AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And what you did, sending that video to everyone at her college. Major dick move.”
Frowning, my eyes snap to him. “That video? You cannot fucking think I’d do something so fucked up. She’s my girl, for fuck's sake?”
He considers me for a second, then shakes his head. “Wasyour girl? And I don’t know why I believe you, but I do. Well, somebody went and blasted it in the college group. She’s fucking devastated.”
“I have to go. You’re still a fucking asshole to me, but you did me a favor today. I won’t forget that.”
“I’ll probably need it when your father sacks me. He’s been holding my future in this company in the balance.”
I nod, a somewhat alliance being reached. Maybe I don’t have to punch his face in after all.
“You should know she’s resigned from her internship. She’s planning to move back home.”
“Like hell she is.”
* * *
Leaning on the doorjamb, I watch her remove items from her cupboard with purpose. Boxes cover her bed, and her back is to me. Her aunt let me in after I begged. Nobody can blame Felicity for hating me. Right now, nobody hates me more than I do.
“You’re gonna let Coben Rothwell run you out of town?”
She startles at my voice, pressing a hand against her chest. “Geez, you scared me, Ryder!”
I saunter in, picking up a framed photo of us on the top of one of the open boxes.
“What are you doing here?” She snatched the frame from my hands and places it back.
“I’m here to ask you why your first response to being threatened and blackmailed by my father was to lie to me?”
Her eyes widen, then she looks down at her hands, fumbling with a notebook before slamming it down on the bed.
“Because I didn’t need you fighting my battles. Because he didn’t just threaten me, he threatened my family and friends. All after harassing me, drugging me and taking nudes of me.”
My jaw clenches and unclenches. “He did that, and you thought I wouldn’t snap his fucking neck.”
She starts packing stuff again and I cross the room to be closer but not dumb enough to reach for her. “He’s a rather convincing man, your father. Besides, none of those matters. I’ll be like a distant memory soon enough.”
“You’re not going anywhere, Ash. Not now. I’ll fix this.”
She sneers. “You can’t fix a damn thing.”
Ash is stubborn because all she’s ever had in her life are people who let her down, and I did just that. I let her down. But she’s wrong. I’ll burn the fucking world down to make sure she’s safe.
I cup her face and she places her hands on mine trying to pry it off.
“Wherever you go, I’ll fucking find you. So you might as well stay right here till I get back.”
My hands drop to my sides, and our eyes lock. “Fine. But this changes nothing, and I won’t wait forever.”
“I don’t need that long.”
* * *
My father is in his study when I enter. Ever the lord of the manor, his bourbon, and a cigar is close by.
“Ah, Son, what brings you by?”
I scratch the scruff on my chin. “I believe we have some urgent business to discuss, Father.”
