Page 137 of What are the Risks
Screw saving face. It was time to put this fucker in his place.
“There wasn’t anything going on when you were in the picture. Now you aren’t, you have no right to be pissed.”
He might not have the right, but there was no doubt he was pissed.
His nostrils flared. “I hope you think of me when you’re fucking her, Richardson. Enjoy my left–”
The final tether snapped.
Before I realised what had happened, Stefan was in front of me, shoving me backwards, and Noah was knocked out on the floor.
CHAPTER FIFTY
So obedient
Ryker
I set the bag of frozen peas on my side table before picking up my phone. The past hour had been chaos. My friends had dragged me outside before Noah had regained consciousness. Apparently he was fine, but his nose... not so much.
I wished I’d broken more than that. The way he’d spoken about Ruby was unforgivable. He deserved a broken arm too. Hell, chuck in a knee for good measure.
I shifted against the headboard, getting comfortable, then FaceTimed Ruby. She answered on the second ring.
“Hey, Wheels.”
It took me a moment to make her out in the partial darkness. She was in the bath, bubbles floating around her slender shoulders, with candles flickering behind her. I could faintly make out the shower in the background, and a shiver trembled through me as the memory of Ruby’s naked body pressed against the tiles came flooding back.
As much as I wanted a preview of that same body now, I needed to tell her everything that had gone down tonight.
We didn’t do secrets.
“I have to tell you something, Rubz.”
She dropped her gaze. “I know.”
“You know?”
“Noah already tried calling, like, fifty times. He sent countless messages too, one that included a picture of a decent shiner on his cheek and a broken nose.”
Guilt slammed into me. I hated hearing the disappointment in her voice.
“Why didn’t you call me straight after he did?” I pressed.
“Because I wanted to give you the chance to tell me yourself.”
“And were you also testing whether Ididtell you?”
Now Ruby was the one looking guilty.
“Maybe. I know that’s not fair. It’s just...” She swirled some water between her fingers, unable to meet my eye. “I guess I didn’t realise how much trust I’d lost when it comes to things like this.”
I didn’t want to be offended, but it was hard not to be. Noah had clearly done more damage than either of us realised. Fuck him, and fuck that he’d planted this seed of doubt in Ruby’s mind.
I was glad his face was already bruised. Hopefully a black eye would follow tomorrow. He deserved a reminder for weeks to come of what a dick he was.
“He could press charges, Ryker.”
I shrugged. “His prerogative.”
