Page 117 of Unholy Bonds

Loved.

It still felt strange, to even just think that, but my life was over the moment when she told me to shut the fuck up and indirectly called me a fool.

“There’s one more thing. From now on, you’ll never go anywhere by yourself.”

“What do you mean?” she almost squeaked. “I’m not going to change my life for that fucking asshole.”

“Well, you aren’t going to change it for him. You’re going to change it for me. I’ll stay with you. We can stay at my house or yours. I don’t care. And I’ll drive you to work and pick you up from work. I’ll be around, always. That’s my condition to help you find him.” She looked at me like I had lost my fucking brain. “That’s the only way. If you want my help…”

A long pause followed an even longer sigh. “Okay. My house, but don’t you have to go to work or things like that?” Her smile was sarcastic. “I mean, no one’s going to pay you for being my bodyguard.”

“Well, nothing is more important than you, but… also, what’s my work? Chasing stories. I’ll tell them I’m chasing The Strangler,” I said as I walked closer to her, pulling her to my body. The need to always touch and hold her was a persistent itch, and I couldn’t get away. “Also… you’re rich. If I was fired, won’t you just pay me for all the trouble and take care of me?”

She snorted. “We’ll see.”

“I just want to keep you safe.”

She looked like she wanted to say something against what I said, and then she took in a breath, her eyes resigned.

“Thank you, Ryden.”

“Come on, let’s pack a suitcase for me and get you home.”

The cold wind was heavy on my skin, and the night was dank and dark when I parked the car in Yara’s driveway. We walked toward her house, and Yara opened the door. I was grabbing my suitcase when a scream came from inside the house. I ran toward Yara and pulled her behind me, quickly drawing a knife from my pocket

“Don’t kill me.” The woman standing in the middle of the living room jumped back, her hands raised in surrender.

“Irene, what the fuck are you doing here?” Yara shouted, moving toward the switches. She flicked on every switch, filling the room with a flood of light. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. “God, Re-Re, my heart just jumped out of my throat.”

The girl rolled her eyes, running her fingers through her curly hair, looking at Yara and then at me. In the flood of light, I could clearly see she was no threat.

“I’ve been waiting for you for hours, damn near fell asleep, and then I heard the door,” She yawned and gave me a once over, and she definitely didn’t look impressed. “What’s he doing here? Did he finally take the bait?”

“Who is she?” I asked, looking at Yara.

“Should we tell him? He’s here, anyway,” Irene said, rubbing her hands together.

“This is Irene Ricci.”

“Katelyn Ricci’s sister.”

“Ryden, this is Irene. Irene, Ryden.”

“Nice to meet you,” Irene took my hand in hers and shook it twice, her eyes mocking.

“Yeah, same.”

“Now tell me what the hell you are…” Yara started and then stopped, her face pale. She took Irene’s hand in hers. “You know about it?”

“Of course. I know about it. You—are you alright, Yara? I was so worried,” Irene said, pulling Yara into a hug. They both stood there for a few minutes in silence before they pulled back. Irene’s eyes were gleaming with unshed tears, and Yara’s eyes were full of malice.

“Don’t worry about me. He’s finally here, and this time, I won’t let him slip by. Ryden promised that he’d help me.”

“Help you?” Irene asked and opened her mouth as if she was about to say something, but then stopped when Yara subtly shook her head.

“Yes. Go back to sleep. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow,” Yara said, and Irene walked back to the couch and stopped when Yara shook her head. “In your room, Re-Re.” Irene grunted but walked to her room.

“Come on,” Yara said, and we walked toward her room on the second floor. She opened the door, and my body instantly became rigid. “Fuck.”

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