Chapter 21
Ryder
Hospitals have always given me the creeps. Even now it felt like I’d swallowed a cold draft, as if icicles were marching their way to war through my gut. Everything here was too white, too polished, and sterile. Like the walls themselves were trying to scrub out any trace of humanity.
I’d been in and out of hospitals enough as a kid, accompanying my mother to A she was going to give me the USB drive.
No one, especially not some random woman who meant zilch to me, was going to risk the life I’d built from nothing.
I whistled at the atrium, and Violet frowned at me over her shoulder. “Posh place,” I commented, my eyes dipping to where the hem of my T-shirt met her creamy thighs. “You’re a bit underdressed, no?”
I wanted to say I did it on purpose, just to piss her off and get a reaction. The quicker she grew bored of me, the quicker I’d have what I wanted, and we could be on our merry way. But my gaze still lingered on her skin, wondering how easily she’d mark beneath my fingertips.
Annoyance flickered across her face, and for some reason I locked into that like a predator would with prey. I wanted her to react, to lash out with something that wasn’t forced politeness. But she didn’t, instead swinging her long hair in my face before walking towards the reception desk.
If we were going to be stuck together, I was at least going to have fun. I’ve never had to spend so much time with someone before, Roman and Hendrix being the exception. I usually grew bored of people, but Violet was as fascinating as she was frustrating.
“Hi, we’re here to see Greta Sonne,” she said, smiling at the receptionist.
“Ah, Miss Sonne, we’ve been trying to contact you, but we keep going to voicemail.”
“Is my mum okay?” Violet asked, her eyes widening. “My phone’s broken and I—”
“Everything’s fine, Miss Sonne,” the receptionist replied gently, as if used to overreactive family members. “We always contact the next of kin with updates. She’s responding well to her new medication, but it can take some time to see the full results.”
“Are we able to see her?” I asked over Violet’s head. “We haven’t got much time, and we’d like to spend as much of it with her as possible.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr…”
“Please,” I cut in smoothly, “call me Ryder.”
The receptionist blushed, because of course she did. “…Ryder, I’m afraid only family members are allowed to visit.”
I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into something suggestive. “I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement,” I drawled. “You wouldn’t really want my friend here to go through this alone, would you?”
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Violet, though they didn’t linger, snapping right back to me.
“I imagine there’s a little… discretion allowed, surely?” I pressed, my smile widening as I leaned on the counter just enough to close the distance. “I promise, I’ll be on my very best behaviour Miss…”
“Oh, I’m Gloria. Call me Gloria.”
“Gloria,” I repeated softly, rolling her name on my tongue like it was a secret between us. “What a beautiful name.”
“Oh my God,” Violet whispered so quietly only I heard it.
“I’m sure it’ll be okay.” Gloria pouted her lips after a moment, reaching beneath the desk for two visitor badges. “But only if you behave.”
“Scouts honour.” I winked at her, which earned me another giggle in return.
Violet snapped the badges out of Gloria’s hand, shoving one harshly against my chest. “Thank you,” she muttered.
Gloria reluctantly turned her attention to Violet. “Miss Sonne is in the garden, down the lift on the ground floor.”
With another of her forced smiles, Violet strode toward the lift, and for once I had to hurry to keep up. “She was nice,” I beamed, stepping inside when the metallic doors slipped open. “Do you think I should ask for her number?”
“I’m sure she’ll be thrilled with your collection of STI’s.”
I burst out laughing at her sudden venom. “Has anybody ever told you that you’re cute when you’re jealous?”
Violet seemed to bite her own response, her gaze forward as we descended to the ground floor, the doors opening to reveal a fake garden.
Greta sat alone on a bench, surrounded by large trees that shaded her against the overhanging lights. Fake grass crunched beneath my boots as we approached, Violet more hesitant than me as I sat opposite.
Greta seemed to hold herself slightly differently, her eyes distinctively dull compared to the wildness of our last interaction. Although they grew alarmed when she recognised me, only slightly calming once she realised her daughter was also here.
“Violet?” she whispered, reaching over the table. “What have you done? Why is he here?”
“Mum, I’ve missed you so much! How are—”
“WHY IS HE HERE?” she wailed. “YOU’VE brOUGHT THEM TO ME!”
