She wrinkled her nose. “Itchy.”
“Sorry, sweetie.”
She shrugged. “It is what it is.”
Ryder slid a plate piled high with food in front of me.
“Thanks,” I said, rubbing my hands together.
He chuckled. “If you can’t eat it all, I’ll eat the rest.”
“You don’t think I can eat it all?” I challenged.
He raised his hands and shook his head. “Don’t doubt you in the least.”
“As it should be.”
Ryder leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee, while I dug into the food.
“When do I get to get out of my cell?” Scottie asked.
“When this shit’s dealt with.”
She dropped her fork on her plate. “So, never.”
“Baby girl, I thought we talked about this,” Ryder said.
“You talked.”
He took a deep breath. “I want you safe, Scottie. So, I’m sorry you’re stuck for the moment, but it won’t be forever.”
I continued to eat, impressed with Ryder’s self-control. He hadn’t yelled once... so far.
“Um, since Dad’s always going to be a dick, I’m pretty sure it will be forever.”
“Can’t disagree with you there.”
“What kinds of things do you like to do?” I asked, pausing in my pig-like consumption of breakfast goodness (for the moment).
“Shopping,” she said immediately.
“Wow, you needed to think about that, huh?”
She giggled. “You’re funny, Sadie.”
Ryder cocked his head, giving me his ‘I-told-you-so’ look and I smiled at Scottie. “So, besides shopping, what else?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I miss my friends, but...”
“But?”
“Never mind, it’s dumb.”
I stroked her back. “What’s dumb, sweetie?”
“I guess I just feel like we have nothing in common now.”
“In what way?”
“Well, for one, none of them have been drugged, kidnapped, raped, and beaten to shit,” she snapped.
“Scarlett,” Ryder warned, but I held up a hand.
“No, they haven’t,” I agreed. “This has all been really horrible for you, sweetie.”
She dropped her head in her hands and groaned. “I hate this. I hate that I can’t get it out of my head. I want to go back... to when I didn’t know better. Back to when I knew there were bad people out there, but didn’t know there were, you know?”
I rubbed her back gently and nodded.
Ryder leaned across the island, tugging Scottie’s hands away from her face. “Baby girl,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, Ride,” she rasped. “You have bigger problems right now.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He moved to our side of the island and gently pulled his sister off the stool and into his arms. “I love you, sissy. You can talk to us about anything anytime, and you’re gonna see that counselor on Tuesday, okay?”
She nodded into his chest and he held her until she stopped crying. In that moment, I didn’t think I could love him more.
“This isn’t gonna take long, Scottie,” Ryder promised.
“I really hope not.”
“Do you want me to ask Ollie if he can pick Molly up? Maybe Sadie’s aunt will let her stay over.”
Scottie’s face lit up. “Do you think she will?”
“I’ll call her, honey,” I offered.
“Thanks, Sadie,” she said, and pulled away from Ryder. “I’ll go get dressed.”
I took one more bite of my hash browns, then grabbed my phone and called my aunt. Ryder called Ollie and we hung up almost at the same time.
“It’s all set,” I said.
“For me too,” he said.
I grinned. “I’ll text Auntie the details of who’s picking Molly up after I finish breakfast.”
“Sounds good.” He grabbed my empty coffee mug. “Want more?”
“Is the Pope Catholic?”
“Well, you’d know better than me,” he retorted, pouring me another cup.
I giggled. “You’re wrong there, you know, considering you’ve corrupted me and all.”
He set the coffee in front of me and then leaned down and kissed me. “I’m having fun corrupting you, FYI.”
I licked my lips. “I kind of like it too.”
He stroked my cheek. “Finish your breakfast.”
I did as he ordered and enjoyed the heck out of it.
Sadie
LATER THAT EVENING, I was curled up on the sofa upstairs attempting to read, but distracted by the view of the city lights. Scottie and Molly were downstairs watching a movie and Ryder was catching up on some work on his laptop. Reese had left an hour ago (I’d come to an internal truce with him, however, I still believed his life’s goal was to push my buttons), and Ollie would be around shortly with frozen yogurt. I had an inkling Scottie might not be the only one with a crush, especially since Ollie had a similar lovesick look on his face around her, but kept my opinion to myself.
“Babe?”
I glanced up from my Kindle. “Hmm?”
“I’ve said your name three times.” He smiled. “Must be a good book.”
“The sentence I’ve reread four times is riveting.”
He chuckled. “You okay?”
“Yep.” I lowered my e-reader. “Sorry. Just distracted by the view. You can see all of Portland from here.”
“Way better than the abbey, huh?”
“Yes, it’s way better.” I shook my head. “How’d I end up in your bed last night, by the way?”
He walked over and leaned down to kiss me. “I didn’t want you to wake up in the middle of the night... you know, if you had a nightmare or something... and be scared.”
I reached up and stroked his cheeks. “So it was in case I woke up?”
He nodded.
“You’re so giving, honey.”
Ryder grinned. “I live to serve you, Sadie.”
Still stroking his face, I cocked my head. “You know that’s the first thing I noticed about you.”
“Oh, yeah?” He kissed me again. “That I live to serve you?”
