Chapter 82

Clutching his letter to her chest, she got up and hobbled over to her window. She had completely forgotten about Wendy and hoped her friend wasn’t upset with her. But she knew there was no getting out of her house. She was trapped, and she had to lay low otherwise her fears of Kingston making them move would come true.

Jane’s phone chirped with a notification, and she snatched it before heading to look out her window. She just wanted to feel like she was close to them.

Ryder Cuteson: Talk to me, babe.

She smiled, calling instead of texting him. He answered on the first ring. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she croaked, leaning against the window. No one was outside, but it was nice to hear his voice and at least see the same spot she usually saw him in.

“You okay?” he asked as a door on his end slammed. “Come to your window.”

“I’m already here.” She darted her eyes around, her pulse humming as soon as she spotted him.

He grinned up at her. “My little pervert.”

She pressed her hand against the window, her head bobbing. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” He rubbed a hand over his heart. “You say the word, and I’ll come for you.” “You’ll get in trouble.” She wasn’t going to let him get in any more trouble.

He shrugged, sliding a hand into his pocket. “You’re worth it.”

“Stop being cute.” She traced her fingers over his face. “Did David go over there?”

“Yeah.” Now he scratched the back of his head. “We’re good, but I’m not the best to be around right now. Luc is talking to him.”

“Why aren’t you the best to be around?”

She swore his eyes flashed as he stared up at her.

“Because my girl was dragged away from me, and I had to stand there and watch like some weak ass bitch.” He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “Sorry. I’m just pissed, and my mind is fucking with me. I keep thinking I should’ve told you how I felt years ago. Maybe shit would be easier. Well, not easier. Just not where you’re hurt. If I’m around anyone but you, I’m gonna take my anger out on them. So . . .”

Jane sighed, still drawing little lines over his perfect face. Ryder was sweet. With her. No one else. “I can’t believe Kingston slapped him.”

“Don’t worry about him. He’s strong enough to take whatever shit his dad deals him, especially if it has to do with you.”

It was honestly the best thing that he and David were getting along. Even if Ryder wasn’t in the mood to be around David, he wasn’t bad talking him, and David had completely laid off talking crap about Ryder. “Will you tell him I found his letter?”

“Fucker had time to write a letter?” He chuckled and didn’t answer her question.

“It was a quick one,” she said, hoping that Ryder wasn’t upset about her wanting him to pass messages along. They might get along, but they weren’t each other’s errand boys.

“Yeah, I’ll tell him,” he finally said. “Your mom took his phone, I guess. He deleted everything in front of her. I don’t think he let her see what was there, but she told him to delete what he didn’t want her to see.”

“He doesn’t have a phone now?” Jane asked. Everything was out of control. She didn’t know how she was going to handle it all without them by her side.

He was quiet, then he sighed. “I’ll get him one, but I don’t know how long they’ll let you keep yours.”

“What?” Her breathing hitched, and she pressed her hand against the window even harder.

“Babe, this isn’t going to be easy. I don’t mind fighting for you or waiting for you, but you gotta remember you’ll make it through whatever they throw at you. I’ll be right here.”

Even though she didn’t feel it would work out, she still said, “Okay.”

He tilted his head back, exhaling loudly. “Baby girl, don’t start this shit.”

“I’m not starting anything,” she fired back, her heart burning as he glared at her. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“I’m not being an asshole. I just fucking know you’re doubting shit. I’ve never lied to you, Jane. We’re gonna make it through this.” He stayed quiet, watching her like a predator watches its prey. Still. Patient. He was waiting for her to make a move. “I need you to keep your mind clear, okay? Kingston is going to say shit to provoke you, and you acting like a brat is going to make things worse.”

“I am not a brat,” she said through gritted teeth.

