CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR RONAN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
RONAN
NOW
As soon as they wheel Chloe away, my back is pressed to the wall with Ryker’s knife poised against my throat.
I’d probably have been more surprised if this wasn’t his immediate response to us being alone, if I’m honest.
Crew sighs. “We talked about this.”
“That was before I saw her bruising,” Ryker snaps, digging the blade into my skin. The pain is welcome, a reminder that despite everything we went through tonight, we both escaped with our lives, no matter how short-lived that relief may be.
Dad has spent almost two decades chasing a ghost for what he allegedly did to my mother and never stopped hunting Chloe despite her being an innocent party to her father’s sins. He’s not going to let his son get away with abandoning his responsibilities.
That alone should be enough to make me walk away from Chloe.
She deserves a peaceful life with someone that can give her everything she wants and needs, not a man who will always be hunted by his own family.
But not even that is enough to make me leave her.
She’s a part of me, the piece of my soul that’s light amongst all the darkness, and even if I wanted to let her go, I can’t.
I know what it’s like to live without Chloe Weaver, and death is a far kinder fate than ever experiencing that again.
“The man that did that to her is dead,” I tell him calmly.
“So you say,” Ryker growls.
“Chloe wouldn’t have been clinging to him if he were the one that hurt her,” Camilla says as she steps back into the hallway with arms crossed over her chest. “She’ll be pissed if you hurt him, so I suggest you let him go.”
Ryker mutters something under his breath before taking a step back and shoves his knife back into its sheath on his black jeans.
She nods and steps toward Crew, allowing him to envelop her in his arms. “Now that we’re not threatening bodily harm to one another, we need to talk about what happens when we leave here.”
“Should we leave Chloe alone?” I find myself asking, my skin itching with the need to have eyes on her. The last time I let her out of my sight, Ralph almost violated her, I don’t plan on ever making that mistake again.
“She’s resting for a minute. The nurse is just getting everything ready for them to examine her.”
“Go on then, Little Menace,” Crew prompts.
“Ronan will be coming back to New York with us—”
Ryker begins to argue but is quickly cut off by her icy glare.
“As I was saying, Ronan will be coming back to New York with us because Chloe has requested it. She doesn’t want to leave you here to fend for yourself after saving her.”
My chest warms at her words. My girl has always been kind to a fault, always putting everyone else before herself, and I can see years on the run haven’t hardened her.
“You two need to work out a way to get along because your constant fighting will only upset her and drive her further away from both of you.”
This time it’s me that wants to argue. I have no interest in being nice to the motherfucker that touched what didn’t belong to him, but when I’m on the receiving end of Camilla’s glare, I too shut the fuck up.
“Do whatever you want, but I’m telling you that being assholes to one another will only push her away. Sort your shit out, and if your bullshit hurts Chloe, I’ll kill you both.”
She turns on her heel and heads back the way she came without another word.
“She’s kinda terrifying,” Ryker comments.
Kovu chuckles. “Fuck yeah, she is. My little lamb may be small, but she’s ruthless.”
Crew sighs and rubs a hand down his face. I doubt the guy has had a chance to rest since he and Camilla were rescued and our arguing is grating on him.
Pulling the burner from my pocket to see if Damon has messaged, I sigh when I find the screen blank. The need to check on my brother is almost as strong as my need to protect Chloe, but he can take care of himself.
My priority needs to be Chloe, at least for a little while.
Urgent footsteps drag my attention back the way Camilla came, and when I meet her eye, I know something’s wrong without her having to open her mouth.
“What is it, Love?” Bishop asks, stepping toward her.
“She’s gone,” she whispers. “Chloe’s gone.”