Page 49 of Ryder

“How the fuck do I know? I came straight here instead of to the school to drag her out of there while she explains it to me.”

“This is the same guy from Arizona?”

I shrug. “Accordin’ to Luca, but he has no idea who the guy even is. They’ve never met.”

“Yeah, Luca mentioned it,” Bronco says. “Why would Crystal get roped in somethin’ like this? They’re bad news, Ryd. You gotta talk to her.”

“I will. I just need to think. It took everything I had in me not to storm in there and rip his limbs from his body.”

“Well, I’m up for bangin’ some Devils’ heads together any day of the week,” he says.

“I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into Crystal. She knows these assholes are bad news, and she’s moved in with one of them?” I shake my head in disgust. The longer I sit with it, the worse it gets. My insides feel like they’re ready to explode.

I don’t even know much about this patched member, or what his club name is, but I’m going to make it my mission in life to find out.

“Makes no sense, though Crystal isn’t exactly street smart. Maybe it’s retaliation because you kinda ghosted her after that night she left.”

I never told anyone about that night, but Bronco was there, and he put two and two together.

“I didn’t ghost her. I’ve told you this a million times, I did it for the greater good, because she can do better.”

“So you keep sayin’, but the only one you’re foolin’ is yourself.”

“Don’t know if you know this,” Bronco goes on. “But you’re kind of down on yourself a lot, bud.”

“I— I’m not. I just know that I can’t give her the things she wants.”

He turns to look at me. “And you determined that all by yourself?”

“You act as if you don’t know Crystal is a spoiled princess and always has been. All the kids in that family have been raised with a silver spoon in their mouths?—”

“That may be so, but they don’t act like shitheads.”

I open my mouth, then close it again. Bronco is right. He knows them better than anyone, so he’s not talking out of turn. “I didn’t say they did. But Crystal has the finest things. I can’t buy her designer shit and fancy meals, or drive her around in my shiny new truck.”

“And you know she wants those things?”

“She’s a rich kid. She won’t survive living a life of poverty like I have.”

He stares me down, a look of anger crossing his face as his eyes narrow. “You really annoy the fuck out of me, you know that?”

I pull back, astonished at his outburst. “What the fuck did I do?”

He shakes his head, sighing loudly. “Ryder, you’ve always had this thing about not being good enough. Not just for Crystal, but for anyone. I get you had a shitty home life, I wish to God it had been different for you, but don’t try and convince me that Crystal would be better off with a guy who has the right bank balance. That’s just an excuse and you know it.”

“It’s not an excu?—”

“You know what’s even more annoying?” he goes on before I can stop him. “You’re doin’ good. Got yourself a trade. Earnin’ good scratch. You’re savin’ up for your own place. You don’t owe anybody shit. And yet here you are, still playin’ the same violin of not bein’ good enough. Maybe you need to take a long hard look in the mirror.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “Don’t leave anythin’ out,” I mutter.

He slides down a couple pulls of beer, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Somebody has to give it to you straight before you fuck up another chance with the one woman who has always had your heart.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, still trying to get my head around his words. We’ve had some meaningful chats over the years, but nothing like this. “When did you get so fuckin’ sentimental?”

“I get vibes, feelings about shit. You and Crystal? You’re meant to be, brother.”

As much as I don’t want to keep reliving my own sob story — because let’s face it, I am like a broken record — I know he has a point. We’ve always had chemistry.

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