Well, this was going well. I honestly thought my presence alone would terrify her into compliance. People were usually more cooperative when they were terrified, especially with the unspoken threat my proximity posed to her daughter.
“I think you should leave,” Violet commented, and yeah, that might be a good idea.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” Greta screeched, causing some of the orderlies to come over to try and calm her down.
“She’s okay!” Violet insisted, holding her hands out to stop the men from grabbing her mother. “Ryder, please,” she begged me.
Gritting my teeth I nodded, but not before I leaned down to warn her. “Remember why we’re here.”
Her glare could cut glass. “Like I could possibly forget.”
Violet
It took three orderlies to calm mum down, and even then, it was only once Ryder was out of sight.
“Mum, are you okay?” I asked, her gaze hollow when they met mine. “Please, are you being treated—”
“What are you dressed like?” Mum tutted, her upper lip lifting in disgust. “Honestly, Violet, it’s inappropriate.”
I tugged on Ryder’s jacket that I’d tied around my waist, pulling the arms down further. “We don’t have much time,” I grumbled, ignoring her jab.
“Have they found you?” she asked, so uncomfortably calm it was a complete contrast to her only moments ago. “Well, of course they have. You brought him here.”
“You know Ryder?” Cold rushed through me, sharp and sickening, my fingers curling reflexively into my thighs under the table.
“I can’t believe they’ve found us,” mum whispered. “After all this time…”
“Mum.” I leaned closer. “I need you to look at me, okay? Do you know Ryder?”
Her eyes snapped to mine, tension locking her shoulders. “You need to run. While he’s distracted. You can run. Hide.”
“I can’t.” My voice cracked. “They’re asking for a USB drive.” I leaned in further, lowering my voice. “Mum, what USB drive? What are they talking about?”
Mum paled, her eyes darting around the room. “Ich wusste, dass sie kommen würden,” she muttered.
“What?” I couldn’t understand anything she was saying.
“Did he hurt you?” she asked, reaching over to grab my hand so quickly I jumped. “Violet, did he hurt you?”
My eyes widened. “What? No.” I mean, not literally. Emotionally I was still mortified.
“Listen to me, carefully,” she said, her nails biting into my skin hard enough to draw blood.
Her eyes burned, steady even as her voice trembled at the edges.
“You need to run. It’s already too late for me, as you’ve likely led them here.
But you…” She gripped tighter, desperate. “You can still get out.”
“Mum, who are they? What’s on the USB drive?”
“There isn’t one.” Mum shook her head, all the colour having seeped out of her complexion. “I lost it, Violet.”
My chest tightened, like ropes cinched around my lungs. “What do you mean you lost it?”
“It was the only thing that was keeping…” She paused before meeting my eyes. “You need to run!” she barked, shooting to her feet. “My flower, you need to run. RUN!”
“Sorry, but you’ll have to go,” one of the orderlies said before rushing over to mum, who was still screaming.
“RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!”
I jumped up from the table, following her advice and running to the lift.
I wiped the silent tears from my cheeks, not stopping as I moved through the atrium until I was outside on the street.
My chest clenched with every breath, each inhale catching in my throat like it might never come back out.
I forced myself to pause, to calm myself and look around, only to realise Ryder was nowhere in sight.
I glanced back through the glass doors, half-expecting to catch him flirting with the receptionist again. But instead, my gaze snagged on a man sitting across the atrium on one of the sofas.
A newspaper was spread in his hands, though his eyes weren’t on the print.
They were on me.
He didn’t blink or look away. He simply stared, unmoving.
Fear froze my muscles, a phantom breeze sweeping over my skin as he slowly folded the newspaper before rising to his feet. My pulse stuttered, and I swallowed hard and tore my gaze away, straight towards another man blocking my path.
He said nothing, his expression cold as I stepped back.
Only for him to move forward the same distance.
“Violet!” My name rang, and I turned in panic, hand reaching out to Ryder. “You okay? You’re pale.” His dark brows pulled together in a frown.
I fisted his shirt, unable to control the tremor in my arms as I looked back, finding no evidence of either men other than the newspaper left discarded on the cushioned seat.