Page 68 of Breaking the Rules (Roaming Devils MC 1)

Chapter Thirteen

Ella didn’t like the feeling she got when she saw Ryker. The talk she had with her father lingered in her mind and the nagging feeling she had about his elusive behavior suggested that something else was going on. Something she didn’t understand and probably something he wouldn’t willingly volunteer information about.

“Hey, beautiful.” He smiled at her as he shrugged his cut off. He wore a black hoodie with his jeans and black riding boots.

She sat on the sofa, staring at him. “Where have you been?”

“Taking care of some business out of town.” He pulled the hoodie off. “I really need a hot shower and then I’m all yours.”

Ella licked her lips. How did she approach the conversation she wanted to have? “What kind of business?”

He glanced over at her. “Club business.”

She stared at him. “Illegal club business?”

He glanced toward the coffee table and saw the arrest file she’d had her father pull for her. His record was longer than she’d thought. Her father had also thrown in some case notes for some of the other members. Some of the stuff was pretty bad.

“Where did you get that?”

“My father.”

He rolled his eyes. “Let me guess, he’s trying to get you to see how terrible I am for you?”

“No, I asked him for it.” Ella shook her head. “I stupidly thought all you did was drugs. I thought that was what made you so bad.” She swallowed. “I didn’t realize that you regularly beat men to death with your bare hands. Or that you don’t even fucking blink an eye at someone shooting someone that is an enemy of yours.”

He propped his hands on his hips. He didn’t say anything and it pissed her off more. How could he expect her to trust him?

“I guess it’s a good thing I slept with you. Spared my life from your father’s sadistic ways.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. My mom is scared to death you’re going to beat the shit out of me and after everything that I read, how can I reassure her that you won’t?”

He walked over to the chair next to the couch and sat down. “Is that really how you see me? By some fucking words on papers written by people that hate me? I’ve never done anything to you to even suggest that I would hurt you.”

“But I’d be stupid to think that you couldn’t. What the fuck are we doing, Ryker? You say you love me, but I don’t know what that means anymore. Spell it out for me.”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I risked my life to save yours. I risked my club to save your father. I try my best to show you that I care about you. Fuck it, Ella. I’m wandering in the dark here. I want you. I’m willing to do whatever the hell it is that you want me to do because of it.”

“Yeah, but for how long?”

He blew out a breath. “I wasn’t aware that our relationship had a time limit.”

She played with the edge of the pillow next to her. “You’re going to grow bored. You spent your entire adult life fucking anything willing and now you only want to be with me? I’m not convinced. How long will it be before you’re wanting someone new?”

He shifted in his seat, leaning forward so his elbows rested on his thighs. “You’re insecure about me being around other women?”

Insecure? Maybe. A little. She was more worried about him reverting to his old ways despite him saying how much he wanted her and loved her. They came from two different worlds. She wasn’t sure they really could mesh well either.

“Okay.” He sat back in the chair. “Fair enough. What can I do to convince you that you’re the only woman I want?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if you can.” Tears filled her eyes. “You can’t exactly change your behavior overnight. You’re going to miss the excitement. The thrill of fucking someone new.”

He got up and moved to the couch. “What the hell is this about, Ella? What bullshit did your father put in your head?”

She pulled away from him. “Don’t blame him. You can’t even be in the same room with him for a civilized dinner. How did you really see us happening? I would give up my relationship with my father for you? That if we’re together, you’d never have to see him? God, I can only imagine the holidays. You’re going to force me to pick and choose and I’m not doing it.”

He rubbed his temples. “So I don’t want you because I want to fuck all the pussy I can get, and we can’t be together because I don’t want to be around your father? Have I got that right?”

“Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not.” He stared into her eyes. “This bullshit is coming from nowhere. I’ve been gone for one day and you’re calling it quits. Surprisingly after you spend the fucking night at your parents’ house.”

---