Chapter 98

He really didn’t see it because he viewed me as a daughter for so long; it’s disturbing for him. If you can, try to work things out. You love your dad, and I can’t bear thinking I’ve ruined your relationship with him.”

Ice flashed in his eyes, and he didn’t look like the boy who honored his father. “You didn’t ruin anything. It was between me and him. I understand the hit, but I can’t really forgive him for taking you away like he did. And even though I’m glad you get to see Ryder, it guts me that my own father would give another guy a chance with you.”

“I know,” she told him, her eyes catching movement from where she was waiting for Ryder. It was her bad boy, and he lowered his sunglasses, playfully scowling at her as he got closer. “I gotta go,” she told David. “He’s here.”

Ryder wrapped his arms around her before she could end the call, kissing her head over and over. “Babe, you are supposed to run to me like they do in the movies.” “This isn’t a movie,” David said bitterly.

Ryder grinned at David as he lowered his face to get on the call too. “I dunno—I’ve been making movies with Jane.”

David glared at him. “You couldn’t give me time to tell her bye?”

He scoffed. “Bitch, grow up. It’s my time when I show up. She needs lovin’. Don’t make her feel bad for it being me who’s giving it to her.”

Jane sighed, tilting the phone toward her. “Let me know how things go, okay?”

“I will.” David smiled, though it looked like it hurt him to do it. “I’m sorry. Have fun with him today. Give the kitten a kiss for me.”

Ryder snickered, but he shut up when she elbowed him. “I will,” she told David.

“You need to name him,” he reminded her.

“I know.” Jane felt so bad that she couldn’t think of something. She wanted something that reminded her of all her boys, not just Ryder.

David nodded. “Love you, baby. I’ll send you a text tonight.”

“Okay,” she whispered as she told him those three words with her eyes. He took it in quietly before nodding and ending the call.

Ryder hugged her from behind. “Sorry, babe. I missed you yesterday, and I am moody until I have you.”

“Have me?” She turned her face up to see him. So gorgeous.

“By my side, little pervert.” He kissed her when she pouted at him. “Let’s get going. You’ll need to do your homework and change before we leave. And you need to take care of that little fluff ball. I don’t want David’s gran throwing it out because you’re not doing cat chores.” “Fluffy,” she threw out as a possible name for the kitten.

“Fuck no.” He started walking them toward his car. “Babe, you’re not going to have permission to name our kids.”

She laughed, hugging his waist. “Ryder Jr.”

He cast her an amused look. “For the cat or are you trying to name our firstborn? That’s how bad you are at this.”

“Jane,” someone hollered behind them.

She turned with Ryder, but he pulled her closer as two guys quickly approached. The first one

Jane knew, and she grinned, rushing forward. “Adam!”

He smiled, lifting her up and squeezing the life out of her. “Hey, girl. Why do I only hear about you befriending a bunch of Hellhounds, but I never see you?”

“I know. I’m sorry.” She hugged him tightly as she took in that his gaze was fixed on Ryder. “Oh, do you know my boyfriend? Ryder?”

Ryder nodded to Adam. “We’ve met.”

Adam lowered her to the ground. “Boyfriend?”

Her bad boy smiled. “Yeah . . . Her boyfriend.” He slid a finger under her waistband and pulled her back to him as his gaze shifted to the guy behind Adam. “The fuck you looking at?”

Jane felt her face burn because the guy had been looking at her, but she knew Ryder wasn’t playing around. There was that dead look in his eyes, and his whole body seemed larger than normal.

She touched his chest, making sure she was between him and the unknown guy.

Adam moved between them, too. “This is Stephen, a friend of mine.”

No one said, ‘nice to meet you’, not that she ever expected Ryder to say that to someone, but she didn’t feel good about the cold look on his face as he continued sizing up the guy. He wasn’t as tall or as muscular as Ryder, but he was fit. His brown eyes stayed on Ryder now, and it was awkward as hell.

