Page 15 of Claimed By the Damned

I don't know where Ethan, Bastian or Ryker are, but if I can just make it to the tree line, maybe cut through the woods, get some distance before they notice I’m gone—

A figure blocks the doorway.

Ryker.

He leans against the porch railing, arms crossed, looking at me as if he’s been waiting.

"And where do you think you're going Baby Girl?"

My breath stutters. “Move.”

He doesn’t. “Nope.”

“Ryker, I don’t belong here.”

He shrugs, completely unfazed. “Maybe. But that don’t mean you’re leaving.” His eyes flick down my body, lingering for a split second on my feet stuffed into Ethan's oversized sneakers. A smirk touches his lips. "Besides, you won't get far in those clown shoes." He leans back against the railing, casual. "Thought you cut a deal? One week. Get your feet under you before pulling this disappearing act. Or did that little talk with Ethan and Bas slip your mind already?”

His words, the mocking tone about the shoes—it pushes panic into pure desperation. I surge forward, trying to shove past his side. It’s like hitting stone, but in that brief, clumsy contact, the world narrows to the doorframe beyond him.

His hand immediately clamps onto my waist—not hard, just firm. Enough to communicate that this isn’t up for debate.

“Let me go.” My voice shakes, thick with frustration and fear. I can’t stay.

“Not a chance.” His tone is calm, steady. Infuriatingly steady. As if he already knows how this is gonna play out.

I twist, trying to rip free, but he doesn’t budge. He’s a damn wall. Frustration burns in my throat.

As his grip tightens around my waist, I flinch involuntarily, pain shooting through my bruised ribs. I quickly stifle a wince, not wanting him to see my vulnerability.

“You don’t understand,” I hiss, voice cracking. “He found me. He’s coming.”

Ryker tilts his head, his expression shifting, something calculating flickering in his eyes. His gaze drops to my trembling hands, then to the wild fear in my eyes. "What happened, Lila? You look like you’ve seen a ghost." His voice is lower now, the usual mockery gone. When I just shake my head, unable to speak, his eyes narrow slightly, scanning me, then he spots the dim glow of the phone screen still clutched in my white-knuckled grip. "What's that?" he asks, his attention sharpening. Before I can react or hide it, he reaches out, his fingers gently but firmly prying the phone from my grasp. He uses his thumb to flick open the screen, then navigates to the messages with practiced ease, angling it so I can see the horrifying glow of the last text received.

Unknown number: Did you really think I wouldn’t find you, Pet?

My stomach plummets, the air punched from my lungs. I lunge for the phone, trying to snatch it back, but he holds it just out of reach, his grip tightening slightly on my trapped wrist.

“This why you were running?” he asks, his voice low, rougher now. He finally lets go of my waist, his gaze locked on mine, hard and assessing. The phone remains held up high, an undeniable piece of evidence.

My chest constricts. I want to scream, to deny it, but the words are right there, glowing on the screen, confirming my worst fear. Hefoundme.

“It’s him, Ryker,” I whisper. “Hefoundme.”

His expression darkens—not with fear. With something colder. Sharper.

“No, Baby Girl.” His voice is steel. “This is himtryingto make you run. So he can catch you.”

The words hit me like a punch. My pulse stutters. My knees almost give out.

“And you were about to hand yourself to him on a silver fucking platter.”

Oh, God.

I almosthelpedhim. I almost played right into his hands.

The bag slips from my fingers, hitting the porch with a soft thud. My entire body trembles now, everything catching up to me all at once.

Ryker exhales, rubbing a hand down his face. Then, without a word, he pops the back off the phone, yanks out the SIM card, and snaps it between his fingers. The phone follows, shattering in his grip like it’s nothing. "Ethan will get you a new one—something more protected. This?" He gestures to the broken pieces. "Was a liability." “Next time you wanna run, at least be smart about it.”

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