Chapter 40
Ryker
The plan was working as far as they could tell.
Xan’s men were scrambling, trying to figure out who would take over.
Of course, they had suspected Ezra of killing him.
But once the body had been discovered by a jogger the following morning, it hadn’t taken long for the whispers in their circle to go exactly where they were counting on: Davidiuk.
Ryker swiped through his newsfeed while he waited for Willow to get out of the shower. It was a Friday, so Ezra had already left to go into work, but Ryker took the day off. He wanted to spend one-on-one time with Willow. Ezra would have his own time with her.
Her cat hopped up onto his lap as he read through the article about the discovered body. He patted her head and let her curl up into a fluffy white ball.
“You’re a little princess, huh?” he said with a chuckle. “Just like your momma?”
“Excuse you, I’m not a princess.”
Willow entered the living room, hair damp and her makeup freshly done. Her black jeans hugged her hips, and her tank top left little to the imagination.
“You don’t want to be my princess?” he teased.
She raised a brow. “What does it entail?”
Ryker got to his feet, prompting Stahma to hop down to the floor.
He approached Willow, arms folded, and an indignant expression on her face.
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her against his chest. “It means, pretty girl,” he brushed his lips against her forehead, “that I’m going to take you out for breakfast and then we’re going to do whatever you want for the rest of the day. ”
“It’s almost noon. It’s kind of late for breakfast.” She uncrossed her arms and wrapped them around his waist.
“Don’t people call that ‘brunch’ then?”
“Brunch with my former kidnapper.” She laughed. “Want to go to K-Shop?”
“Hmm, are you going to invite that friend—Landon?”
“Not if this is supposed to be a date.”
“Well,” he said, pulling back a little to get a look at her, “you are the princess.”
She scoffed and lightly shoved him away. “Save the princess talk for Stahma.”
“Where’d you come up with that name?” He peered down at the cat that had settled at their feet, large eyes fixed on them.
Willow sighed. “I’ll just have to make you watch the show.”
“Ez has to watch it too,” he said with a grin.
“Perfect. You two can keep me warm.”
“Deal.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. This new relationship style was weird, but maybe he could get used to it.
***
Willow slurped her noodles and bit into a piece of tteok-bokki. Ryker picked the same type of ramen she had and loaded it up with cheese and sausages. Ditching a body and a threesome all in one night had definitely sparked his appetite.
His mouth was on fire, so he took a long drink from the energy thing he’d picked. The picture on the pouch had a lemon on it, so he figured it would be good.
“So, what happens with your dad now?” she asked, catching him off guard.
“With Xan out of the picture,” he said, fiddling with his cup, “I figure he’s in the clear.”
“Does he owe anyone legitimate? Like a bank?”
“Only the house and credit cards. Normal stuff and it’s all current now.” Ryker studied her. “Don’t be getting ideas.”
She sat back and took a sip of her iced coffee. “I do this for complete strangers. Why wouldn’t I help my boyfriend’s family?”
Boyfriend. It was the first time they’d put a label on it. He couldn’t help but smile.
“I wouldn’t ask you to do something like that.” He paused. “I’d rather uh… we all stop the illegal stuff. If Ez and I are free, I couldn’t take it if something happened to you from all the hacking.”
Now it was her turn to be caught off guard. Her brows came together as she toyed with her chopsticks. “I help people, though.”
He sighed. “I know. You do something good in this fucked up system.” His eyes found the shoulder he had massaged that first day they’d taken her.
Then his gaze swept across the rest of her, and the places where scars were hidden beneath her clothes.
He should have given her another massage after the way they’d manhandled her the night before.
“Hey,” she waved a hand. “I see that look you’re giving me right now, and stop.”
“What?”
“That look.” A muscle feathered in her jaw. “The one where I’m this breakable doll or something.”
A lump formed in his throat. “I don’t see you like that, and neither does Ez.”
“Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent. You aren’t fragile—you deserve to be treated right.” Ryker poked at his noodles. “You’re tough as fuck, Willow. You deserve to have a boyfriend—or two, who will rub that aching shoulder, take you to breakfast, and fuck you until you can’t walk or remember your own name.”
She bit her lip as those bright blue eyes found his. “You really don’t mind it if I’m with Ezra too?”
The corner of his mouth curved up. “It’s kind of weird, but I think we can make it work.”
A wide smile crossed her face. “I like being with both of you. I want to see where it goes.”
He nodded and took another bite from his bowl. It was mostly broth at this point, but there were still a few noodles floating around.
“I talked to Ez a little about his family,” she said, tentatively. “Does he not have anyone now?”
Ryker shook his head. “His dad is in prison, I think. He doesn’t remember his mom at all.”
“I see.” She tapped her chopsticks against the side of her bowl. “But you have a good relationship with your parents? At least, I assume you do if you took that shady job.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, my dad just has his demons. I can take you to meet them soon. If you want.”
“How are we going to hide all of this? If Ezra doesn’t have family to fake it with, then he might feel left out.”
Willow had such a sweet way of seeing things, even if she was tough as nails. He hadn’t been with anyone who would care so much. Though he hadn’t been with anyone long enough for it to matter.
“He’ll be okay,” he replied. “He’s pretty fucking obsessed with you.”
A laugh escaped her. “I think it goes both ways. Well, including you, two ways?” She shook her head. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you guys. You’re a bit unforgettable.”
He reached forward and took her hand, lightly stroking her delicate knuckle with his thumb. “Yeah. Same.”
Willow hesitated a moment. “Do you see us—all of us—long term? I’m not interested in short hook-ups anymore.”
Without missing a beat, he said, “Yes.”
A wide smile took over her pretty face. “Me too.”