Sheltered(45)

“I saw you and I completely forgot why I’d gone there in the first place.” Ryker pushes off the counter and goes around to the other side of it. He picks up a plate of food and brings it back over to where I’m sitting. He lifts a strawberry and brings it to my mouth. I take a bite of it, then he pops the rest of it in his mouth, finishing it off.

“Then he showed.” I glance down at my hands, locking my fingers together.

I don’t want to talk about Fritz, and I can tell he doesn't either. I actually feel guilty about Ryker seeing me with Fritz. I think I would lose it if I ever saw him with another woman. Even just thinking about that happening hurts more than when I saw Fritz with Lilith.

Ryker’s hands come to mine, untangling my fingers and locking his around them. “Don’t do that. It’s my fault. I should have taken you from him that day,” he tells me. His voice is deep and filled with emotion. “I just wasn’t sure of how to do it then. I thought you’d see through him and leave him soon.”

“I should have,” I admit.

“It helped that you two weren’t together much. It was hard to believe you were a couple at times. I think that helped me not to lose it.” His hands tighten in mine in a possessive yet gentle grip.

“I’m yours now,” I remind him, trying to cool the anger I see sparking in his eyes.

“You were always mine,” he corrects.

He picks me up quickly and it breaks the tension of the moment.

“You have got to stop carrying me everywhere,” I say though my laughter, hoping that he never does. He walks us out of the kitchen and down the hall to his office. He sits me down on the sofa he has in there before walking over to a picture. It’s like something out of a movie when he pulls the painting back to reveal a safe behind it.

“Zero five one nine,” he says aloud while he hits the keys. “The day I first saw you.” He winks at me over his shoulder before he opens the safe door.

I sit up a little straighter when he reaches in and pulls out a stack of folders. I see a gun sitting inside, too. It makes me nervous, although I shouldn’t be shocked. This is the south, but it still catches my eye. He shuts the door to the safe and comes over to me and sits down.

When I look down at his folders, I see Fritz’s name on the top one. I also see the folder I made that last day I was at the art studio. It reminds me of the things I found. It all slipped my mind since being brought here.

“Are you into something illegal?” I ask, feeling my stomach drop.

I need to know. I don’t know what I’ll do if he says yes, but I can’t be lied to again. The fact that he could be wrapped up in this should make me want to get away from him, but right now I just want the truth. If he’s mixed up in whatever it is I found that day, then I have to know.

“I kidnapped a woman. I think that’s against the law.” He raises his eyebrows at me, and I slap his arm. It shouldn't be funny, but it kind of is.

“You drugged me!” I snap out as I remember the night he took me. At least I think he did. It’s all still a little hazy, and probably always will be.

He cups my face. “I was scared you’d fight me. I did what I thought would be best. I knew you weren’t allergic,” he tries to defend himself.

“Because you got all my medical records?” Now it’s my turn to raise my eyebrows at him. This conversation is completely ridiculous and not normal, but still I smile.

He strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I took you that day to keep you safe,” he finally says. “But I’d be a liar if I didn't admit I took you because I wanted you. That I was tired of waiting. I took you because you belong to me and I couldn't take another moment of not having you.”





Chapter 22





Ryker





I watch as she lays the files in her lap, and I feel a knot in my stomach. I have to tell her everything. This can’t stay between us. Just like her, I don’t want anything between us anymore. We have come too far.

“There’s more I need to tell you, Cricket,” I say, and she squares her shoulders.

“You can tell me anything.”

There’s complete honesty in her voice, and in that moment, I want to tell her I love her. I want to not only lay out all the deception, but I want to tell her what’s in my heart, too. But I have to start with the messy truth.

I take one of her hands in mine, but as I open my mouth to confess all my sins, I hear the front door bang open. I jump up and grab Blair, pushing her behind me as I go to the door. I brace myself, but I see it’s just John walking in with a panicked look on his face.

“I’m sorry, Ryker, I tried to call. It’s Diamond. She got loose and somehow got tangled up in a mess of barbed wire on the other side of the property.”

“What?” I ask when I see the look of panic in his eyes.

“I can’t get to her. Memphis must have gotten out last night with her and he won’t let me near. I’ve got all my guys down there, but he’s kicking up at anyone who tries to get close. You’re the only one he’ll listen to.”

“Oh no,” I hear Blair gasp, and she brings her hands to her mouth in horror. “Is she hurt?”

John just nods, and I see tears form in her eyes.