“You’re talking to the guy you’ve been a cute little bitch with because you couldn’t admit you loved me.” His smirk was unmistakable. “I love you, angel, but you can bite when you want to. And I saw that fire in your eyes around Kingston. You want to rip a hole in his ass for hitting David and Luc, and you want to scream like a wildcat because he is keeping me from you. But that’s what he wants. He wants you to act like an immature little girl who is getting taken advantage of by the big bad wolves.” He might as well have had fangs with the deadly smile he sent her way. “He doesn’t know my little red riding hood is actually a wolf, a huntress, and the girl who lived. Outsmart him, Jane. Bite that little tongue—not your lips—and let him see that you’re not a child. You’ve been a good girl for a long time, but now you’re a woman. You’re my woman. You’re David’s woman.” He cleared his throat, his gaze, dark. “Are you Tercero’s and Luc’s woman?”

Tercero’s, she thought in an instant, but who was she to Luc? Did she really want to make things harder? She liked him, but she had Ryder and David, and she had Tercero if he wanted her. Ryder grunted. “Your silence says enough.”

“Are you mad?”

“Kinda.” He rolled his neck, and she could hear the pop through the phone. “It’s fine. You haven’t had time to really think about shit, and I told you it was up to you. So, you can explore shit with Tercero and Luc. But that’s not my concern at the moment. Right now, I need you to get things as smooth as they can be with your parents. I want you to clear your threads to me and David. And anything you sent Tercero. I’m surprised Kingston even let you have your phone, but if he sees our texts with you, we’ve got little chance left that we’ll get you at all before the school year ends.” She shook her head. “He wouldn’t—”

“Jane,” he said, exasperated, “you and I have been together—he knows that. And he knows David was in your bed, and you were hardly dressed. To him, you’re being fucked by both of us and maybe Luc. No dad, even a stepdad, will let that go.” “But you made love to me,” she said lamely.

He chuckled as he nodded. “I did. But that doesn’t matter to him. All that matters is I’m the idiot who punched him, who got the cops called on us, who let my brother take you out when you’re supposed to be mine. And I’m the guy who you stayed the night with when he expected you to be home. He’s not going to let me see you. He’s going to make sure we don’t have any contact at school, or he’s going to have you switched to another school.”

“He can’t.” Even as she said that she felt it, in her gut, Kingston was already arranging to keep them apart for as long as he could.

“Do what I tell you to, okay? Right now. Delete every thread between us and David. Anything that you talked about with your friend that talks about our relationship with you.”

Fumbling, she accidentally ended the call with him. “Shit.” Instead of calling him back, though, she deleted everything, her heart breaking because she wanted to keep those messages forever. But she trashed them along with photos from last night. Ryder had mainly used his phone, but at one point he’d taken photos of himself. Well, of them. Of him sliding in and out of her.

Jane squeezed her achy legs together as she sent a few to him before deleting them, and then again, deleting her text thread. Only then did she call him back.

He was laughing when he answered. “Thanks, baby girl. I’ll keep your porn stash safe.”

She peered out, wondering what would be different if he had told her his feelings years ago. Would she be with only him right now? Would David have moved on? Would Kingston welcome Ryder into the family and would he and David be happy as father and son?

“Hey,” he said, his deep voice really the most comforting sound in the world. “Look at me.”

That’s all she wanted to do, and she focused on him. There’d been so many nights where she’d spied on him, and he’d only smirk her way before acting like he didn’t care she was there. Except, almost every time, he managed to take some article of clothing off, and if she was a good girl, he took everything off.

Ryder held his hand up like she was. “Keep my spot safe, all right?” She nodded, feeling like an absolute baby now.

“I’m gonna marry you one day, Jane.” Absolute certainty in his voice and the way he watched her. “I’m putting babies in you, and I’m gonna kiss your pretty lips every morning and every night. I’m going to stare into your eyes and watch the green kiss the gold dancing in the center. You’re everything to me. My moon, my heart, my soul. My Sweet Jane. Waiting longer than I already have is not so bad when you remember that.”