Page 23 of Bound by Vengeance
“You’re shitting me.”
His gorgeous smile appears, lighting up his entire face. “Nope. Where you go, I go.”
“Don’t you have a job?” He works at Banner Automotive with the rest of the guys and has club stuff. He doesn’t have time to babysit me.
He moves his head just a touch. “You’re my job now.”
This can’t be happening.
I pull out my phone and dial my father’s number. He answers on the second ring.
“What’s this about Ryker being my bodyguard, Dad?”
When his deep laugh comes across the phone, my grip on the phone gets tighter, causing the plastic to groan.
“Said you could move out on your own. I didn’t say you wouldn’t be watched.”
“This is ridiculous.” I turn from Ryker and bite the side of my thumb. “He can’t be around me all the time, Dad.”
“It’s either that or you go on lockdown. Don’t give a fuck what you pick; choice is yours. But I’m not fuckin’ around, Austyn. You will be safe. You will be protected. You will have someone at your back at all times.” The way he firmly says each word has me paying attention. This is something he won’t budge on.
“And that has to be Ryker?”
“He told me you two were friends now.”
I spin around and pin Ryker with my eyes. He says nothing, not even moving. Jerk.
“This shouldn’t be a problem, then,” my father continues. “He’s Ravage. We’re family. He will protect you.” A pause, then a bomb drop. “Austyn, you should know, he needs to stay at your place with you.”
“No. That’s not happening.”
There’s not even a split-second of hesitation before he replies, “Then lockdown.” My father will do it in a heartbeat too.
Hell, he’ll come right now where I’m standing, pick me up on his bike, and take me to the clubhouse himself. He’s putting me between a rock and a hard place. Shit.
Ryker can’t stay with Emery and I. That wasn’t in the plan.
“Do you really think it’s a good idea for him to stay with us? Why doesn’t he just go home at the end of the night?”
He scoffs. “At least you’ve warmed up to the idea of him being your bodyguard quickly. But no. Shit happens in the night, and I need someone there.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope. You wanted your freedom, to get back to life. You’ve made your decision, baby girl. Live with it. Bye.” The phone line goes dead. I pull it from my ear and place it in my pocket.
This isn’t happening. How am I going to go after JK if I have someone watching my every move? There’s no way.
“So, where we goin’ next?” Ryker asks.
I look for his truck or bike, but nothing is around. He had someone drop him off. Great.
“Home to shower.”
He touches my arm, sending zaps of electricity through my body. “You need help getting all soaped up, you let me know.”
He winks before moving around to the side of the car and getting in.
My body flushes.
