by K. M. Scott
“Oh…God…Don’t stop…God, don’t stop…” I moaned as he began to jackhammer into me.
He planted his hands on the wall on either side of my head and let his hips set the pace, stabbing his cock in and out. I scratched my nails across the back of his neck, eliciting a low growl from him that sounded like it came from deep inside him somewhere.
“Fuck…hold on, baby. I’m almost there.”
I wanted to hold on as he said to, but my release rushed over me and I buried my teeth in his shoulder as I came hard, my hips rolling to feel him against my clit and extend the exquisite feeling of coming. Ryder moaned about my pussy milking his cock, and then a few seconds later, his body stilled and he came inside me as he sagged against the wall.
Smoothing my hand down the back of his head, I took a deep breath and slowly let it out, enjoying the feel of us still joined together as the water rolled over us. He didn’t smell like her anymore.
He smelled like him. Masculine. Ryder.
“My legs are starting to feel like jelly,” he said quietly as he leaned back away from me. “I don’t know if it’s the heat from the shower or the fact that I might have nearly blacked out when I came, but that might have been the best shower sex we ever had.”
“Nearly blacked out? Who knew sex could be so dangerous for you?” I asked with a giggle.
“I like to live on the edge,” he said with that genuine smile he wore when he was feeling playful.
“One of the million reasons why I love you. Now let me down since I think my legs are going numb.”
He set me down on my feet and kissed me softly on the lips. “Just a million. I better get working on that. I’ve got at least two million reasons why I love you.”
“I love when you’re cute. When you’re like this, you’re so relaxed and it’s like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”
Ryder pressed his forehead to mine and smiled. “When we’re together like that, nothing exists but you, Serena. That’s how it’s always been with us from that first night you came to my room.”
I pulled him to me and held him tightly, never wanting to let him go. “Tell me we won’t forget that ever. Tell me we won’t let everything around us make us forget how much we love being with each other.”
“We won’t. Some things you just can’t forget.”
He was right. Someday, all the bad would fade away into the distance, leaving only the memories of those nights when we lay together talking and all the happiness we’d found once I returned from Italy.
We wouldn’t forget because those times were who we really were. Two people crazy, madly, and completely in love.
I lay wrapped in his arms, safe from all that could hurt us. If only we could never have to leave that room.
“He’s not going to stop lording his power over us, Serena. You know that like I do,” Ryder whispered into the darkness.
“I know. I’ve known it since the night he sent me away to Italy.”
He sighed above me. “If only I had gotten us away when we had the chance.”
I didn’t know which time he meant, but it didn’t matter. I knew he regretted every time we didn’t leave this place.
“How are we going to live like this, Ryder? We can’t for much longer.”
He remained silent for a long time before he said, “Tonight, he taunted me about turning me in to the police for what happened with that fighter up in West Virginia.”
Nothing my father did surprised me anymore. I’d thought Ryder was his favorite, not only among his employees but among those of us he called his children. Now that seemed long in the past. If he could threaten him with going to jail for that fight, what else would he do to him?
Ryder pressed a kiss to the top of my head and held me close. “I won’t let him hurt you or Cayden. I promise you that.”
I looked up at him and wondered why he hadn’t included himself in that promise. “What about you? I don’t want him hurting you either. You won’t be able to protect us if you’re not here, and I worry someday soon he’s going to make that happen.”
He shook his head like what I said wasn’t even a possibility, but I saw in the dim light the fear in his eyes. “I swore I’d protect you, Serena. I won’t let him tear us apart, no matter what I have to do.”
“I want you to swear something else to me.”
“Anything.”
“Swear that no matter what you do, you remember the man you are, Ryder. You’re a good man. I’ve never doubted you would protect me and protect our son, but I can’t stand the idea that if he backs you into a corner, that you’ll be tormented for the rest of your life by what you had to do. You don’t deserve that.”
He looked down at me and his mouth turned down into a frown. “I never wanted to be his son or his favorite. I just wanted to live. Then when I fell in love with you, I just wanted to be happy with you in my life. I don’t know why, but he doesn’t seem to want me to have either a life or happiness. If it comes down to me or him, I’m going to do what I have to so at the end of the day, I have you and Cayden and a chance for a happy life.”
I rested my head on his chest over his heart. Closing my eyes, I listened to the rhythm of its beating and prayed to God my father wouldn’t force Ryder to fight for that life we wanted. We’d already fought so much. There was no way we would give up now.
So my father had a choice. Accept us together and leave us alone or find out just how much a man will do for the life he’s dreamed of.
Sadly, I knew what my father would do. He’d do what he’d always done.
But this time, it wouldn’t end up like it always had. This time he’d lose.
Chapter Twenty
Ryder
The three of us sat in the grass at the back of the garden near where the rose bush Alita planted still stood. Cayden giggled, kicking his legs out each time Serena tickled him, and she laughed along with him. Every day after work I wanted to come out here and enjoy this with them, but it seemed like by the time I finished my time sitting in that room working security for the estate, all I could think of was going back to either our bedroom or Cayden’s nursery and hiding out.
