Page 56 of Ryder

I cram a small stash of makeup in a smaller bag, then pack my hair tongs and styling products, lotion, stuff out of the shower, my razor and toothbrush.

You’re going to be okay.I tell myself.Everything is going to be okay.

Even if I never meant to get Ryder involved, or have Jimmy know about Ryder, this had to come to a head at some point. If I’d have been able to shake off Jimmy’s advances in the first place, and not been so attracted to his MC cut, things could’ve turned out a lot differently for me.

“Going somewhere?” Jimmy’s voice startles me, making me jump.

Shock hits me from all sides.What the fuck is he doing here?

I spin around, plastering a fake smile on my face. “Honey, you’re home early.”

“Looks like it.”

I almost choke when I say, “I missed you.”

He stares at me for several seconds as my heart beats rapidly in my chest. “Who were you talkin’ to at the school?”

Oh, shit. He knows. He fucking knows.

“Why? Did you follow me?”

“Been actin’ weird these last few days. Imagine my surprise when I followed you and some asshole shows up from the NOLA Rebels MC.” His face is snarling, a lot like a rabid dog, his eyes focused on me like laser beams. “Who the fuck is he?”

“He’s an old friend.” There is no point in lying about it now. He knows. “He showed up out of the blue. I had no idea he even knew where I worked. I managed to get rid of him. But like I said, he’s just a friend.”

He sneers, the energy between us changing. It feels… cold. Wrong. A shiver runs up my spine.

Ryder. Ryder, where are you?

“A friend you never told me about.”

“I didn’t want you to worry. He means nothing to me.”

He backhands me suddenly. Caught off guard, I stumble backward. The sting is sharp. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this mad. His eyes are furious, rage emanating from every fiber of his being. “You fuckin’ him behind my back, you stupid bitch?”

“No.” I hold my face to my cheek, tears leaking out of my eyes. “I love you, Jimmy. Only you! You know this, baby. I don’t know why he’s here, or why he’s doing this. I don’t want him. I want you!”

He moves even closer until the back of my thighs hit the bed. Terror ripples through me and I’ve never felt so cold before.

“You love me, huh?”

Ryder will be here. He’ll come for me.

“Don’t be mad,” I plead. “I told him that you’re the man I love. That it’s only ever been you?—”

“You know what? You’re right about one thing,” he sneers. “There will only ever be me.”

He moves fast and I shriek, my hands covering my face as the blows come thick and fast. I fall backward, and then everything goes black.

12

RYDER

“Fuck,”Cash says when I spill the beans on everything. “Where’s Crystal now?”

“Packing a bag. Wonderin’ if it’s okay if she can stay here with me for a few days until we can sort this out?”

“Course,” Cash says. “You’re about to be patched in next week. This shit though, Ryder, gotta tell you, it ain’t gonna go down well when I call a meetin’.”

---