“Well, no, because here I sit, and I don’t have a Guiness in front of me.”
He frowned. “That’s awful. I should rectify that immediately.”
I giggled. “Yes, you should. Once you do, you may have your “Sadie’s servant” card back.”
He clasped his hands at his chest. “Truly?”
“Yes, but there’s a time limit, Ryder.”
“Right.” He bowed. “I apologize, Your Majesty.”
I clapped my hands. “Chop chop, jester.”
He laughed as he headed to the kitchen. Boy, he was pretty. I liked to watch him coming and going.
As he pulled open the fridge, his phone rang and he put it to his ear. “Ryder. Hey, man. Yeah.” He stepped to the alarm panel and studied the screen. “I see you. Yep. I’ll buzz you in.” He pressed a button and then headed back to the kitchen. “See you in a sec.” He slid his phone in his pocket. “Ollie’s on his way up.”
“I hope my beer goes with the yogurt.” I waved my hand dismissively. “Aw, who am I kidding? I don’t care.” Ryder laughed and brought me a full glass of deliciousness and the can with the excess. “Thank you.”
The doorbell rang and Ryder slid his gun from his holster, checked the camera feed again, and unbolted the door. Despite the fact his home was a fortress, my heart still raced a little as he opened the door.
I relaxed when Ollie arrived, paper bags filled with goodness in his hands. “I come bearing gifts.”
Ryder locked up behind him and yelled down the basement stairs, “Scottie, Molly, Ollie’s here.”
“Crutches, Ryder,” I reminded him, and reached for the bags.
“Hold up, Scottie,” Ryder called again.
“I’ll get her,” Ollie offered. He handed me the
yogurt and jogged downstairs, returning a few minutes later carrying a besotted (and giggling) Scottie. Molly followed, perfectly oblivious to what was going on.
That small observation gave me hope. As traumatic as being kidnapped and held in a horrible place was, Molly seemed to have been sheltered from the more horrific sides of it. Scottie had protected her from much of it. It proved to me (once again) how strong she was, and I had hope that she’d beat back her demons. If anyone could, Scottie could.
Ryder’s hand slid to my neck and he gave it a gentle squeeze. “You okay?”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him quickly. “I’m good, honey.”
“You sure?”
“Yep... and I’ll be better when I get this chocolaty goodness in my belly.”
He chuckled and kissed me again, then we all sat around the island and enjoyed our dessert.
* * *
Ryder
I called Reese to check in and was reassured that everything at the bar was going well. I finally felt as though I could relax just a bit...at least until I heard Sadie scream. I hung up with Reese and made a run for the guest room, pushing the door open.
“Sadie?” She screamed again, and I stepped to the bed and turned on the lamp. “Sadie? Baby, wake up.”
She gasped and opened her eyes, staring up at me in confusion.
I smiled. “Hey.”
Sadie shook her head, reaching for me as she burst into tears. I pulled her into my arms and held her as I stood beside the bed. “Bad dream, huh?”
“I’m okay,” she whispered. “What time is it?”
“Just after midnight.” I kissed her temple. “Wanna tell me about it?”
“Not yet.” She was kneeling on the bed, her arms around my shoulders, and she buried her face into my neck.
“I’ve got you, baby.” I slid my hand into her hair and forced myself not to focus on the short-shorts and tank top she wore. Damn, she was sexy.
“Char was in my room,” she whispered.
I stiffened.
“Not literally,” she rushed to say, stroking my hair. “In my dream.”
I relaxed and shifted so I was sitting on the bed and she was on my lap.
She gasped. “How did you do that?”
“Mad skills.”
“Oh, right,” she said with a chuckle.
“That’s better,” I whispered, and stroked her cheek. “You have the best laugh.”
“I do?”
“Yeah, baby, you do.” I kissed her gently. “Do you want to tell me the rest of the dream?”
“There wasn’t much else to it.” She slid off my lap. “Just a rehashing of what happened on Friday, only it was here.”
“Babe—”
“Nope, I’m over it,” she said. “I don’t want to talk it about it.”
I frowned.
“I’m good, Ryder.”
“You gonna go back to sleep?”
She shook her head.
“Then you’re not good, Sadie,” I said.
With a shrug, she crossed her arms. “I’ll warm up some milk.”
I cocked my head. “Yeah? Does that work for you?”
“I don’t know.” Sadie sighed. “I’ve never tried it.”
“How about you come hang with me while I go through the video footage from the club.”
“Are you sure?” Sadie bit her lip. “I won’t be in the way?”
“You’re never in the way.” I stood and smiled. “But you need to put more clothes on or I won’t be able to concentrate.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll meet you in the family room.”
Sadie nodded and I kissed her before leaving the room.
After grabbing my laptop from my office, I pulled blankets from the chest in front of the sofa and then retrieved a couple of beers from the kitchen. Sadie walked into the room just as I set the drinks on the coffee table. Her clothing wasn’t much better... yoga pants and fitted T-shirt... although it covered more, she couldn’t hide the sexy.
“What?” she asked, glancing down. “Do I have something on me?”
I chuckled. “Just sex appeal.”
She snorted. “You’re insane.”
