Page 87 of Healing Souls

I can feel my eyes triple in size, and I freeze where I am mid-step. Shooting my eyes between Ryker and Raven, I watch as Ryker just shrugs. “Aren’t you the one who said we’re your little brothers? We gotta keep up the torment.”

He just… he didn’t even deny it or comment on it.What the fuck…

“Harley? Hey, Harley, breathe.” Gently, soft, hands caress my cheeks, and I look into Grayson’s bright green eyes. He gives me a soft smile and says, “You alright?”

Clearing my throat, I reply, “Yeah… I just—she just—well I… no, I'm not okay,” I say with a wince.

Ryker hops down the steps to stand right next to Grayson in front of me. “She’s not wrong. You are mine. Grayson’s too. And Cade’s. I kissed you, so that means it’s sealed. It’s the same as licking something, right? Lick it and it’s yours?” he asks, completely seriously glancing at Grayson.

Grayson chuckles. “Sure,” he replies, but it comes out like a squeak, and his cheeks tint red.

“Plus, if any other guy lays a hand on you, I’ll beat the shit out of him.” He shrugs. “I’m starving. Come on, babe, let's go eat.” He hooks his arms around both Grayson and I’s shoulders, pulling us apart and leading us inside behind a laughing Raven as Cade follows behind us.

“Can I stay with you tonight?” Ryker asks, leading me to my door.

I open my mouth to say no because I plan to follow Noah tonight, but then everything we talked about today comes back to me.

I don’t have to do this alone. I don’twantto do this alone. And plus, after everything they told me about Gabriel not wanting me involved, that means they might want to help me wiggle my way into whatever they plan to do.

“Harley?” Ryker tilts his head, studying my face. I glance around the hall and then quickly open my door, pulling Ryker inside before shutting and locking the door. “Okay,” he drawls, “why are you being weird?”

“Okay, look, I overheard them talking the other day about what the plan with Daniel is, and I know that Noah is heading over to the club or whatever to get information out of him. I want to be there. I want to follow him and see what information he gets. I don’t like being kept out of the loop, and I know you guys are letting me in, but the rest of the club isn’t, and I don't know when or if they will realize I can handle more than they think I can.”

I realize I am rambling, so I stop and bite my lip, staring at Ryker, who is now pacing my room.

He stops and faces me, opening and closing his mouth multiple times. Then he struts forward and cups my face in his hands, kissing me hard and fast. I'm so startled by it I don’t even get a chance to kiss him back before he’s pulling away.

Resting his forward against mine, he lets out a heavy breath. “God, Harley, you make this turning a new leaf thing really fucking hard.”

“What?” I mumble.

“I can’t go with you because I still have the ankle monitor.” He blows out a breath and pulls his face away just enough that he can look into my eyes. “And you can’t go.”

“What do you mean I can’t go?” I tug away from his hold and step back. “I need to do this, Ryker.”

He runs a hand through his already messy hair. “I know, babe, I know. But you can’t go alone.”

I cross my arms, fixing him with a pointed look. “I’ve been on my own for a long time and I’ve managed just fine. I think I can handle it. I’m going, Ryker.”

As much as I want to fall into his embrace and just take in the fact that he is worried about me and wants me safe, I can’t because I have to do this. I need to know that I'm strong enough so I can stop questioning myself.

Ryker sighs, “Okay, I can see that you aren’t going to take no for an answer. At least let me get Cade up and he can go with you.”

“Ryker, I can handle this. I promise I’ll be fine.”

He watches me for a second longer, like he’s trying to see inside my mind, and then he nods. “Alright. Fine. Go,” he says quietly.

My heart skips a beat as I see his face set in a deep frown. I shake my head and grab my phone before opening my door. When I step out, I look back at Ryker, “Thank you for caring and not trying to stop me.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he grumbles and comes out to the hall, watching me walk to the stairs. Not seeing anyone around, I quickly head outside and jog towards the gate.

After we ate dinner tonight, Gabriel, Noah, and a few others were talking in the living room area. I had stopped at the stairs and listened to them talk about Noah questioning Daniel at the nightclub they own.

I have no fucking idea why they would do it at a nightclub, but I guess I’m going to find out. I head outside and run across the parking lot, heading up the road that leads to the gate. I stay to the side of the road where it’s all trees, so I’m not as noticeable. When I reach the gate, I duck behind a tree on the opposite side of the road from the gatehouse where a prospect stands watch.

After a few minutes, a bike roars to life, and the prospect glances up before pressing the button to open the gate and looking back down at his phone.

Not wanting to miss my opportunity, I quickly sprint out of the gate and duck behind some trees, waiting for the bike to pass. As soon as it does, the gate closes, and I pull out my phone and order a taxi to pick me up from the house that’s down the road from the club.

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