Page 82 of Twisted Bonds
I sigh and step back, his arms dropping altogether, but I look at the floor because I can't look him in the eye as I say, "You know exactly what I mean. Neither of us is willing to give her up, so if it's what Ryan wants, I'll share."
"Beau…"
I hold up my hand, cutting him off. "But I'm not sleeping in the same bed as my fucking dad, so we'll have to figure something out."
After a moment, my father sighs. "Thank you, Beau. I really didn't plan on any of this happening…"
"So you've said. Can we just drop that conversation and move on? We have tofindRyan first before we can actually discuss this. I'm sure she will want a say in it."
My father grins. "Oh, Iknowshe will want her say in the matter."
Walking into the hardware store after Heather asked me to fix one of the leaky showers, I have so much on my mind that I run into someone coming out. "I am so sorry," I say apologetically as I grab the woman to steady her. It's a good thing I do, too, because the first thing I notice is her protruding baby bump. "Are you okay?" When I look up, I step back, startled.
"Hello, Beau. It's so good to see you again."
"Ashlyn…"
I try to step around her, but she sidesteps, so she's in front of me. "Would you like to go grab something to eat?"
I glance down at the telling bump. "I doubt the father would like that."
She rolls her eyes. "He's barely in the picture anymore. He's more concerned about another woman than he is about me."
She thinks I don't know who the father is, and I may have been wrong, but she just confirmed it, so I say, "That other woman is his wife. Why wouldn't he be concerned about her?"
"How do you know who I'm talking about?" Ashlyn sneers.
Chuckling, I shake my head and tell her how I see it, "You have always been a boyfriend thief. Seems now, you're a husband thief."
She huffs. "You don't know what you're talking about, Beau!"
"I know Erick Harrison is indeed married and looking for his wife; hence, you are carrying a married man's child. I didn't think you would get this low, but I guess once a whore, always a whore, huh?"
I don't have the patience to be kind today, especially to someone like Ashlyn Peters. She glares at me as if it will scare me away. Instead of engaging with her any longer, I try walking around her again.
"I hear sweet Ry-Ry is missing again. When are you going to realize that she does this on purpose? She gets tired of you, or in this case, your father…unless you're both fucking her now…and then she goes and spends time away, fucking God knows how many guys…"
I have her pinned against the hardware store window in no time, and gritting my teeth, I beg her, "Say it again, bitch. Give me a reason to slander your name all around town. I'm sure daddy wouldloveto know that you've been fucking a married man."
She gasps. "You wouldn't be that cruel…"
"When it comes to Ryan, I'll be anything I need to be, even to selfish bitches like you!"
Pushing away from her, I finally get around her and walk into the hardware store. I'm seething, and my anger is back tenfold. Finding what I need, I pay for it and head back out to my truck. Ashlyn is standing outside the police station that just so happens to be across the street. She and her baby daddy are having an intimate conversation just before they kiss.
Me being the bastard that I am and wanting to help Liv out, I snap a few pics of the scene. Just when I tuck my phone away, Erik looks up and sees me staring. He looks nervous about me seeing them, so I smile over at him and salute him before jumping into my truck and taking off for home.
Forty-Six
Ryan
Another twenty-four hours is what it took before I could convince the fucker to let me loose. If I play my cards right, I may be able to get him to tell me what the hell is going on. Unfortunately, my anger is getting the best of me, but it's either anger or I'm going to break down and bawl.
Two whole months, Brant stole from me. How could he? I thought he was my friend. Friends don't drug each other and keep them from their loved ones.Oh God, what Beau and Bain must be going through! Do they even know who I'm with?
"Yeah, of course, I have her." I hear Brant's voice coming from down the hall as he talks to someone. "Don't worry. Your precious Ryan is fine…I haven't touched her that way. What kind of person do you think I am?"
I creep over to the door and press my ear to it. I don't hear anybody else, so he must be talking on the phone. If I can get close enough to get to his phone, I can call for help. However, after looking out the window, I couldn't even begin to guess where I'm at. All I know is that we are in a boat, and a body of water surrounds us.
