Page 2 of Ryder

I hear them gasp from my outburst.

I know that I went too far this time, but I don’t care.

Turning, I storm out of the bar and hop onto my bike waiting in the Twisted Kingdom Bar parking lot.

As I drive away from the bar, I feel my anger start to dissolve.

Whether they like it or not, one day I will leave Hollow Cove and make a name for myself racing. Being a Raven won’t be the only thig that define me for the rest of my life.

Chapter 1

Scarlett

Sitting in the darkness, I revel in the peace and quiet, knowing it will only last a few seconds.

“Scarlett,” I hear my name being called, and I internally cringe.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and absolutely adore my boss, Jenna, but right now, I could really use a break.

I had been working three straight days at All Our Children, a home here in Los Angeles for children with no parents. Ranging various ages, these kids were either given up by their parents and guardians, taken away due to negligence or abuse, or were deemed orphaned. Either way, the kids I care for have no one but my co-workers and me. When these children are brought to the state, their guardianship is turned over to Future Leaders, the company I work for.

“I’m coming,” I announce, as I gaze at myself in the mirror.

After Connor and Cooper had gotten into their third fight today, resulting in me almost taking an elbow to the eye as I struggled to break up the brawl, I had decided I was done.

Escaping, I had rushed up to the room I used when I worked twenty-four-hour shifts. It was small but provided all the necessary items I would need, bed, dresser and mirror, and a private bathroom.

My light brown hair was piled high on top of my head in a messy bun. My UCLA t-shirt was stained with spaghetti sauce from where I attempted to feed a two-year-old spaghetti. My jeans were worn and ragged, but they were comfortable, and let’s just be honest, I needed comfort.

Blowing a loose strand of hair out of my face, I opened the bedroom door and made my way to the top of the stairs.

Standing at the bottom was Jenna and her strikingly beautiful husband, Travis Danvers The pair were a sight to behold. She was beautiful and poised, and he complimented her well with his handsome good looks and the fact that he was a race car driver. Every time they came to the house, the boys went nuts. Jenna used to work here, too.

I bound down the stairs, and Jenna gave me a strange glance. They were in town for a special race, and I knew they would stop by, but I never dressed up, so I wasn’t sure why she was looking at me with wide eyes.

“Hey,” I greeted, as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

The television in the common room was blasting with the sounds of a video game being played, and I could hear a few of the boys in the kitchen doing their nightly chores of dishes.

At least they helped out around here. We were trying to teach them schedules and routines, but they mostly thought it was corporal punishment.

“Um, do you have anything without stains?” Jenna asked me.

“No, you know how it is around here,” I laughed. “Why?”

But my question was never answered.

Stepping through the doorway of All Our Children was the most ruggedly handsome man I had ever seen in my entire life. Standing six-feet tall, his muscular arms were covered with tattoos, and his jet-black hair was slicked back, a nice contrast to his golden skin.

Ryder Raven.

Anyone with a pulse knew exactly who Ryder Raven was. As Hollywood’s most sought after man, he was the new ‘it’ playboy. From what I had seen on the tabloids and TMZ, Ryder Raven was new to Los Angeles as he was making his rounds in the racing circuit and finding starring roles in movies and commercials.

Leaning in, Jenna whispered, “You are drooling.”

I quickly closed my mouth as she smirked at me.

Damn, this is why Jenna asked if I had anything else to wear.I thought to myself.

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