Page 44 of Locked Down

He drew a deep breath, hoping for calm and reasonable when he ordered,“Get in the car, now.”

She snorted.“Not your place? Bullshit. I’m not getting in the car until you tell me what you know.”

Ryker leaned forward until he was inches from her face.“Get in the car now, Invicta, or I will throw you over my shoulder and put you there myself.”

She glared at him.“You wouldn’t dare.”

Ryker had enough. Hewas donetrying to explain. He immediately swooped down, grabbed her around her legs, and flung her over his shoulder.

She let out a scream and pounded on his back.“Asshole! Put me down!”

A car rolled to a stop and the window went down.“Are youokay?”Aman yelled.“Do you need help?”An Uber light beamed in the front window.

“She’s fine,”Ryker snarled.“Keep going.”

“Do you want me to call the police?”the man yelled again.

“Well, do you, Vic?”Ryker asked.“Do you want to call the cops? Explain to them what’s goingon?Hell, let’s call the press too. Too bad they aren’t out here right now.Thiswould make a hell of a front-page story.”

Vic stopped struggling. She said in a calm voice.“Put me down, Ryker.”

He immediately put her feet down on the sidewalk and then straightened. She glared at him but said nothing.Turningto the driver.“I’m fine,”she called,“butthanks for checking.My…friend and I werejustjoking around.I’m sorry. I am going to ride with my friend. I’ll pay you a tip. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

The driver didn’t look so sure, but after asecondhe shrugged andthendrove off. Vic stalked around the Porsche and got into the passenger seat. Ryker cringed when she slammed the door harder than necessary, not waiting for him to close it forher,like a gentleman. Fists still clenched, he slid behind the wheel and then took off.

He drove swiftly through the city to Vic’s apartment.As he pulledto the curb, he said,“You asked Archer for help. I am that help. My job isn’t just to keep your uncle safe. It’s to stop anything from happening to you as well.”

“That’s a stupid statement,”Vic retorted.

Ryker frowned. What was she on about now?

She got out of the car and headed into the building. He had no choice but to follow her.“Explain,”hebit outas he got into the elevator with her. Unfortunately, one of Vic’s neighbors boarded as well.The silence was so thick with tension he doubted the sharpest knife would cut it. He did not want to go into her apartment. He was too riled up. Tooon edge. Hewanted her too much.

As theygot off onher floor, he took the keys from her hand and opened her door. Afterquickrecon of her apartment, he came back to stand directlyin front ofher.“What did you mean?”he demanded.

She sighedandher shoulders sagged.“You can’t stop everything from happening to me. It’s not your job. It’s not my uncle’s job. It’s not even my parents’ job.It’s my job andevenI can’t stop everything.Life happens. If there’s one lesson I learned from my parents and livingona commune, it’s that no matter what, you can’t stop shit from happening to you. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes bad, but things happenandthere’snot a damn thinganyone can do to stop that. So, I’m not your job, Ryker.”She was still pissedbutdefeat also graced her features.

It tore him up that she wassad or unhappyor whatever she was. Her bleak outlook wasn’t goodbuthe was powerless tomake it better. He ran a hand through his hair.“Vic, I have to keep you safe. Please don’t fight with me about this. It makes my job tougherandit’s hard enough as it is.”

She snorted.“Fine. Whatever. I’m home. I’m safe. You can leave.”She stepped around him and made her way to the kitchen.

Ryker watched her go. He wanted to go after her, to pull her to him and hold her close. To chase away that defeat with kisses, and he wanted her to yell his name as she orgasmed. But none of those things were going to happen. Sleeping with her had been a mistake. He’d done it because she’d needed grounding after being shot at…Or so he told himself.butin fact, he’d taken her to bed because he desperately wanted to. He wanted her.He’d gliblythought that having her once would get it out of his system. With all the women he could remember,one and donewas his usual schtick. But Vic was different. She was like a drugandnow hewas an addict, jonesing for his next fix.

“Night, Vic.”Ryker forced himself to walk out the door.He couldn’t remember a job where his emotions were so messed up.Desirefor Vic. Desireto put Davis down. He was off his game and that wasn’t good. When he didn’t focus, it meant people could die and he did not want one of those people to be Vic.

* * *

Rykermade it backto his place in record time, but Archer was still waiting when he arrived.“Thanks for meeting me,”Ryker said as he unlocked his door.

“You indicated it’s important.”Archer sat on the couch facing Ryker,who wasstanding in the kitchen.

“Vic wants to know why we think her uncle is such a bad guy.”

Archer’s eyes narrowed slightly.“And what did you tell her?”

Ryker gave a little shrug.“Nothing yet. But at some point, one of usis going tohave to break the truth to her.”

“I fail to see why,”Archer said as he draped an arm over the back of the couch.

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