“Well,” Jane said, hugging Ryder now as she peered over her shoulder at Adam. “We gotta get home. Come see me sometime.”

He nodded, walking back and nudging his friend as he told her, “If you ever need me, I’m here.” She beamed at him. “Thanks, Adam.”

Ryder kept his eyes on the pair until they were out of sight. “This is when I wish you were back home, and I had to deal with seeing everyone else with you.”

“Because of Adam?” She pushed on his stomach to make him move.

He shook his head and turned to open the passenger door for her. “You know why.”

Of course, she knew he was talking about the guy looking at her, but he really didn’t need to worry. “The only guys I care about are you and the others. Don’t get pissy.”

“I’m protective, not pissy.” He slammed the door and walked around it to get in. When he was seated beside her, he started the car and continued, “I’ve seen that prick with someone else before.

Don’t ever be alone with him, understand?”

“Okay,” she told him, putting a hand over his as he angrily shifted gear. “I’m excited about seeing you tonight. It’s not too brutal, right?”

He was quiet, just driving as he stared straight ahead, but he finally moved his hand, letting hers cover the shifter as he guided her into each gear. “I’m brutal. It’s part of the reason why you never got to know this shit about me.”

“Are you worried I’ll freak out?”

“You are going to freak out,” he said, not teasing. “I send guys to the hospital, babe. But you want to see what I do, so you’re gonna see.”

“You can do it now,” she pulled her hand free and turned to stare out the window. It wasn’t like she was angry that he was being protective. She wasn’t. But she felt the change in him—like the whole world shifted because he was worried about her.

He made it to the main road and sighed as he put his hand on her thigh. “Hey, are you mad at me? I’m not gonna be like that about every guy who looks at you. Only if I feel something off.”

“I’m not mad.” She really wasn’t. “You’re just upset, and I can feel it.” It was like her chest was being pressed on, like her breath was being sucked away.

“Then we should talk about happy things.” He patted her leg but didn’t let go. “Like the scouts couldn’t take their eyes off me yesterday.” “Really?” She grinned up at him now.

“Of course.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly. “Always forgetting who I am, silly girl.”

Slightly drunk on him, she moved so she could lean her head on his shoulder. “I never forget, but

I’m always amazed by you.”

“Feel the same about you, Sweet Jane,” he said, pushing her to sit properly in her seat. “You’re a horrible passenger, though.”

“Rude.” She sulked, adjusting her seatbelt.

“Protective,” he deadpanned before he snapped his fingers. “Keanu.”

“What?”

“Keanu. That’s what you should name that little fucker.”

She laughed, asking him, “Like Keanu Reeves?”

He nodded, his smile stretching wide. “First, I know he’s your favorite actor,” he said, making her heart flutter that he’d even know that. “Second, because when we were kids—before you turned into my mean, beautiful girl who haunted me for years—you didn’t mind being close to me. And there was one Saturday night when you were with us. It was me, David, Tercero, and Luc who had sat down to watch a movie with you, and you wanted to watch Bill & Ted’s, the one with the Grim Reaper, then you said Keanu Reeves was funny. Every one of us were instantly jealous of that guy. So, Keanu fits. We are jealous that little fucker gets to sleep with you, and he’s something you share with all of us.”

“Ryder Godson, you are the sweetest guy in the world.” She couldn’t believe he’d remember something so far back or that he’d think to include the others in it. “I love it.”

“I know you do.” He pulled up next to Sylvia’s house and grabbed their backpacks but dropped them quickly to hold her face and kiss the life out of her. “Now get your sexy ass out of my car. Time to play teacher with me.”

Two hours later, Jane clung to Ryder’s arm as they walked toward an abandoned-looking warehouse. “Do I look okay?” she asked him. The place was sketchy as hell, and it didn’t help Ryder had parked them where there was no way to see from the main street. His car wasn’t the only one like that in the parking lot either.