Chapter 76

Jane held her breath as Ryder slowly got up with her. He let her stand on her own, but he held her to him, his forearm resting over the top of her breasts as his free hand held onto hers.

Her mom, well, she looked torn between bawling and screaming at David.

David reached for Jane’s left hand, raising it so he could kiss her fingers. “She’s my Jane.” There was a hardness in his tone that she’d never heard before. All she could do was stand there as Ryder leaned down, kissing the top of her head. And David’s reaction to Ryder’s affection? He pressed another kiss to her knuckles and continued, “We said nothing when it came to you and Dad choosing your happiness over ours. I get it, I really do because I know you love my dad, and you were broken over Eric’s death and raising Jane alone, but you don’t get to choose for her. She’s conflicted right now because I fucking broke down and told her how I really feel. So, she’s trying to pick between us.”

“Actually,” Ryder butted in, dragging out his words, “she’s considering all of us, and I’m down with it.” He peeked down at Jane. “None of this shit is important right now, though. If you hadn’t noticed, she was having a fucking panic attack because she was almost abducted and raped last night.” Now he looked at her mom. “So, can we just stop? Jane’s my girlfriend, she loves David, and she likes my brothers. We’re almost legal, and we’ll figure out how our relationship is gonna work. Not you. And though I appreciate you sending her my way because I’m your number one pick for her, I won’t forgive you trying to make your daughter settle, sending her to me like I’m a slice of fucking chocolate cake for her. Damn, woman, she’s not a whore and I’m not a fucking gigolo.”

Her mother shifted her gaze to Ryder then to David. Then back to Ryder. “Kingston was right about you. You’re trouble.”

Ryder chuckled, hugging Jane closer to him. “Lady, take your fucking anger out on someone else.

Trying to turn us against each other or trying to make her choose one of us just so she won’t be with David isn’t gonna work.” He pointed at David. “I’ll leave it up to him on how he tells his dad, but you can stop the little game of trying to make Jane choose me. Eric told her she didn’t have to, and he told us not to fight over her. We’re getting along, and that’s how it’s gonna be. Now move out of the

way so I can carry her upstairs so she can rest.” He smirked at David. “She’s sore.” Holy shit.

“Come on, babe.” Ryder didn’t wait; he lifted her into his arms like he was about to carry his bride across the threshold. “Practice makes perfect,” he murmured, passing her mother.

It was cute as hell, but she was too stunned by everything that had been said. Her mom was a good person, but she never really treated her the way Jane expected a mother to treat a daughter. She didn’t comfort her, didn’t try to learn about her. She provided food and shelter. She gave her medicine when she was sick, but there was everything absent that Jane’s dad had given. Love.

“You okay?” Ryder kicked the front door shut behind him when David raised his voice to her mom. “Let him deal with her right now,” Ryder said. “Think about yourself for a minute. ‘Cause I’m worried about you. David’s worried about you, and if the vibration in my pocket is who I think it is,

Tercero and Luc are worried about you. Your mom, though? She’s worried about herself.”

“She has a reason to be. She’s right—David is my stepbrother. If Kingston reacted badly to you, he’s going to explode about David.”

Ryder shook his head. “Maybe, but right now she should be worried about you almost getting raped last night. Instead, she leaves you out in the dark to go to a party at my house. Did you see how many assholes were there? Not like they’re stupid enough to fuck with my girl, but your mom doesn’t know that. Someone could’ve snatched you. You could’ve been hurt, anything could’ve happened.”

Jane leaned her head on his shoulder. He was really the most amazing guy. “Maybe she wanted me to run away with you.”

He grinned, opening her bedroom door and carrying her right to her bed, but he sat, keeping her on his lap. “That would fix her fears, wouldn’t it? She probably thinks I’m loaded like Luc, so at least she’s thinking you’ll be provided for.”

“Are you?” She sluggishly pulled her phone from her pocket, noticing she had several notifications from Wendy, Tercero, and Luc. Everyone was going to have to wait until she was calm and rested.

