been anyone. You obviously thought so too. You should be more vigilant.”

Felicity took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and ordered in as harsh a voice as she was capable of right that second, “Get out.”

“Nope. I’m comfortable right here,” Ryder said, shutting the door and crossing his arms over his chest.

She almost snorted out loud because he didn’t look comfortable. Not in the least. She wasn’t that much shorter than he was, but for some reason seeing him scrunched in the little seat next to her made her want to laugh.

But she couldn’t laugh. She needed to get rid of him. Felicity wasn’t an idiot. She knew Ryder had been following her around for the last week. Knew he wanted to talk to her, get her to tell him what she was running from, but she couldn’t. All she wanted was to be left alone . . . wasn’t it?

She couldn’t deny his words last week felt good. Really good. She wanted to be free. Hated looking over her shoulder all the time. But she couldn’t risk his life. Or Grace’s. Or anyone else’s. No, leaving town was the best thing for everyone. She didn’t really need the money Cole was holding hostage. She’d left Chicago long ago with less cash than she had now, and she’d managed. She was stalling because for the first time, she didn’t want to go. She liked Castle Rock. Loved her friends. Enjoyed her job at the gym even if it wasn’t what she’d envisioned herself doing back when she was in college.

“Seriously, Ryder. Get out. I’m just going to the store. You can continue stalking me when I get back.”

“I could pick some stuff up,” he told her evenly.

“I mean it. I don’t want you here.”

His voice dropped. “Tough.”