I was going to agree to go. The idea of being apart from him stung so painfully. I’d never been so foolish over a man before, but I just couldn’t separate myself from him. This was going to be my greatest mistake to date, because I was making it knowingly. I was that stupid female on the talk show who said “Because I love him” when asked why she kept going back to the bastard for more pain. But the difference was Ryder wasn’t a bastard. I knew he was a man of integrity, which was maybe why this hurt more.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
He released his breath. I imagine that he’d figured I’d put up more of a fight, but truthfully, I was scared and unsure of the outcomes. The bottom line was, I did trust him with my life, if not my heart.
“Good. Let’s get this done. The sooner we’re out of here, the better I’ll feel.”
My thinking was a little frazzled, and I did my best to grab a couple of work outfits and my war chest of cosmetics, which equaled a small case. I grabbed a shower and changed into summer clothes, feeling like I was burning up in the pants and blouse I’d been wearing on Te’re. In no time, we were back on Ryder’s motorcycle, heading for the coast, and I secretly allowed myself to indulge in the pleasure of resting my cheek on his strong back. I wished things could be different, but they weren’t. My father had been one of the enemy, which I wasn’t ready to think about just yet.
I would need to think about it soon though, according to Dreya. I closed my eyes to better focus my thinking. Somehow, something really terrible had happened to my father, and whatever it was had caused my mother to spiral into depression and out of reality. So how would I find my mother after having no contact for more than thirteen years?
The air cooled as we got closer to the beach, which was welcoming. Ryder pulled into an alley, parked behind a building and shut off the motor. He held out a hand to help me dismount, and I took it, ignoring the automatic warmth that fluttered in my gut whenever we touched. Nothing good old antacid wouldn’t fix right up, I told myself firmly.
Ryder took my helmet from me to strap onto the bike before unstrapping my sports bag and carrying it for me, leading me through a back entrance to an elevator of an all-white building.
“Sy Clark shares this place with me,” Ryder explained briefly, pulling his keys out in the elevator when it stopped on the second floor. “You’ll like him. He’s a laid-back kind of guy. He’s the tech guy on my team.”
“How many on a team?” I asked more to keep my mind on the details and off of how masculine and sexy Ryder looked as he stood in the corner of the elevator, watching me.
“Usually three or four, depending on the situation, but Sy’s a permanent member. Tech guys usually are. You build trust over time. Everyone else gets rotated.”
Expecting to see some straight-laced, maybe even nerdy, FBI-looking individual, I couldn’t have been more surprised. Sy turned out to be more like a California beach native, with sun-streaked, shaggy blond hair and cute dimples in a bronzed, handsome face. He was lounging, comfortably shirtless, in surf trunks amid throw pillows on the couch, and he was playing video games on a huge, flat-screen TV. Very real-looking animated soldiers were engaging in urban warfare, with state-of-the-art surround sound that gave it just that extra “real” effect. I almost felt like I needed to take cover. It sounded like bullets were zinging over my head, which was unnerving.
“Hey, Ryder, hope that’s you, buddy,” Sy called over the sound of sporadic shooting. He’d obviously heard the door open and close, though he hadn’t looked away from his game as he nimbly worked buttons on a control pad. In a darker, deeper, more dangerous-sounding voice, he added, “Slimy motherfucker’s in the tree. Goddamn sniper’s already killed half my men...”
“Watch your language.” Ryder scowled, taking up a position in front of the screen.
“My language?” Sy was still trying to see around him, though his expression was perplexed.
“We’ve got company.” Ryder reached down and hit the power button on the TV and video-game console, plunging the room into sudden silence.
“Company?” Sy glanced over his shoulder questioningly. He saw me standing there, and after a split second of what seemed like surprised recognition, he looked over at Ryder, as though asking a silent question. Ryder seemed to give a barely perceptible nod. Sy quickly stood. The entire exchange happened in only a few short seconds, and was that a devilish look that briefly crossed his face? They were definitely doing some kind of silent man speak that I wasn’t supposed to understand, which made my brow knit. I didn’t have time to think more on it as Sy approached and turned on the full force of his charm. I have to say, I liked his energy immediately.
“The beast arrived with beauty.” He smiled winsomely, his dimples deepening boyishly. “Nice to meet you.” His bright gray eyes couldn’t help doing one of those purely male inventories of my daisy dukes and tank top. They warmed appreciatively during his quick scan, though he was definitely putting out more of a friendly, brotherly vibe than an interested-male vibe.
“I hope you’re not suggesting I’m a beast.” I offered a friendly smile.
Sy gave a quick bark of laughter. “Hardly. Brains and beauty. She’s a keeper, Ryder.” He winked, taking my hand in a warm clasp between his own.
“Sy, this is Taylor. She needs to stay with us for a while.” Ryder’s voice held a tinge of impatience. He crossed his arms, emphasizing his muscular biceps and broad chest, which were outlined by his T-shirt. Though he appeared to be leaning casually against the built-in entertainment unit, his gaze was razor sharp, watching us.
“Hallelujah! There’s going to be a woman in this man cave. I guess I’ll have to stop burping and scratching now.” Sy continued to hold my fingers, rubbing them gently with his free hand, something that Ryder zeroed in on with a scowl. Sy continued on, happily oblivious. “Don’t worry. I’ve had all my shots, so I’m harmless.”
“Thanks for letting me impose on you.” I tried to reclaim my hand, but he continued to hold it tightly, even massaging it a bit, though winking as if to let me in on a joke.
Was he trying to piss Ryder off? Because it was working.
“You are welcome. And if you need anything, please let me know. I want you to feel comfortable here. Our casa is your casa.”
“She’s got the idea. Back off, Clark,” Ryder warned gruffly, his expression taking on a killing look.
Sy must have had a death wish, because he only laughed. “Two words, Ryder. Buzz. Kill.”
“That’s fine. We’ve got work to do.” Ryder pushed away from the edge of the shelving unit. “This thing is coming to a head, and we’re running out of time.”
I wanted to believe there was a hint of jealousy going on, but really, it was more likely that he just wanted this episode of Taylor’s Madhouse to get resolved so he could get his life back without feeling like he was compromising his integrity. If nothing else, I could definitely count on his sense of right and wrong.
The tone of the conversation shifted.
“Ranik?” Sy’s carefree expression became alert and sober instantly. It was an unreal transformation to observe. There was a hard edge to his features that matched Ryder’s.
“Yeah. He’s trying to take her out. Hired guys to grab her off the street a few days ago.”