Page 146 of His Virgin Romance Series

“You look like you need to be somewhere in a hurry.”

I smiled. “Work,” I replied. “I’m late.”

“Hop on.”

“I… really?”

“Sure,” he nodded. “I’ll get you there with time to spare.”

Feeling a burst of adrenaline, I had hopped onto the back of his motorbike and told him where I worked. Then, he had taken off down the streets. It had been an amazing feeling, zooming through the roads with the wind in my hair. We had gone so fast at one point that tears had been forced from my eyes.

I was still recalling the memory when my front door flew open, and I screamed in terror. A huge, tall man in a facemask walked in and came straight for me. It was Walter; of course, it was. He had finally come for me. I didn’t even question why he might be wearing a mask, but it had to be him. His size and stature suggested that I was right.

“No,” I screamed as I darted behind the sofa, looking around for some weapon I could use to defend myself.

He didn’t come around the sofa. Instead, he scaled it in one easy step, and he had me cornered just like that. I backed into the wall, determined not to make this easy for him.

He lunged for me, and I tried to claw my way out of my corner, but he grabbed my hands easily, pinned them behind my back, and slung me over his shoulder as though I weighed nothing more than ten pounds. I tried to fight and struggle against him, but his arms were like steel ropes holding me in place.

I started to scream, but then I saw someone else materialize in the doorway, and the screams froze on my tongue.

“Devon?” I gasped.

“Calm down,” he said, holding up his hands. “It’s ok… you’re safe.”

“What—”

The man holding me threw me down onto my sofa and removed the mask so that I could see his face. It wasn’t Walter after all. He had the same height and build… but his features were very different. He had short, dark hair and hazel brown eyes that were piercing in their extreme lightness. He had a strong jaw, and I saw tattoos snaking up his neck.

“Who are you?” I asked softly. “What the hell was this?”

“I wanted to see if you could defend yourself,” he replied before Devon could. “And apparently you’re more helpless than a child.”

I bristled at that. “You broke into my apartment—”

“The person who’s trying to harm you is not going to make an announcement.”

His tone was condescending, and his expression was arrogant, and I felt the need to slap him. Instead, I turned to Devon. “Who is this?” I asked.

“The name’s Ryder,” he replied again, cutting Devon off. “And I’m the man who’s graced you with his protection until your boyfriend can be found and dealt with.”

I frowned. “You’re the president of the Fallen Angels?”

“I am.”

I clenched my jaw. He was younger than I had expected… but I supposed that was where his cocky arrogance came from. I could tell from Devon’s posture that he was slightly tense and unsure. I could also sense that he was weary of Ryder and unsure of my reaction to him.

“I wouldn’t have accepted your protection if I had any other choice,” I said.

I saw Devon’s face pale a little, and he shook his head at me in an attempt to get me to shut up.

“You disapprove of our lifestyle?” Ryder asked quietly.

“You’re all bullies and brutes who throw your weight around to stroke your egos,” I said, still recovering from the fake break-in.

“Your brother is my secretary-at-arms,” Ryder pointed out.

“He can do better.”

Ryder raised his eyebrows at me, and we stared each other down. It was the only standoff I could manage, and my bruised pride would not allow me to look away.

“Maybe you would do better on your own?” Ryder suggested threateningly.

I clenched my jaw. He knew he had backed me into another corner. He knew I couldn’t afford to turn down his protection. I knew what he was waiting for. He was waiting for me to apologize, take back my words, and grovel.

“I… I can’t,” I said softly, breaking eye contact.

He smiled, and I felt a burning coil of anger rip through my body. I looked at the strong, powerful, brutish man in front of me. He was the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on, and I hated him already.

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