Page 109 of Hellbent
“It was a mistake,” he says, low and even.
I stare at him. My chest feels like it’s cracking open. “Fuck you, Ryder. You’re so full of shit.”
He inhales and closes his eyes for a moment, but doesn’t leave.
“You know what?” I push, stepping forward. “Next time you need to blow off steam, you can skip the whole dramatic rescue, okay? Just jerk off and go to bed.”
His head snaps up.
I keep going. Can’t stop. “It’s just sex, right? I forgot that was your whole thing. So you beat up some guys. Got off. What’s next? A protein shake and a nap?”
His jaw is tight. Eyes fixed on a point just past my shoulder. I can practically hear the effort it’s taking him not to react.
I almost think he won’t.
But then—
“Glad you got it all out,” he says icily, and turns toward the dining room.
And that’s when the front door opens.
Heavy boots on hardwood.
Jake’s voice rings out. “Honey! I’m home!”
Ryder stops mid-step. I freeze, heart hammering.
Jake rounds the corner with a smile, Damian right behind him, and pauses. The smile drops just a fraction.
“Hey.”
I try to smile.
Ryder’s shirt is hanging off me. My breathing’s still shallow. Ryder’s standing tense as a wire.
Jake’s eyes move from me to Ryder. Back to me.
“What’s up, guys?” he asks with just a flicker of confusion.
No one answers.
Damian just stares. His gaze slides over me—to the bruise on my wrist, my cheek. No pants.
“Jesus, Max,” says Jake, stepping forward and reaching a hand out to my jaw. “What happened?”
“There was a situation last night,” says Ryder flatly.
Jake turns and looks at him. “What kind of situation?”
“She left the house,” Ryder says. “Went to Dewy’s. Two bikers tried to grab her.”
Jake’s head whips back to me. “What? What the fuck, Max? What the hell were you thinking?”
I open my mouth. Close it. My throat feels tight.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” I say, sounding more plaintive than I mean to. “Everyone was gone. I was here all dayalone. You said I needed protection and then everyone left. So I went to Dewy’s to try to see if anyone knew anything.”
Jake reels back slightly, brow furrowed.
