Page 39 of Ryder

“Did I say anything?” Stretching my neck, careful not to jostle my head too much for fear the pounding in my brain would increase, I prayed Jagger could give me some kind of answer.

“You were shouting something about not being able to do it. That someone stole something from you and that he made the wrong choice. . . .” Jagger’s voice drifted off, his words jumbling together as I desperately tried to recall just what the hell he was talking about.

Then a splintered memory rushed in, an image of an older man lying on the ground with blood running down on his face. Who was he? Clutching strands of my hair, I closed my eyes and willed more images to come forth, but there was nothing. Not until a flash of Braylen popped up, the look of worry and helplessness laced in her eyes . . . for me.

“Braylen.” I opened my eyes and found Jagger sitting on the edge of the bed. “Was she here last night?” My body tensed with the thought that she’d witnessed me at my lowest. My worst.

“Yeah,” he whispered, knowing his answer would send me back into a tailspin. Not nearly of the same caliber as the prior night, but enough to break me further.

“No, no, no,” I repeated, pacing while trying to calm myself. I knew in my gut that whatever had caused me to freak out was bad, and for Braylen to see me like that, after all she’s already been through, was unforgivable.

“It gets worse,” he confessed, standing before tentatively approaching.

My lungs refused to work. My legs locked into place and I braced myself for what he was gonna say next.

“You shoved her.”

“Who?” I knew who he was referring to, but I asked the question anyway.

“Braylen. You grabbed her when she was trying to help you. Then you pushed her away from you and she fell. I think she hurt her wrist even though she said she was fine. She begged me to see you after we carted you off, but for obvious reasons I told her no.”

Shaking my head, ignoring the pain radiating behind my eyes, all I could do was stand there in disbelief. Not only had my outburst brought chaos to the club, but I’d injured my woman in the process. She had to know that wasn’t me. I would never hurt her. Not even if my life depended on it.

Right before I stormed out of the room to go look for Braylen, every muscle in my body still tender and aching, I stalked toward Jagger. His eyes averted from mine briefly before reconnecting.

“Why was Braylen even here last night?” I had my suspicions; I just needed him to confirm them.

“Uh . . . ’cause I called her.”

I didn’t even let him continue before I was on him, shoving him against the wall, my forearm pinning him in place. Under normal circumstances, Jagger could give me a run for my money, probably even best me given the right opportunity. The guy was twelve years my junior and was a champion fighter. But right then he knew not to move a fuckin’ muscle. He knew he was wrong for calling Braylen to the club while I was out of my mind.

“Why would you do that? Why would you let her see me like that?” I was more hurt than I was embarrassed.

“Because,” he scowled, “you were the worst I’ve ever see you. Whatever happened seemed to have sucked the life out of you, and I needed to do something.”

I pulled him forward a few inches before slamming him against the wall again.

“So you put her in danger?” I was livid.How stupid can he be?

“I thought she could help you. I really did,” he said when I glared at him in disbelief. “I see the way you are when you’re around her. You’re . . . calmer. I can’t explain it, but I see it.”

I knew exactly what he was talking about because it was the truth. Braylen soothed me in ways I myself couldn’t explain.

“You still shouldn’t’ve called her.”

“I know that now,” he admitted.

I stepped back but remained close.

“Is there a problem here?” Stone asked, waltzing into my room and frowning at Jagger and me.

I didn’t answer right away because I wasn’t sure which emotion to claim. I was angry Jagger had called Braylen to come and see me, thinking she could help in some way. Even though I knew his intentions were driven from concern for me, she ended up getting hurt.

“Is there a problem?” our VP repeated. “Because I can get in on this too.” Stone glared at me, completely ignoring Jagger because he knew the issue resided with me.

“No,” I finally answered, taking a few more steps away from Jagger. Looking more closely at Stone, I pointed at his face and asked, “Did I do that?” His bottom lip was split, and there was a small bruise on his jaw.

“Yeah, ya bastard. You’re lucky I didn’t feel it, or I would’ve fucked you up.” His smirk told me he’d already forgiven me. “But it gets me some extra lovin’ from Addy, so I’m not really complaining.”

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