Page 49 of Scorching Lies

His low deep laugh has my mouth feeling dry, but my core has no reaction. All I hear in that moment is Ryker Stone’s raspychuckle in my ear. Like an ice-cold bucket of water was poured over my head, I snap out of this weird flirty space we’re in. He picks up on my sudden change and scoots back to give me space. Prepping his materials he makes small talk, ensuring that I’m comfortable around him and it secures his place in my life even more.

“Wanna go somewhere with me?” I ask, knowing that he’s the only person I trust right now.

“And where’s that?” He mindlessly moves around doing his thing.

Rolling my lips together, I wait for him to look up at me. When he does I blurt out, “Go to the Gala with me. I need a plus one and you’d look great in a fitted tux.”

Winking, I punch his arm.

“It’ll be fun. We can talk shit about all the stuck-up rich pricks.”

His brows dip, “Aren't you included in that, sweetness?” His face is blank, but his voice gives him away.

“Ha ha ha. So funny. What do you say?” I question, giving him a pleading look.

Shrugging he agrees, “But you owe me dinner and the tux.”

Clapping, I flash the biggest smile, “I’ll buy you the best steak dinner you’ve ever had!”

He laughs at that, shaking his head at my excitement. My face hurts from how hard I’m smiling. Being around Jax is so easy. Painless. But my body craves something darker. Someone more sinister. Soft will never be enough for me, knowing what it feelslike when Ryker’s breaking me. I’ll never want anything else. Jax taps my leg, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Alright, you ready?”

He always makes sure I’m ready because my pain tolerance may be high, but my needle aversion is forever growing stronger.

“Yep. As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Giving him a thumbs up he rolls his stool closer to the bench, getting into place when the glass door shatters. A scream rips from my throat at the same time Jax jumps up, knocking the black stool over in the process. Jax drops the gun on the table, the needle digging into my thigh, breaking the skin. Tossing a clean white towel over me Jax stands between me and whatever danger just entered the shop.

“Get the fuck out of my way.” A familiar voice growls out over the sound of my heart beating in my ears.

Jax has his entire body shielding me, his size alone hiding my exposed body, but it’s the haunted voice behind him that has my heart stopping. Ryker stands in the doorway, his shoes crunching the glass below his feet. I don’t need to see his face to know it’s him, I would know that voice anywhere. It’s the one that haunts my nightmares and plagues my dreams. The waves of anger blowing this way can’t be my imagination. No, he is literally sucking the air out of the room with his presence.

“Stone, you need to get the fuck out of my shop.”

He scoffs at Jax’s demand. I can hear him stepping closer. Tapping Jax’s shoulder, I motion for him to move.

“It’s okay, Jax.” I whisper for only him to hear.

Only I thought Ryker was further away.

“Oh, Killer. I don’t think you truly believe that. Now do you?”

Jax turns his head to check on me, crystal eyes probing my face, but my stare is locked on the man standing past him. My heart stalls in my chest, because when he does I see the barrel of a gun pointed at the back of his head.

“No!” A scream rips from my throat.

Three things happen at once. My hands shove Jax to the side, a boom shatters in my ears, and pain explodes through my body.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

RYKER

“Heavy mother fucker.”

Grunting, I lift the dead weight off Kenna, who’s currently hyperventilating, and drop him to the floor. Blood trickles down the side of his head from the butt of my gun. Stupid. My girl refuses to learn.

“Oh my god!” Her voice cracks, her screams becoming white noise in my ears.

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