Page 103 of Prey

“You should take her home. We'll talk later. And you can bring her to celebrate Kai's initiation.”

I nodded, grateful for the invitation.

This was Dominic's way of saying he accepted Ryleigh, the judge's daughter and all.

I walked back to her car and opened the driver's side.

She jumped and looked at me with wide, fearful eyes.

For a moment, I thought she was scared of me. Fuck, but didn't she know I would have cut off my own arms before I'd ever hurt her with them?

But then her eyes cleared, and her shoulders relaxed.

I cupped her cheek and waited until she met my eyes.

“Let me drive us home, baby,” I said softly, so as not to scare her even more. She looked dead on her feet.

She opened her mouth, to say what, I didn't know, before she shut it and nodded.

I helped her climb out and led her to the passenger side door.

It seemed she was moments away from collapsing.

Fuck, her adrenaline must be coming down, and I didn't know how she would be once that happened.

I could feel Dominic and Micah watching us, but they didn't say anything. I opened the door for her and helped her in, bending down and buckling her up.

“I can do that,” she said softly.

“I know,” I replied. “Just let me take care of you. I need this.”

She looked at me with wide eyes. “You need this?”

I nodded, cupping her cheeks. Fuck, but I could still feel the panic—the fuckingfearfrom seeing Travis’ hands on her. The fucker was lucky I didn't break 'em for touching what was mine.

My free hand clenched into a fist at my side. She looked at it for a beat, then nodded.

“I need you to take care of me,” she said softly.

I leaned over and kissed her, though I didn't prolong the kiss, considering the audience watching us just several feet away.

Fuckers.

Didn't they have something better to do?

And the way she tried to follow my lips with her own, as if this wasn't enough…

Fuck.

“Let's get you home.”

“My dad—”

“Will be fine tonight. Maybe a little pissed,” I interrupted. I didn't smile as I said it. As much as I fucking hated the judge, I didn't revel in her hurt.

She blinked, then nodded.

I quickly moved over to the driver's side and got in. Taking one last look at my brothers, I drove off.

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