Page 64 of Twisted Bonds
Smiling, I head to the kitchen to grab a granola bar before joining my father and Erik in the sitting room. I'm just passing the front foyer after leaving the kitchen when the door opens, and in walks my girl. I give her mysignature smile and a wink as I slow down to wait for her.Is that a bit of a blush I see tinting her cheeks?
"I'm glad you took my advice and grabbed something to eat.Although, Iwas hopingyouwouldeat something witha littlemore sustenance.You're too thin, Beau."
"Are you checking me out, Hendricks?"I ask playfully, and before she can utter a word, I give her my backside. "My ass still looks good, doesn't it?"
Ryan bursts out laughing, and I can't help but grin and turn back around. Slinging my arm over her shoulder, I take another bite of my bar. I notice her giving me the side eye, but she hasn't tensed up with my arm around her, so I'm calling it a win.
"So, what's the plan with Erik?"Ryan asks softly.
"We act normal; that's what we do."
She looks me up and down with suspicion. "What's gotten into you?"
"What do you mean?"I gnaw off another bite of granola and grin at her.
Scoffing, Ryan looks away, but not before I see her lips curl upwards. "Nothing. You just didn't seem all this chipper when we talked earlier."
Leaningin,somy mouth is close to her ear, I breathe out, "That's because you hadn't mentioned a lunch date at that time. Now that I know I'll be having lunch with the sexiest woman, nothing can bring me down."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere, Mr. Huntley. I'm more of a"Wait until I redden that ass"type of girl. Threaten me with a good time, and I'llmostlikely drop to my knees for you."
I stop walking and just stare after her form, continuing down the hall. I should be hurt by that, but it's actually done the opposite. My cock stirs as a picture of her dropping to her knees to suck it dances through my mind. Grinning once again, I jog to catch up to her, slapping her on the ass as I come up behind her.
"I will definitely remember that next time,"I tell her.
My eyes drop to her mouth, where she licks her lips slowly before biting the bottom.Did I just make my little Ry-Ry speechless?I keep my amusement hidden as she gives me a single nod.
Letting Ryan enter first, Islow down andlet her pass me when we get to the sitting room. Harrison sits on the couch while my father sits acrossfrom him, looking through some paperwork. When Erik glances at Ryan as she walks by and takes the other chair by my father, I notice him tense up.
I should be hurt that Ryan went straight over to sit by my father, but to be totally honest, I'm glad she did. Something about the way Erik is looking at her unnerves me. I take the spot beside him on the sofa,which hashim turning his attention to me, and I smile politely.We've always gotten along finein the pastbecause I'm friends with his brother, but nobody gets to show Ryan an ounce of disrespect when I'm aroundandthinkthey will get away with it.
"So, what brings you to Huntley Manor so early?"I glance at the papers in my father's hands.
"I received divorce papers in the mail and noticed something peculiar,"he states. "It seems as though Liv is using the same attorneythat Ryanuses for her victims."
Ryan's head snaps, and she's now in a staring contest with Detective Harrison."Since you seem to be here on business, I thinkit would be more appropriate to callher Ms. Hendricks rather than her first name."
I'm nit-picking now, but I don't like how her name sounds when he speaks it. He's suspicious, and he's trying to intimidate Ryan. I'm about to speak up again, but Ryan beats me to it, and I couldn't be prouder.
"Detective Harrison, I believe you've been here before, and you went ahead and checked the whole property with Mr. Huntley's blessing. We have nothing to hide here,butif your wife was here, she has every right to seek protection if she feels her life is in danger."Ryan's tone becomes sterner the longer she lays into Erik."So, Detective Harrison, if you are missing your little wife and you believe she has come hereto me,that tells me a lot aboutthe relationship you havewith Liv.She and I may not have been close these last few years, but I know Olive. You better believe I will help her if she comes to me now that I've seen what we're dealing with."
The room goes silent, and I look across the way at my father. He sits in the chair beside Ryan, a look of pride—and adoration—on his face. I feel a lump in my throat, but surprisingly, it doesn't last long, and it's not because of how he's looking at her in the sense that it makes me jealous. No—it's because, for once, someone other than me is seeing Ryan for who she truly is. I was the only one who seemed to see Ryan as more than a recovering junkie. She deserves to be looked at like my father is looking at her. I'mnotcertainwhat this means, but that's for another time.
Erik's next words grab my attention.
"If you think I'll let an ex-junkie sit here and talk to me like I'm some criminal, then you have another thing coming. If I find out that you are hiding my wife…"
"You'll what, Erik? How about you talk to me instead of disrespecting Ryan? She's done nothing to you, and I've yet to hear her speak against you."I glare at the guy I've known for years and even considered a friend somewhat.
"You're taking the junkie's side too? Oh, that's right, you also used to screw her…keeping it in the family, I see. I can't believe you would take her side after she moved in with the mafia brothers and became their whore!"
I've never hit anyone so fast in my life. I'm on Erik like flies on shit, raining blow after blow down on him. I can faintly hear Ryan yelling my name, and then there is a firm grip around my waist as I'm lifted off the motherfucker.
"You don't know shit, Erik! Have some respectandkeep your fucking mouth shut when you're talking about Ryan. I can guarantee that she's a better person than both of us put together!"I bark out as my father keeps his hold on me.
Ryan is by my side, instantly trying to get me to look at her as she pulls at my chin while repeating my name, "Beau, shh. Calm down, Beau, it's fine…"
My head snaps to her. "No, it's not fine. He's not going to come up in here and accuse you of shit, then insult you just because he couldn't hold onto his wife!"
