Page 90 of Break the Ice
With curious hesitation, Jayden takes the envelope from me and opens it quickly to pull out the photos. I can’t read his face through my fuzzy vision, but his dimple is gone, and the shadow of his brows darkens his eyes as he studies them.
“I thought you said this shit was done?” Bringing one of the photos right up to his face, he examines it closely. Before I can answer his question, he asks, “Who is he?”
“His name is Ryker Hallman,” I manage.
His jaw ticks in a way that has my hand burning to settle him down. “Who is he?”
“We played junior league together. He’s the new coach at the community rink.”
“You’re friends, then?”
“No.” I close my eyes, regretting the instinctual shake of my head with all the blood throttling my braincells.
“So why’s he standing so close?” The terseness gravels to a growl that wrenches at my stomach.
Maybe if I wasn’t so desperate to sleep, I’d drag the conversation out just to get a measure of what his reaction means. However, the more I talk, my brain pounds harder. Every second that I’m awake feels like I’m risking permanent damage.
“We used to be friends. Now we’re not.”
“Why?” Jayden moves the photo of Ryker and I behind the one of us. “Did he hurt you?”
Yes.
The truth squeezes around my chest like a vice. I almost tell him that Ryker Hallman did hurt me. He took advantage of me, and then he threw me to the wolves. And because that wasn’t enough, afterward he disappeared without a trace.
Poof.Into thin air.
“No,” I lieagain, hoping to avoid more talk. “He’s nobody.”
“Okay.” Jayden chuffs, stuffing the photos back in the envelope after he’s taken a closer look at the one of him, me, and Finley.
“There was no note. Just the photos.” Dragging in a deep breath, I take the curled envelope from him before I conclude, “Maybe they delivered this before last night? Something doesn't add up. The Fellowship isn’t stupid or reckless enough to…”
God, when will the pounding stop?
Jayden swivels toward me. “Are you sure? What does it even mean?”
“I don’t know, JJ. What it means, what to do… This is why I’ve tried to protect Finley. Why I thought keeping her safe in the apartment was the best thing. It’s?—”
“You can’t keep her locked away forever, and the answer is not to shrink back now. If at the first sign of trouble you retreat, you will never win, Eli.” He pinches the edge of the envelope I’m holding, like it’s the equivalent of him touching me. And it might be because a shiver rolls through me in a way that has the roots of my hair crackling. “I told you before, my dad will help you with any legal jargon and?—”
“Jayden,” I cut him off with a sigh. “My head is killing me. I can’t think straight right now. So please, can we talk about it later?”
“Okay. But I’m right, you need to stand your ground. Stick to your word. You know this. The best defense is a relentless offense.”
He is right. Even though it’s hard to capitulate, I tell him, “I can’t take Fin out, but I don’t want to let her down. If she’s around me now, she’ll fuss, and I won’t be able to rest.”
“How about I take her to pick up a phone while you sleep off the migraine?”
“Thanks,” I tell him, getting out of the car slowly.
By the time I’ve made it to his side, Jayden’s already got our gym bags hoisted over his shoulder and he’s waiting for me.
“Don’t take your eyes off her, okay?” I say while we wait for the elevator. “I don’t know what the photos mean. Or what The Fellowship is thinking… so be careful. If you have to hold her hand, keep her glued to your side...”
“I got her, Eli. Cross my heart, I won’t take my eyes off her one second.” We trudge into the lift side by side. Him walking slow to keep up with me. As the doors close, he inches closer, so that his arm is touching mine as he tells me, “I got you, Eli. I’ll always have your back.”
CHAPTER 27
