Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
RYO
Why did that fool like me? I was hot and cold—mainly cold—all the time, and yet he still wanted to know when we could see each other again. I’d been ignoring him for a week now, and he wasn’t letting up.
Idiot.
That kiss, though.
It had been the best one I’d ever received, which was why this wouldn’t work.
I wished he’d just quit trying because then it’d save me from getting hurt.
Not that I’d let him hurt me.
I made a rule the day my family sold me that I wouldn’t allow anyone else to hurt me like they had. Growing up, I used to see happy families around me and wonder what I did wrong to be treated like I was nothing but a pest to them.
Working with Wolf gave me purpose. I found a place I was content in.
But Link was throwing me off balance.
I jolted when my phone vibrated again in my pocket. I set down the gun that I was cleaning but refused to look at my cell even when my hands ached to grab it.
Wolf sighed and looked up from the paperwork on his desk. “Why are you ignoring him?”
“Him who?”
“The man who is completely smitten with you.”
I stared blandly at him. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
Wolf smirked and cocked a brow. “He’s really under your skin.”
Glaring, I demanded, “We’re dropping this subject.”
“You like him.”
“Like a hole in the head.”
“You want him.”
“I want to choke him,” I told him through clenched teeth.
He smiled. “I don’t need to know about your fetishes.”
“I will kill you,” I threatened.
He chuckled.
My phone vibrated again, but this was longer. A call.
“Answer it,” Wolf said.
Sighing, I pulled out my phone, but the number wasn’t one I knew. On answering, I commanded, “Who is this?”
“Bradshaw.”
My blood froze.
“There was a situation. Link got shot and—”
I stood, gut twisting. “Where is he? Is he all right? Tell me where he is right now,” I demanded, stalking from the office and down the hall with Wolf following.
If anything happened to him….
Pangs of worry stabbed me in the chest.
“We’re at the main gate at your boss’s place, but since Link is bleeding all over the place, they won’t let us in.” Why did he sound so calm about it?
“I’ll deal with them,” I said and hung up. “Link is bleeding out in the car at the gate,” I told Wolf while calling the gatehouse.
“Sir?” one of the guards answered.
“Open the gate and let Link in.”
“But—”
“Now or I remove your head from your shoulders.” I hung up and rushed to the front door. “Can you call for the doctor? I’ll get Link to my room.”
Wolf nodded. “Of course.”
Yanking the door open, I ran down the front stairs just as a black vehicle pulled to a stop. The back door swung open before I got there, and when Link popped out of the car with a smile on his face, I halted.
He had a little bit of blood on his sleeve near his upper arm, but that was it.
“Snookums,” he called.
I flicked my gaze to his face and glared. “You were supposed to be shot and bleeding out.”
He tipped his chin. “Hey, Wolf.” When he glanced back at me, he pointed at the red on his shirt. “I was. It hurts like a bitch. Heard you threatened to cut the guard’s head off if I wasn’t allowed in.” He chuckled. “Love it.”
“You were supposed to be bleeding everywhere.”
“Well, I did get a bit of blood in the car. Bradshaw may have exaggerated on my behalf a little. They wouldn’t let me in because I didn’t have permission or an appointment after my ordeal of being shot.”
“Wolf,” I called while glaring at Link.
“Yes, Ryo?”
“Give me your gun.” I’d left my half-cleaned one in his office as I ran out like an imbecile.
“I don’t think—”
Link’s hands rose in front of him. “Baby, don’t be mad. You’ve been ignoring me, so when Bradshaw and I were being shot at, to the degree we could have lost our lives, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I had to see my buttercup.”
“Wolf, gun now.”
“Ryo,” Link whined, pointing at his arm again. “I’m hurting here. Come pay me attention.”
Fury pumped through my veins. My heart was slowly crawling from my arse up to my chest again after learning Link had been shot and was bleeding out.
