Chapter 64
He climbed up beside me, his weight pressing against the counter as he hovered over me. “You okay, little one?” His voice was softer now, tender in a way that caught me off guard. Little one? No one had ever called me that before, and damn if it didn’t make my chest ache.
“Yeah,” I panted, my words stumbling over each other. “Completely… fine.”
“Good.” He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle. “You should shower before we head out.”
“Uh–huh,” I mumbled, but my limbs felt like jelly, refusing to move.
“Come on, William’s waiting for you to train.” He smirked again, that playful edge returning.
I groaned, propping myself up on shaky elbows. “You drain me dry and expect me to go train? Seriously?”
Ryder laughed, a deep, rich sound that warmed me from the inside out. “Damn right I do.”
He hauled me to my feet, steering me toward the bathroom with a nudge. “I’ll clean up here. You go wash off.”
“This is all your mess,” I grumbled, but he just shut the door behind me with a grin.
The hot water hit my skin, and as it streamed over me, I couldn’t stop replaying every second of what had just happened. His kisses, his hands, the way he’d taken control and then softened–it swirled in my mind, leaving me dizzy with want. I scrubbed myself clean, knowing I’d just get sweaty again during training, but it didn’t matter. I was still buzzing, alive in a way I hadn’t been before.
When I stepped out, dressed in fresh clothes, the shop was spotless. Ryder had even run the disinfectant machine, the faint hum lingering in the air. “How’d you-?”
“Watched you do it once,” he said with a shrug, flicking off the lights. “Let’s go.”
I reached for the door, but he grabbed my arm, spinning me back to face him. His lips brushed mine, soft and sweet, a contrast to the fire from earlier. “Good luck with
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Chapter 64
training,” he murmured.
I grimeti, a mischievous spark flaring in me. “If this is the warm–up, I might need more
training sessions.
“Damit tempt me,” he said, rolling his eyes with that fond, exasperated look I was starti
tto love
We stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my face–just ass a screech of tires split th silence. “Get down!” Ryder roared, tackling me to the ground. Bullets peppered his car, sharp ping–ping–ping ringing in my ears. My brain froze,, fearing through my veins as shielded me. The attackers peeled away, their taillights vanishing into the dark, leaving
ma haze of dust and adrenaline.
My legs shook as I pushed myself up, forcing the panice down. “You okay?” I asked, my voice tight as I stared at the bullet–riddled can
“I’m fine,” Ryder said, pulling me to my feet.. “We need to move.”
We scrambled into the car–miraculously, it still started–and Ryder floored it, tires squealing as we sped off. “Call your dad,” he said, his tone shifting, darker, urgent. “Tell him to meet us at my pack.”
I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling as II dialed. “Dad, it’s me. Ryder and I just got shot at–get Logan and meet uss att Alphim Benedict’s!”
“Are you hurt?” Dad’s voice cracked with womy.
“No, Ryder saved me.” I glanced att him, and my stomach dropped. His face was pale, to pale. “Ryder, are you hit?”
His eyes fluttered, the car swerving. “Dad!!” I screamed as we veered off the road, crashi into a tree with a bone–jarring thudi. he impact flung me out, landing me hard on the grass. I gasped, checking myself–nothing broken, thank God–and stumbled to my feet.
Ryder was slumped over the airbag, blood seeping from his side. “Ryder!” I yelled.
