Page 93 of Fought and Freed

“All it would have done was cause more problems.” He ran his fingers through his hair as he too fell back on the couch, much like Skylar had a few minutes prior.

Questions poured out of everyone all at once.

“Is that where you’ve been running to at all hours of the night?” Cody inquired.

“And why you needed a job?” Jace asked.

Maddy frowned. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Honey didn’t want me to tell anyone.” Ryder threw his head back on the couch cushion. “She said Dick has people everywhere.”

“Let’s all sit down, and we can figure this out,” Cody suggested.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cause more problems,” Ryder sighed. “I thought I could handle this on my own.”

They all sat on the couch, and Ryder told them how Honey had reached out to him after Halloween. About how he’d found her in a rundown hotel with her face all black and blue.

“I wanted to tell you guys immediately, but she begged me not to.” His eyes pleaded with them to understand. “Between Richard and my mom, they have a lot of people in their pockets, and Honey’s terrified of being found.”

Maddy reached out to take his hand to show her support.

“I had a bit in savings and used it to rent a small one-bedroom in Milestone. It was all I could afford.” He hung his head. “I got a job as a bartender, and sometimes they ask me to run boxes between a few bars. I have no idea what’s in them, and I don’t care. It’s extra money.”

“Is that how you found Skylar that night at the bar?” Maddy asked.

“Yes,” Ryder said. “I was dropping off a package.”

“Milestone’s not a good area. We can make room for Honey here,” Cody urged.

Ryder shook his head. “She won’t come, especially if Mom has been here already.”

“We can protect her, Ryder.” Maddy squeezed his hand. “You can’t keep doing this. You’re getting run down.”

“I’d be fine if she just stopped calling me for every little thing. The toilet won’t stop running. The people next to her are making too much noise. She needs toothpaste.” Ryder shook his head in exasperation. “While we were in Pasadena, she called because she saw a mouse and wanted me to fly back to get it.”

“She’s never had to do anything for herself before. She’s probably scared.” Maddy sympathized.

“When she finds out I told you everything, she’s going to be so upset.” Ryder rubbed the back of his neck.

“What can we do?” Jace asked.

“Nothing.” Ryder glanced around the room. “I hated lying to all of you. I feel better now that you know.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but if you need money, I’ll gladly give you some,” Maddy stated.

“No, but thank you.” He kissed her on the cheek.

Cody groaned. “Now that your mom knows you’re hiding Honey, you’ll need to be careful when you go see her.”

“How have you been getting there?” Jace questioned.

“Sometimes I took the Jeep.” Ryder gave him an apologetic look. “Other times, I took the bus.”

“I’m close to getting my license, and I want to get a car,” Maddy said. “How would you like to go half with me, Ryder?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

“You can pay me back whenever,” Maddy said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”

---