“Not really. Gabriel has control over our mother’s assets. He got us cars of our choice, but he’s holding everything else. Dad’s is untouchable because he’s alive. Like I said, I need a good job or I’m robbing Luc.” He tossed her onto the bed and started untying her shoes. “Shoulda just kept your ass naked.”

Jane yawned, closing her eyes. “I’m sorry for freaking out earlier.”

“For having a panic attack?” He started massaging her leg. “That was my fault. I shouldn’t have brought it up like that. You feel okay?”

She shrugged, not sure if she had even processed it. It felt kinda like a bad dream. “I’m okay.” As she said that, though, her heartbeat sped up so fast that she pressed her palm over it.

Ryder’s hand joined hers. “This isn’t going to stop beating because of that fucker’s memory.”

Now she opened her eyes, tears stinging them, but she refused to cry this time just so she could see him.

He linked their fingers but didn’t move them away from her heart. “You remember each time that I was there. Remember that you didn’t die. Last night you fought against him, and I had your back. And just a few minutes ago, you felt like you were dying, but it passed. It’ll always pass.” He moved their hands down. His spot. “Feel me?”

Nodding, she sniffled because this boy was freaking everything.

“Always with you, babe.” He leaned over her now, a half-smile in place as he lowered himself to kiss her. “Wanna make out and get caught by Papi?”

“You’re caught,” came David’s voice from the bathroom.

Jane froze, darting her eyes between him and Ryder.

“I heard your loud ass trying to open the locked door,” Ryder said, giving him a brief look before focusing on her. “Gimme a kiss.”

Jane felt like a deer caught in the headlights. She had been so ready to kiss him. Hell, she was gonna keep him hostage with all his cuteness, but now?

David crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Baby, if I tolerated Luc kissing you repeatedly in front of the damn world, if I instructed Tercero to come satisfy you for us, and if I am not beating this fucker’s ass for spending the night with you, I can handle you kissing him goodbye.”

“Good morning,” Ryder said with a smirk, his tired face now alive with mischief. “I give her good morning and good night kisses.”

“Stop being cute,” she told Ryder, her cheeks hurting from smiling.

“You like my cute ass as much as you like sexy me and asshole me.” He leaned back, though, as if sensing she wasn’t ready. “What did she tell you?” he asked David as he went for the button on Jane’s shorts.

Her eyes widened, and she stilled as David pushed off the wall.

“Before she left to the hospital, she threatened to throw me out since I’m already eighteen,” David said in a strangely relaxed tone as he walked closer. “Did she fucking ask you to undress her?” Well, so much for him being relaxed.

Ryder turned his head toward David in a sizing-up manner. “Bitch, she’s my girl. I got her dressed to bring her home. Now I’m helping her undress so she can nap. We didn’t sleep well.” “Both of you stop,” she said, feeling her first ‘boyfriend’ fight coming on.

Ryder smirked, shaking her hips. “Do you want help? I was doing it ‘cause you’re sore, and you’re looking groggy as fuck after what happened outside.”

David sighed, crossing his arms again. “I can leave—if you prefer him.”

Now, she felt bad. David had come home to check on her, confronted her mom, and he was worried. Ryder was in full boyfriend mode, and she knew he didn’t want to leave her either. “Stay,” she told David as she put her hands over Ryder’s. “You help.”

“Getting bossy now?” He chuckled, casting a quick glance at David. “She needs panties and a new shirt.”

An adorable, puzzled look fell over David’s face. “What?”

“She’s gonna sleep for a while, moron.” Ryder unzipped her shorts. “In case your dad comes storming in here, I want her dressed, and she’s not wearing panties. Get her some fucking clothes or get out.”

David stared at her, a mixture of desire and concern. Her good boy was showing, but she knew he was hiding his inner alpha male, the guy she saw cussing up a storm and pushing Ryder around like he was the bigger one of the two of them. The guy who told her when to come and taste herself.

So, she smiled and said, “David, I still sleep in your gray shirt sometimes. It’s in my panty drawer. I’ll wear that.”

Ryder gave her a little glare, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he lightly pinched her hip then slid a hand under her ass. “Up.”