Page 67 of Ryder
She was right.Although…
“Give me a sec.”
I crossed the room to grab my phone, which I’d left on the kitchen counter.
“Yeah.”
“Uh… Tori could do with a female present. Any chance you want to stop fucking Alicia long enough to let her out of the dungeon?”
Reacher growled in response.
“Watch your mouth, asshole.”
I smirked, despite everything.
“She doesn’t want any strangers to see her, but she knows Alicia, to a degree at least.”
He cursed under his breath, and I suddenly wondered if there was a problem I hadn’t considered yet.
“Or is she not in a… uh… state to be seen?”
“Just what the fuck are you implying?” He snapped back, his words rapid and gruff.
“I’m just trying to make this easier for Tori.”
“For the woman who fuckingraped you. Let’s not forget how this all started, brother. She was your attacker.”
“Yeah… that was nothing compared to what she’s been through, and you know it.”
He grumbled something under his breath, and told me to wait, then he simply hung up on me. That was helpful. Did he mean wait, because yes, I’m sending up her friend? Or was it wait, because I’m an asshole, and I can’t be bothered to give you a straight fucking answer right now? Or… was it wait, because sheneeds to be patched up first. Jesus, if she came up here looking no better than Tori, it might do more harm than good.
I grabbed the phone to call him back, but there was a knock at the door before I could connect the call. Glancing at Tori, who’d dragged the bedding over herself at the sound, I headed for the door, opening it just enough to stick my head out.
There was only one prospect on duty, but Reacher was standing there, with Alicia beside him. She looked unhurt, well, clean, and not half starved. I raised my eyebrows at my Pres, who just shot me a glare, and pressed his hand against the door, meaning to make me open it.
“Uh… I don’t think she needs you here too, Pres.”
His glare intensified, and every one of his bikers understood that look, didn’t we?
“Both of us, or nothing.”Fuck.
I nodded grudgingly, letting them in, but stopping them just inside the door.
“Pres, can we sit over here, and leave the ladies with some privacy?” I was pointing at the two seats by the window, specifically at my very small dining table. He shrugged, finally moving. I realised that his hand had been on Alicia the whole time, but as soon as he stepped back, she turned from us to see Tori, and gasped.
Tori sat up, and instantly broke into tears, and it killed me to hear it. I wanted to be the one comforting her, but she needed her friend right now. Assuming they even were friends, and not just associates. At the very least, it wasn’t one of us; strangers, bikers,men.
I made coffee for Reacher, and one for Alicia when he confirmed how she liked it.He knows how she takes her coffee. That said a fuckload about their relationship; as in, there was definitely something going on. I took the drink to her and backedaway, leaving her with Tori sobbing in her arms, and went back to join Reacher at the table.
“Thanks,” I muttered, tearing my gaze away from the bed, and my woman.
“Yeah. It was the right thing to do.” He was also watching them, but turned away to face me.
“I suppose you’re gonna ask all kinds of intrusive questions now, aren’t you?” He said, heaving a big sigh.
I really fucking wanted to, but I shrugged, knowing I’d bristle if he turned those questions back at me.
“Not my business, Pres. Just… if she’s your old lady, you should probably tell everyone. You know, just so we know to respect her, and not wonder why she’s not in her fucking cell.”
