Page 112 of Ryder

The two of them text constantly, but Crystal has always been close to her sister. Ever since the kidnapping, they’ve been inseparable. “How about you two take off. Me and Ade will pick up some pizzas for dinner on our way?”

Crystal smiles gratefully. “Sounds good.”

“Yay!” Ade jumps up and down, almost dropping the container of cookies Manny batched up for him to take home.

I kiss Crystal chastely. “See you at home?”

“Sounds good.” She bends to kiss Aidan on the head. “Be a good boy for Daddy.”

“Bye Mommy. Bye Aunt Casey. Bye Uncle Pipes!”

“See ya later, bud,” Casey says.

Pipes fist pumps him and shoots Casey a devious look, which she continues to ignore. I don’t know what the fuck is going on there, but it’s news to me.

I take Ade by the hand and head to my truck. I harness him into his booster seat in the back. Once I’m done, I jog around tothe front seat and hop in. Of course, Ade hasn’t stopped talking the entire time out to the truck about Manny, and Uncle Harlem, and all the things they’ve been doing while we’ve been away. Hearing him chatter is like the butter to my bread. He doesn’t come up for air.

I dial for the pizzas through Bluetooth as I start the engine and put the order in. Pulling out of the back of the bakery, I head downtown. Traffic isn’t too bad, but it’s not peak hour just yet. I manage the trip in ten minutes, much to Ade’s glee.

We head inside together, and because I knew he’d be hungry, I added a couple of mozzarella sticks for the journey. Ade beams when I hand him one as we’re leaving the shop.

“Dad, I love these!”

“I know.” I grin. “Can Dad have a bite, too?”

He waves it up toward me and I bend down to take a bite off the end. He laughs, waving it around again because that’s what Ade does with most of his food before he eats it. I strap him back in his seat and place the pizzas down on the seat next to him.

“Mommy likes pineapple,” he tells me.

“She does. Even though we both know pineapple has no place on a pizza, right?”

He screws up his nose. “Yuck. We like pepperoni!”

I chuckle, closing the door as I head back to the driver’s seat. I hop in, start the car and just as I’m about to drive off I turn to see someone at the passenger window. He’s wearing a ski mask, dressed in black.

“Holy fu?—”

I hit the central locking but it’s too late. The man is already opening the passenger door, pointing a gun at me. “Don’t move,” he barks at me.

“Daddy?” Ade wails.

“Get the fuck out of my car,” I grit. “I’ve got money… I’ve got my kid.”

He does the unthinkable and climbs in, and I curse myself for not carrying a piece. Not that I’d have a chance to pull it out with a gun pointed at my head.

“Drive.”

I stare at him. “You don’t wanna do this.”

Ade starts to cry.

“I knowexactlywhat I’m doin’. Shut the fuck up and drive or the kid gets it.”

My heart is beating so hard in my chest, I think it’s going to explode.

“I said I’ve got money,” I say. “Or the truck, take the truck.”

“This ain’t about money.Drive.And don’t even think about any funny business.”

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