I held my arm out and she slid into my embrace. “You’re beautiful, Sadie.”
“Thanks, honey.” She gave me a squeeze. “You’re pretty hot yourself.”
“You okay?”
“Better now.”
“You want a beer?”
“Actually, I kind of want tea,” she said. “Do you have any?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “I grabbed some of that licorice shit you like.”
“You mean the best tea on earth?”
“The most disgusting tea on earth?” I countered.
She giggled. “You really bought some?”
I nodded.
She grinned up at me. “I love you.”
“Back atya. I’ll make you some tea.”
“I can do it.” She headed toward the kitchen. “Do you want anything?”
“I’m good, baby.” I sat on the sofa and pulled up the first feed from the club video surveillance.
Sadie returned, steaming cup in hand, and sat down beside me. “Anything?”
I shook his head. “It could take a while.”
She pulled the blanket over her. “How do you deal with all those people?”
“I don’t most of the time.”
“You realize you own a meat market, right?” she said, then sipped her tea.
“You know what a meat market is?”
“Television junkie, remember?”
I chuckled. “Not by design, but yeah. The club’s certainly turned into one.”
“Who’s that?” she asked, pointing to the screen.
“Bennie.”
“No, behind him.”
I leaned closer to the screen. “I don’t recognize him.”
“Well, Bennie knows him.”
“How do you figure?”
“Rewind a bit,” Sadie said. “They’re having a heated discussion.”
I did as she suggested and realized I’d missed that tidbit of information. “Yeah, they are having a heated discussion.”
“But you don’t know the other guy?”
I shook my head. At least, I didn’t think I did. I pulled out my phone. “Hey.”
“You got somethin’?” Reese asked.
“Check Friday’s footage.” I checked the time stamp. “Sixteen twelve.”
“What am I looking for?”
“Do you know the guy talkin’ to Bennie?”
I heard Reese click keys on the keyboard in the background. “Give me a few.”
“Call me back,” I said.
“Okay, man.”
Reese hung up and I went back to the footage.
Sadie gasped. “There he is again.”
“Yeah, I see that.”
“Something’s hinky,” Sadie said.
I glanced at her. “Ya think?”
She shoved my thigh with her foot, smiling over her mug. “Smarty pants.”
My phone rang again, and I answered. “What do you see?”
“That guy Bennie’s talkin’ to is a Spider,” Reese said.
“What the fu—?” Sadie stiffened beside me and I laid a hand on her leg. “Do you know him?”
“I know of him,” Reese said. “Cracker, I think. He’s a soldier... low on the totem pole.”
I didn’t know Cracker, but then again, I’d been out of the club longer than Reese. If a soldier was hanging around the Frog, I had bigger issues. “Damn it.”
“Yeah,” Reese agreed. “I’ve sent what I know off to Cam.”
“Okay, thanks. Watch for him tonight.”
“Yeah, man. On it. Watchin’ Bennie too.”
“Good,” I breathed out.
“Any word on the girls?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’m gonna get on this,” Reese said.
“Thanks, brother.” I hung up, sat
back, and let out a breath.
“Does Reese know him?” Sadie asked.
“Not really.” I rolled my head to look at her. “All he knows is that he’s a soldier in the club.”
Sadie shuddered. “Everything seems to end back with your dad, huh?”
I reached over and squeezed her knee. “I got you, baby.”
“But who’s got you?”
“What do you mean?”
She set her cup aside and sat up on her knees, moving my computer so she could straddle my lap. “I got you, baby,” she parroted.
I smiled, laying my hands on her hips. “Yeah?”
Sadie nodded. “I can kick really hard.”
I laughed. “Really?”
She nodded again. “Yep. ’Course, the person has to be directly in front of me and someone has to be holding their arms behind them, because I’m useless at defending myself... as evidenced—”
“Shhh.”
“I’m not saying that for sympathy. I’m simply saying...” She sat back, defeated. “Dang it! I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I was trying to be funny. I think you’re wrong. I think I suck at it.”
“Try again,” I encouraged.
She bit her lip and I couldn’t stop myself from tugging it from between her teeth and kissing her. I slid her to the sofa, stretching out beside her, then pulling her on top of me, continuing to kiss her. She tasted like licorice and it surprised the hell out of me that, although I may have hated it in the past, on her it was an aphrodisiac. I needed to taste her... every part. Her quiet mews drove me insane, but it was when her hands slipped under my shirt and investigated my abs, I realized we needed to stop or I never would. I dropped my forehead to hers and took several deep breaths. “Damn.”
“Wow,” she breathed out.
“You are so damn beautiful, Sadie.”
She dropped her head to my chest and sighed. “So are you.”
I kissed her again and then held her close as we continued to catch our breath. Sadie’s hair had come loose from her hair tie, and I slid it away from her face and down her back. “Promise me something.”
“What?”
I wove my fingers in her hair. “Never cut your hair.”
“Never?” She craned her neck to look at me. “You want me to Crystal Gayle it?”
I smiled. “Just not short. Your hair’s incredible, Sadie.”
“Okay, honey, I promise I’ll never cut it short.”
Ryder (Sinners and Saints, #1) Page 17
