Page 20 of Monsters of Midlife

Chapter 14

CAROLINE

“Where are you taking me?” I asked in harsh tone. The door to the limo closed silently and all was quiet in the interior. Ratchet sat to my left on the other side and Ryder sat across from me, watching me. I stared at the door briefly, trying to figure out if there was any way to get out. I knew better, though. Limos were a part of Ryder’s family business and always had been. Something about the diamond industry required them to all have drivers and limousines, I guessed. I couldn’t deny the luxury of the plush interior. I’d always had a taste for the finer things in life and this limo was no exception. I ran my hand along the teak lined door.

“Where are you taking me,” I asked, softening my tone. Harsh words never worked for Ryder.

“To safety,” Ryder said.

I looked at him sideways, but he was staring out the window. “What happened to my house?”

“No idea,” Ryder muttered, without looking at me.

“You have an idea,” I insisted. “You showed up and the next thing I know our house is demolished, and… your family is in the mining business.”

“We don’t destroy people’s homes,” Ryder said.

“But you know how to dig a hole,” I pointed out.

“Yeah,” he said. “We know how to dig a hole. It doesn’t mean we dug one.”

“Then how do you explain it?” I asked, “because I don’t have any other way. I mean, we can call the city and find out if there were any massive sinkholes suddenly appearing around the city. I mean, I suppose it has been a thing before, hasn’t it? Just not typically in urban Boston.”

“Call who you need to call, but I don’t think a sinkhole explains it.”

He was right. It didn’t mean he had anything to do with it. It could just be some bizarre coincidence except… “You thought I was in danger,” I said. “That’s why you came here. You thought I was in danger and so you came here to protect me. It’s what you said when you were in my house earlier. Then danger happened and you were right there. So, how do you explain that?”

Ratchet’s eyes left Ryder for a moment and settled on me. “You’re not just another pretty face, are you?”

“Ratchet, shut up,” Ryder snarled.

“No, don’t shut up, Ratchet,” I goaded him. “Tell me what caused the sinkhole to swallow my house just now. You know more than you’re telling me.”

“I’m not going to tell you anything,” Ratchet said with a snide smile. “What’s the fun of knowing if you just tell everybody what you know? I prefer keeping secrets.”

“So, you admit there’s a secret.”

“I didn’t admit to anything.” Ratchet slid me a grin.

“I’m taking you to a safe house,” Ryder grouched.

“A safe house?”

“Clearly you are in danger,” he pointed out.

“From whom?” I leaned forward but stopped short of touching his knee to get him to make eye contact.

“We don’t know yet, but it’s someone who has something against the family business.”

I crossed my arms and threw myself back against the soft leather of the seat. “Great. I’m your prisoner because someone is trying to take over your company and this involves me.”

“I’m sorry.” The words were stiff and unfeeling from Ryder’s mouth.

“Hope it’s not far from my work.” I grumbled.

“You won’t be going to work anytime soon,” Ryder explained.

“You’re not in charge of me,” I frowned. “You can’t just make this decision about where I’m going to go and what I’m going to do. We’re not even married and even if we were, you wouldn’t be able to make those types of decisions for me. I’m going to work. I’m not going to miss a day of work over this little inconvenience.”

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