That had become our lives. Whether we wanted to admit it or not, we were as good as prisoners there in that house.
I couldn’t stand the thought of my son growing up like Serena had. For all the bad I’d seen after my parents died, I had good memories of a life before then that included picnics and vacations and times full of love and warmth.
Cayden and Serena deserved that kind of life, and I wanted to give it to them.
She pressed her lips to his bare belly and blew out against his skin. “Who’s Mommy’s big boy? Is it Cayden?”
He giggled at the feel of her tickling him and smiled up at her like he’d never been happier before that moment. She repeated the whole thing once more, and he burst out laughing again.
I could watch them for the rest of my life and never get tired of seeing them interact like that.
Turning to look at me, Serena reached out and tickled my ribs. “Daddy needs to laugh too. Doesn’t he, Cayden?”
“I just like seeing you two go at it,” I said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I like it back here.”
Serena looked around and nodded. “I know why my mother liked it back here. It doesn’t even feel like we’re still on the estate.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket, interrupting the happiness I’d enjoyed for the past half hour. Instantly, my body tensed. I knew who it was. Why he felt the need to bother me now I had no idea. He probably saw me walking out here after I left the security room.
Looking down at where my phone continued to vibrate, Serena shook her head. “Don’t answer it. Let it go until later. He can wait until we’re done out here, can’t he?”
I knew what would happen if I didn’t answer. He’d come find me and ruin our time together. I didn’t want another scene between Serena and him over the baby. Better for me to just answer the damn call and
find out what he wanted.
“You don’t want him walking out here, do you? Because you know that’s what he’ll do,” I said as I fished the phone out of my pocket.
One look at the name on the screen told me I’d been right. Robert. Standing, I walked away from her and the baby. I answered the call and before I could say a word, he began talking.
“Ryder, I need you to come down to the warehouse tonight at seven. I’ve got a project you’re going to help me with.”
Surprised that he wanted me to do anything with him since he had his men for things like this, I said, “Okay. What’s the project?”
“I’ll tell you when you get there.”
“Why do you need me? If it has something to do with The Pit, why not talk to Floyd?”
“Floyd’s dead. That means you’re up.”
My breath caught in my chest as the news that Floyd was gone too settled into my brain. Had he gotten rid of him because of what he’d done to help me with fighting behind his back? That had ended months ago. Why wait until now to do something?
“Dead? What happened?”
“They found him dead at his apartment. Someone slit his throat from ear to ear and left him to bleed out alone in that dingy one room hellhole he called home.”
“Jesus. Why?”
“We live in a dangerous world, son,” Robert answered blithely.
I knew who was responsible for Floyd’s murder, but I couldn’t escape the fact that if he hadn’t gone out on a limb to help me make money then, he might still be alive today.
“Yeah, I guess we do,” I croaked out as my emotions began to get the best of me.
“Well, time to put the past behind you, son.”
His chipper way of dismissing the life and death of someone he’d known for years bothered me. Something else seemed wrong too. Why have me go to the warehouse at all? My job now was security for the estate. He’d made that perfectly clear every time I asked about anything that didn’t have to do with that.
“Why not have one of your guys do whatever you want me to do there? Aren’t they supposed to take care of those kinds of things?”
The phone went silent for a long moment before he answered, “No one knows the fight scene better than you do, Ryder. I want your opinion on some improvements I plan to make to the building. Now meet me there at seven. Understand?”
“Okay. Seven then.”
I ended the call and stuffed the phone back into my pocket. Turning around, I saw Serena waited to hear what he wanted. I didn’t believe the story about him wanting to make improvements to the warehouse, but I knew she’d worry if she thought I suspected something, so I forced a casual expression and smiled.
“What did he want? You don’t look unhappy, so that’s something, right?” she asked in a hopeful voice.
“He wants my help with something Floyd was doing for him a few months ago,” I said, forcing myself to smile even as my emotions about his death threatened to ruin my whole act.
“Did I hear you say he wants you to go to the warehouse? Is he expecting you to fight again?”
The mere thought of it made my stomach twist into a tight knot. After what I did to that fighter in West Virginia, I never wanted to lay my hands on another person like that for the rest of my life.
“No. Trust me, he doesn’t want that. I’m sure it will be more of a hassle than anything else. He seems to find any reason he can to be a pain in my ass lately.”
Serena nodded, as if she believed my idea. “He’ll probably have her there with him too. Maybe Cayden and I can come with you.”
I sat back down in the grass next to Cayden and kissed her. “No way is my son going anywhere near that place. I don’t want you there either. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to her.”
She smiled, but she was worried. I could tell.
“I know. I just figured we could be there for moral support.”
“There’s nothing moral about him or her, so I’m not sure any kind of support can help.”
Serena grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. “I just worry, Ryder. I don’t like it when he makes you run these errands for him. I don’t trust him.”
