Chapter 86

Alexander, Sin, took his phone from her limp hands. “Damn, girl, you turned those two assholes into allies and sappy fuckers for you?”

“Yes,” she told him with a pathetic smile.

He laughed, tightening his arm around her. “Cheer up, cutie. I don’t know what the fuck happened, but the boys and I won’t let you down.”

“The boys?” She didn’t know anyone who went to Helldonna except her ‘cousin’, David’s cousin, and she had yet to see him.

“Most of the team and a few others.” He lobbed the apple core toward the trashcan, and it even swished in. “Nervous?”

Now that he mentioned it, and she realized he was a really attractive guy, she was nervous.

“Hey,” he said, tapping her shoulder. “Your cute face got all ugly.”

She wasn’t expecting that, and she laughed. “Thanks for that.”

He winked, stretching out his long legs. “There you go. Keep the smile. That sad shit will scare all the boys away from you.”

“Wow.” She couldn’t stop grinning.

“Right?” He flexed his free arm. “So, can I take you to lunch?”

Jane glared at him. “Ryder will kill you.”

“Nothing like a good ole death wish to liven things up, aye?” He chuckled, texting someone.

“Relax, though, I told him I’d watch out for you, and I will. You can meet your new guards.”

“Guards?” She didn’t know if he was being serious or just messing with her, but she was hoping she’d have someone to eat with.

His head bobbed as he ran a hand through his wild locks. “You’ll like them. And, trust me, Ryder will destroy us if anything happens to you. So don’t be afraid.”

“How do you even know him?” That’s what had her baffled. Ryder didn’t do friends, and she only ever saw him with his brothers.

“Met him at football camp. But we really know him because we fight.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Did you know?”

“Fight? Like a boxer?” She had no idea what he was implying about Ryder. Yeah, he had bruises sometimes, but so did every other football player.

“Not a boxer, though he can box.” He chuckled, sliding open his phone and going through the gallery. “He would’ve told me not to tell you if he had a problem with me showing you. But you’re the girl he’s always thinking about—I think he wants you to know him.”

She honestly wasn’t expecting something deep from this conversation, but she was so touched that Ryder had let others know his feelings, even if he had been hesitant to tell her.

Then there he was. Jane gasped, taking the phone from Alexander. Ryder was shirtless, sweaty and perfect. His long hair was soaked, hanging over his eyes as he bounced on the balls of his feet. He was standing across from a much bigger guy, one the size of Savaş. A monster.

The guy said something to Ryder. Some of the words were missing, but she gathered most of it. Something about Ryder being a pretty boy and he’d show him what he did with pretty boys.

Ryder spat at the makeshift mat and told the guy, “Sorry, bitch. I don’t fuck guys; I got my eyes on

a gorgeous brunette.”

Her cheeks warmed as Sin chuckled. She couldn’t believe Ryder really was so devoted to her.

Not that she had to worry about a scary guy being Ryder’s type.

The fighter laughed, rubbing his stomach. “Don’t be like that. Daddy will take care of you.”

All playfulness coming from the upcoming fight vanished. Ryder rolled his neck before pointing his mouthpiece at the guy. “Already made it clear I don’t like dick, and the only ass I want is my girl’s. Now shut the fuck up. I really want to knock your dumbass out so I can go home and get a glimpse of her.”

“You should hear him when he’s high,” Sin said, snickering.

Then they were fighting, and Ryder was brutal. He faulted once and then corrected so effortlessly, and so fiercely, they had to call a medic for the other guy.

Jane closed her eyes, shaking her head. She wasn’t upset with Ryder’s fight or that he talked about her, but she was upset that she didn’t know any of this about him. She had known he smoked weed, and he occasionally drank alcohol, but it was weird realizing he had a life that didn’t fit in his backyard.

“Hey, ugly.” Sin locked his phone. “What’s wrong?”

Since she had no one to talk to, not even Wendy, she told the big guy. “I didn’t know any of this.

How can I love him when I don’t know him?”

“Girl, you’d be nuts to not love Ryder.” He dramatically tossed his hair and batted his eyelashes.

“I’m serious,” she said, chuckling.

“So am I.” He stared dreamily at Ryder on his phone. “Just look at him.”

Jane did, sighing. He was certainly the most dangerous guy she knew, but he was an absolute cutie with her. She loved him—even if she didn’t know the other sides of him yet. “Do you think I’m too boring for him?” She lifted her gaze to meet his dark stare. “I mean, I’m not a bad girl, and I will probably cry if I see him get hit.”

He grinned. “Ugly, that bastard has it bad for you. Any combination you come in—sexy, cute, feisty, ugly”—he laughed at her scowl— “he’s calling you his goddess. But you know what? He’s insecure as fuck about you. I bet if you show him you’re a little badass ugly girl, he’ll realize there’s nothing to hide from you.”

“Are you always gonna call me ugly?”

His big finger poked her cheek. “Stop being ugly, and I’ll call you beautiful.”

The teacher called for attention at the front of the class, and Jane sighed, focusing on her. She had to make the best of the situation, even if she had wished to be David’s girlfriend for most of her life. Maybe she was a silly girl, though. Maybe she needed this distance to figure out what she really wanted. One thing she was holding onto though was Ryder hadn’t moved on like she feared all day yesterday. He and David were tolerating each other, and they weren’t giving up on her.

Tercero’s and Luc’s faces surfaced in her mind. She felt so bad for how she treated them. They at least deserved to know she didn’t think less of them. In fact, she really missed them.

Alexander Sin surprised her again. “Hey, ugly,” he whispered, sliding his phone toward her. There was an open text.

Luc Godson: Find my queen

Alexander responded. Already have. I have her next period. I’ll keep an eye on her.

Luc Godson: Inform my little brother.

Jane’s heart warmed the same way it did when Luc looked at her. He was really a sweetheart when he wanted to be. “He cares about Ryder.”

Alexander snorted. “Not really. He probably knows Ryder will kill someone if he goes too long without knowing if you’re safe.”

She chose to have hope that Luc wasn’t such a bad guy. “Well, thank you.” “You got it, ugly.”