I held my hand out to my friend, waiting for the steel to be dropped into my palm.
The front door of the driver side opened, and Bradshaw stepped out. “You’re not really gonna shoot him?”
“Yes,” I replied, jaw clenching.
“Baby—”
“Don’t call me that,” I snarled.
I’d been worried.
No, it was more than that. All I could think was that I’d lost my chance to be with him and I wasn’t going to get to see him again.
It had crushed me.
Fuck him for making me feel that way.
Fuck. Him.
Turning, I stalked back into the house.
“Snook, wait. Come on,” Link called.
I heard footsteps but ignored everything and everyone as I tried to cool the burn in my chest.
“Shit,” he bit out.
I’d rushed out of the house like some lovesick fool worried about someone they cared for.
No, I’d acted like I was in a tizzy for someone I was trying not to care for, and all he did was play a trick on me.
“Ryo, wait,” Link called when I was halfway up the stairs.
I didn’t wait. I just kept on going. It was lucky I didn’t have a weapon on me, or I really did think I would have shot him myself.
I still could.
He deserved it.
I headed for my bedroom where I had many weapons to pick from.
“Hey, Ryo, what’s going on?” Ruin asked when he stepped out of one of the gyms.
“Murder,” I replied and kept walking.
“Do I need to worry?”
“No.” Besides, it wasn’t Wolf I was murdering.
“Okay,” he called. Then I heard him chuckle. “What did you do?”
“Fucked up,” Link said.
“Man, he’s lookin’ to kill you.”
“At least I’d die by my man’s hands,” Link yelled.
The damn idiot.
I wasn’t his man.
“I am not your man,” I shouted.
Ruin’s chuckle sounded, but it faded when I turned another corner.
“Ryo, baby, I’m sorry,” Link called.
I shoved my door open and moved into my room, slamming it after me. I went to my wall and grabbed one of my blades, turning to face the door when it was pushed open.
Link blinked at me. “Baby?”
“You should pay for what you did.”
He nodded straight way. “I know.”
He didn’t get it.
“You need to pay for what you did.”
He cocked his head to the side. “What did I do?”
Jaw clenching, my heart hammered against my ribs as my ears rang.
No.
He didn’t deserve my words.
Link stepped further in and shut the door after him before he faced me again. “Baby, what did I do?”
Lifting my hand, I pointed the tip of my blade his way. “You will pay for what you did.”
He spread his arms wide and moved closer. “Okay, I’ll pay. Cut me, mark me, make me bleed, but tell me what I’m paying for.”
I ground my teeth together.
With a flick of my wrist, red coated his neck and cheek from the slight cuts I’d opened.
He didn’t even flinch. “I’ll take it. I’ll take anything you give me, baby, as long as you talk to me.”
I threw the sword to the ground, hands fisting at my sides. “You’re a prick.”
“I am.”
“And annoying.”
“Totally.”
“I hate you,” I clipped.
“I deserve it all, baby, but tell me what I need to pay for.”
“No.”
“Snook, come on. Tell me, please.”
“No.”
He pouted.
This grown man pouted as he pressed his hands together under his chin while begging, “Pretty please.” I looked away and then felt his fingers under my chin, turning my head back. “Please, baby.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why do I need to pay?” he asked softly.
I shoved at his chest, but he stayed where he was, brushing the backs of his fingers over my cheek. Blood seeped from the cuts I gave him. I watched it run down over his jaw.
“Baby—”
I pushed his hand away and glared. “Because you made me feel.”
“Feel what?” He pushed against me, cupping my cheeks.
“Leave.”
“Baby, what did I make you feel?”
“Fear,” I admitted tightly.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed my cheek. “I’m here.” He kissed the other. “I’m okay.” He pressed his lips to mine. “I won’t do it again.”
Reaching out, I gripped the back of his head and slammed my mouth onto his for a rough, hard, demanding kiss.
How fucking dare he make me fear losing him.