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“He’s innocent until proven guilty as far as I’m concerned.”
“He’s a thief!” Ryker shouts, as if that’ll convince me to shun Zane.
The only thing he’s stolen is my heart. I debate over it, but decide it’s best if I don’t say that out loud.
“I came home for a few days—all the way from Japan—just to save you from him. You have no idea what a huge mistake you’ve made. You’ve fallen for his lies, hook, line, and sinker. He’s manipulated you. Can’t you see it? Are you really that blind? Everything in life is a competition to Zane. He wants to win, and you’re the current prize.”
Zane’s face is now blank, giving me nothing to hang onto. It doesn’t matter. My grip is tight and unyielding. “I don’t believe you,” I tell Ryker.
Ryker lets out a sinister laugh, like what I said is so ridiculous, there are no words to convey my stupidity.
“He’s gotten to you, Mila. He’s under your skin and you’re so blind you can’t see straight. He’s a master manipulator. Did you really think he showed up on my doorstep by chance?” He shakes his head. “Oh, Mila. How could you be so naïve?”
That’s sour grapes talking. I know it is.
“Did he feed you a sob story about his poor, neglected childhood? Did he toss thedead mothercard your way? Girls love that stuff. They fall for it every time. They have his whole life.”
“Never underestimate the power of the truth.”
Ryker walks over to me and stands directly in front of me, blocking my view of Zane. It’s a stance designed to intimidate, but I don’t back down. “Did you really just say that? Are you serious right now?”
“Utterly,” I tell him firmly.
“Then you’re a fool. He’s playing with you like you’re his current favorite toy. He’ll leave you. It’s what he’s good at.Leaving.If that doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will.”
“Listening to you makes me a fool.” I’m fed up with Ryker and his twisted version of the truth. “Zane left for his Army commitments. Quit making it sound as though he ditched his responsibilities. I can see right through you. The game is over, Ryker. Give it up.”
“You’re wrong. He did ditch his duties. He left the family business, breaking my father’s heart. Zane’s only good side is his back, the side you see when he’s walking away. And he will walk away. Mark my words, Mila. He won’t stay. He’ll leave you.”
“You’re such a jerk.” I can’t believe I never saw it.
“Proud of it.”
“You can’t come between us. Quit trying.”
“Don’t make me do this, Mila. It’ll hurt, and that’s what I’m trying to avoid.”
“Don’t make you dowhat?” I ask, confused.
“Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You can’t hurt me, Ryker. You don’t have that much power.”
“Don’t I?” he says, turning and pacing the room.
Zane hasn’t moved. He’s watching us with guarded eyes, watching the situation unfold, but refusing to indulge Ryker. I’m not sure if he heard our entire exchange, but he probably got the gist.
I remember Zane saying, when it comes to family drama, he takes himself out of the equation. He wasn’t kidding. I’ve seen him do it in the past, once during our visit with Debra, and once when Ryker called and hollered at him for being at the penthouse. I hate that he doesn’t fight back. At the same time, I respect his restraint, his refusal to sink to their level. I have a feeling it was a lesson he learned in early childhood, a survival instinct. He learned to play it cool and keep his thoughts to himself.
Regardless, I’m rattled by his silence, even though I’m fighting the feeling. I wish he’d defend himself, give Ryker an earful. His gaze is still glued to me, like he’s trying to send me a message. But I can’t hear what he’s trying to convey. He’s acting as though he’s an observer, not a participant.
Ryker stops pacing, standing between us like a referee in a boxing match. He directs his next remark toward Zane. “Does she know, Zane? Does she?” He laughs as though he’s disgusted.
That gets my attention. Do I know what? I can feel a subtle shift happening inside me. My confidence is slipping. All at once, I’m filled with trepidation.
“Does she know you’re a stalker? Her stalker?” Ryker asks with an accusatory tone.
What? Zane said Ryker and Debra would mess with us, that it was a given. But this is verging on ridiculous.
