Page 41 of Dangerous Love

“Jarryd, I’d never let any one of you get hurt,” I said, conviction strengthening my resolve. I’d die before I’d let that happen.

“I can’t have April, or any of my kids in the crossfire, Riley.”

Something clicked as he uttered the words.Oh god.Panic set in. It spread through my limbs, my veins, until all my muscles cramped and paralysed me on the spot. “What’s going on, Jarryd. Tell me.”

“I count you as one of my children. My son. I won’t have any of you in Hal’s sights.”

My breathing expanded until my lungs could barely keep up with my chest. Every breath burnt, in and out, as I made sense of what this heart-to-heart was really about.What have I done?I pivoted until I faced him fully. Jarryd was pale, broken, like he faced a crossroad with the universe, and I was the one who’d put him there. Again. “Just give it to me straight, Jar. Please.”

He retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket and passed it to me. Hand shaking, I grabbed it, unfolding the tiny square as fast as my fingers would let me. My heart dropped to my gut, the two organs spewing at the letters inked in black and white on the crinkled sheet in my hands.

A good shrink would have a word with his wanna-be-son. If my boy thinks he can beat me at my own game, he’s gonna need more help than you gave his useless brother. You better hope you can keep him in check before it’s too late for him. Or worse, for any of those cute littlesiblings I hear he’s adopted.

Tellmyson it’s me who brought him into this world, and it’s me who’ll take him out. Whenever I decide to do it. Though, you and I both know there are things worse than death. Remind him of that the next time he and my deadbeat eldest decide to pay me another unannounced visit.

H.C.

As if the world had shifted on its axis, in slow motion, I raised my head until Jarryd’s eyes were levelled with mine. If he was pale before, he was completely ghost-like now. Lines the size of the Brisbane River marked his forehead, beads of sweat glistening at the base of his neck.

“Shit, Jarryd. I never meant to—”

“Riley, we’re past the fluffy BS now. I can’t protect you if you only give me half the story, but you’re a grown man. You can choose to seek help or not. April and the kids can’t.” He swallowed hard. “Please. Help me protect our family.”

A thousand blades sliced through my heart until it was nothing more than a puree of guilt and shame. My throat burnt like a hot iron with every word I tried to form. Finally, I took a deep breath and nodded. I hated Hal Cooper. I’d never forgive how he killed Seth. But in this moment, I accepted I’d placed a bet with Satan. And my family, my girlfriend, even my friends would be the pawns in the wager. I wanted to protect them, but what I didn’t know was whether it was too late.

Chilled air floated in my chest until shock settled in my soul, and I could finally form a sentence. Then, as Jarryd waited for me to give him what he needed, I surrendered to my fate. For the second time in my life, I’d thrown Jarryd to the wolves.

CHAPTER21

Sienna

Five days.Five. That was the number of days it’d been since I’d seen Riley face-to-face. Other than a text or two here and there, and a phone call that lasted less than twenty seconds, if I didn’t know any better, I would have said he was avoiding me.

Take a hint.My belly churned as I tossed my phone in my work locker and slammed it shut in time for my shift at Coles.

“Someone’s in a bad mood.” A voice teased from behind me. The amused sound startled me, and I turned, recognizing some new guy I’d seen around over the last couple of days. Tall with broad shoulders, he sported a perfect grin as he pointed to the metal door I’d just bashed.

“You’re the new fresh produce staff, right?” I glanced at his name tag. “Michael?”

He nodded. “In the flesh. And you must be the awesome Sienna?”

I scoffed.Hardly awesome, according to the people around me lately.“How do you know my name?” I cocked an eyebrow. I was pretty reliable, but I didn’t think it was worthy of the new guy being briefed on my supermarket superpowers.

“Sam. He raved about you all through my induction.” He chuckled. “Must say, I got a bit sick of hearing it, but now that I see you, I understand the appeal.” His eyes ran over my body, up and down, his lips curling all the way to the ceiling.

Heat warmed my cheeks and I turned back to my locker, fiddling with my cap until I’d regained my composure. “Well, that’s nice of our supervisor,” I said. “But he’s way too kind. Just doing my job.”

“As the newbie here, I might have to learn from you. What time does your shift end? Could take you out for coffee.”

Shit.Panic stormed inside me. As much as the guy was eye candy, my heart belonged to Riley and that was all there was to it. “I have a boyfriend.” I smiled. “But thanks.”

He raised his hands in the air. “Hey, can’t blame a guy for trying to be friendly with the hot girl. But message received. Friend-zoned, it is.” He winked. “For now.”

“Good luck then, champ.” I laughed. I pressed the red cap on my head and marched towards the store’s entry. Then, as soon as I was on the floor, Sam pointed to one of the registers and I slid behind the counter, my till ready for the next four hours.

Customers came and went as I packed their orders and took their payments. A fake smile plastered on my face, I greeted people mindlessly as I counted the hours till the end of my shift. When there was finally a lull in the rush, my supervisor approached me. The middle-aged man rubbed his stomach as he asked, “Have you had your break yet, Sienna?”

I shook my head. “Only been here for a while. I’m good. How’re things with you?”

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