Page 44 of Ruined

My head snaps up to him, a smile stretching my lips.

Cinnamon rolls?I sign.

“Of course, I’ll have to make sure we keep those in stock. Not entirely sure how when winter hits, maybe homemade?” Jace shrugs, placing a heaping amount of pancakes on a plate before sliding them over to me. “Here, eat up.”

Not needing him to tell me twice, I dig right in, shoving pancakes into my mouth. One thing I don’t care about is how I look eating. I like food, and nothing can stand in the way of me and food.

“If you’re up for it today, I can take you to the lake.” Jace turns towards the sink.

“Aw, does the little pet want to be alone with you?” Ryker whispers into my ear. I flinch, and my fork clatters onto the plate sinking into the syrup.

“Ryker, back off,” Jace hisses turning the water off.

“Aw, but why would I do that when our little pet scares so easily?”

I’m not a pet, asshole,I sign, rolling my eyes.

“Have any more of those pancakes?” Ryker asks, walking around the kitchen island where I sit. Jace glances down at my plate and then at his friend. “She’s eating all the pancakes?”

Jace nods his head, smirking.

“And you call me the asshole,” Ryker pouts, opening the cabinet.Wait.It suddenly dawns on me what he just said.

I wave my head at Jace grabbing his attention, and pointing toward Ryker, Jace nudges him. I squirm when Ryker turns towards me, his mask firmly in place, his eyes being the only thing I can see. I realize Jace and Ryker are staring at me, waiting.

You know ASL,I sign. That’s the only explanation of how he knew what I said.

“I know some,” he mumbles.

My eyes shift to Jace, wondering if he knew that his friend could talk to me, but he looks just as surprised as I do.

Your friend had no idea you knew sign language.

Ryker’s eyes peek over, before going back to the cabinet.

“You know ASL?” Jace asks, folding his arms over his chest.

Ryker shrugs as if it’s no big deal. But I can see the hurt flash over his face. I don’t like that, and I find myself wanting to protect him.

Jace shakes his head. “Let’s go to the lake.” Storming from the kitchen, he slams the door shut. My head swings to Ryker, and before I know better, I’m up and out of my chair.

You’re an asshole,I sign angrily.

He stands up, his form towering over me. Past me might have been scared, but watching Jace become hurt because he had no idea that this fucker knew ASL, it hurts me. It’s an odd feeling, one I’m not too sure about. But for now, I’m just rolling with him.

“I am,” he agrees, stepping forward. “But that’s not what you really want to say, now is it, mypet.”

I’m not your pet. I’m nothing to you. But you hurt your friend and that makes you more than just an asshole. You’re a fucking dick and I hope you—

Ryker grabs ahold of my hands, stopping me from speaking. His eyes trail down my face, landing on my lips. I suck in an inaudible breath, holding it in my lungs.

I don’twanthim to kiss me. I think.

“You’ve got a lot to say for a girl who refuses to speak,” he says, his voice dark and angry. He leans in closer, forcing me to either stay where I was or to back up. As upset as I was on behalf of Jace, that fight is slowly easing out of me. “Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you. I mean I want to, but you could always scream for little Jacey. I’m sure he’ll come running to save you.”

He’s taunting me; he’s finding what makes me tick. I hate him for it. I barely know the guy and I already hate him. He has problems worse than me. So as much as I want to punch him, or shove something sharp into his eye, I don’t. Tilting my head up, I refuse to back down. I won’t show him I’m nervous.

His hand snaps around my neck, gentle but enough that he’s telling me that he’s in charge.

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