“I don’t either, so don’t worry. My guard is up already. I’ll be fine. Just keep Cayden in our room until I get back.”
Her expression darkened at my suggestion. “Why? Can’t I just hang out with him in the nursery?”
“There’s no lock on the nursery door, so no. I want you two in our room tonight.”
Now fear settled into her eyes. “Why? Did he say he was going to do something with the baby?”
Pulling her close, I held her as she began to shake at the very thought of Robert taking our son. I didn’t think he would, to be honest, but everything about his wanting me to come to the warehouse tonight felt wrong, so I didn’t want to take any chances.
“No, everything’s okay. I just want you two there when I get back. That’s all. This way he’ll be awake when I get home.”
She looked up at me, searching my eyes for the truth I hoped wasn’t in them. “That’s it? Are you sure?”
“That’s it. Sometimes it’s just easier to have everyone you love all in one place.”
Cayden began to cry, diverting Serena’s attention for the moment, so she picked him up and placed him in the stroller. As we walked back to the house to get him ready for dinner, I hoped what I was sensing in my gut about tonight was wrong.
But no matter why Robert wanted me at the warehouse, I’d be ready.
* * *
I slid open the metal door and stepped into the main part of the warehouse where fights were held. Looking around, I saw no one. No Robert or Kitty. None of his men either. Just that old, rusty metal folding chair I’d kept in what used to be my home when I lived here.
A light in Floyd’s old office flickered at the other side of the room, so I made my way toward it, avoiding the broken pieces of concrete floor, and just before I reached the doorway, I stopped to check my gun tucked into the back of my pants.
Whatever Robert had planned, I had something planned too.
“You and the lurking, son. I have to think this is my daughter’s influence on you since you never did it before you and she got together.”
His mention of Serena once again in a negative way made me grit my teeth so I wouldn’t say anything back. Instead, I kept my mouth shut and looked around the corner to see him sitting on top of Floyd’s old desk. The old, possessed chair sat discarded in the corner, so I wouldn’t get to enjoy seeing Robert tossed onto his ass tonight.
Too bad.
“Slumming it these days, Robert? If we were going to meet in an office, why didn’t we just do it at the house where at least we might not be in danger of getting tetanus?” I asked, still wondering why we were at this place at all.
He waved his hand for me to come in. “Join me in our old friend’s office. I’d turn on another light so you could see better, but I’m afraid good old Floyd didn’t seem to be very interested in seeing much in here.”
I stepped into the tiny office and my body stiffened as memories of Floyd came rushing back. I’d thought that crazy chair would be the end of him. Fuck, I was so naïve.
Robert pointed toward the corner of the room and that old chair. “Feel free to pull up a seat. I want to talk to you before we begin.”
“No, thanks. I’ll stand.”
“As you wish. How does it feel to be back here, son? You spent a lot of time in this place.”
I didn’t want him to have the satisfaction of knowing how terrible being there in Floyd’s old office made me feel. Memories of him flooded my mind as I stood there, each one more painful than the last now that he was gone.
Shrugging, I looked around as if the place meant nothing to me. “I can’t say it feels like anything, to be honest. I’m more interested in what you got me down here for. I’m sure you already have a new guy to do Floyd’s job.”
Robert sighed. “I do, but I don’t kno
w if he’s going to work out. So I’m in the market for a new man, so to speak. I thought you’d be perfect for the job. I know you’re going stir crazy sitting in front of those monitors all day and listening to Johnson and his fish tales. I think getting you out of the house will do us all some good.”
“Do us all some good?” I repeated, struck by the way he’d worded that.
I didn’t want to be his new Floyd and have to go find desperate kids to fight for him. My fighting days were over, and that included arranging them so he could benefit from the blood, sweat, and tears of fighters like me.
He nodded and pointed toward the door. “Let’s go out to what you guys call The Pit and talk.”
My gut said something was wrong. Would I step out of that office and get my head blown off by one of his men? I knew how Robert worked. He didn’t do the dirty work. He had others who took care of that.
But he didn’t wait for me and left first, so I followed him as my senses went on red alert. I wanted to believe my paranoia had gotten the best of me and he really did just want to talk about offering me Floyd’s old job, but I knew better.
Walking past the metal folding chair, he motioned for me to sit down as he went to turn on the lights. “Take a seat, son.”
I sat down this time and watched him walk toward me. We’d been here before—him standing over me as I sat waiting to hear the next thing that came out of his mouth.
“Do you remember the first time I met you right here in this building? Did you know that I made a fortune off you when you fought? I saw you when you won your first fight, and from that point on, I bet on you every time. Nearly twenty straight wins. I’ve never made more on any fighter, and that’s saying something.”
“I guessed you did,” I said as he stopped directly in front of me.
“And then there was that last fight right after I caught you and my daughter together. I made a good bit of money that time too.”
Staring up at him, I struggled to keep my emotions in check as his admission that he’d bet against me when he put me up against that fucking behemoth rolled through my brain. He wanted to get a rise out of me, but I wasn’t going to give it to him.
