Page 39 of Risk

“I’ll see you both later, and no fucking fighting. Seb, lay off, okay?” I hear Sully’s footsteps as he walks across the hall to the lounge. I watch as Sully embraces her, and the small smile as Sully says something to her while pointing in our direction. Jealousy rises in me, and I can’t help the growl that escapes.

“Bet you want to go in there and smash his fucking face in, don’t you?” Seb mocks. “Never thought I’d see the day that you’d be pussy whipped, but I’ll tell you what. It’s the funniest shit I’ve seen in ages. You look like your head is about ready to pop right off your shoulders. Who knew that green would be your shade?” He roars with laughter, smacking his thigh with his hand.

“Fuck off.”

“Aww, hey now. I’m only messing with you. Seriously, though, what the fuck is going on with you two?”

I turn away from the screen as Sully bends down kissing her on the cheek, it makes my blood boil. I sit back in my chair, crossing one foot over my knee and fiddling with the laces of my boots.

“I don’t know, it’s complicated,” I mutter, dropping my laces, moving instead to pick invisible fluff off my trouser leg.

“No shit, Sherlock. If a woman is involved, then it’s always complicated. Do you want to know what I think?”

“Not really. The only thing you know about women is how loud they can scream your name, but I’m sure you’re going to try and impart your limited knowledge upon me anyway,” I say, with a roll of my eyes.

“They love to scream my name and loud too,” he retorts, with a wag of his eyebrows. “But that’s all smoke and mirrors, just sex, no substance. The woman that drives you crazy with jealousy every time another man so much as glances her way, has your heart thumping so loud you think the whole world can hear it, leaves your skin alive with an invisible electric current every time she’s near, that right there. That’s a woman you want to hold onto with everything you have.”

There’s a note of wistfulness to his words, despite them being for me, I know it’s what he hopes for one day too. “It’s not that simple and you know it, Seb. I’m not a good man, I have a darkness that lives in me, one that she should never see. She’s seen enough.”

“Man, you are so wrong. That woman in there has her own fucking demons, ones that I know call to your own. Like seeks like, Ry. Besides, I’ve seen the footage of you two, that shit is hot.” I let out a low growl in warning. “Quit the growling. All I’m saying is I’ve seen you fuck other women, I ain’t ever seen you like that. We all have demons, but they deserve to find their other half too.” He rises from his chair, coming around the desk to stand next to me. “And when they do, I pity the poor, unfortunate soul that unleashes the wrath of your demons.” He slaps me on the shoulder as he leaves.

I stay there thinking about what Seb said as I watch him retrieve Cam’s bag and phone, then take it to her in the lounge where she’s watching TV. She smiles when she sees him, but it grows when he gives her the bag. I know how happy she’ll be to get her phone back so she can call and check on Jamie, but I also know there’s something more important on that phone.

I’ve seen the search history. I know she’s looking for answers about her mum and Faye, but I know those answers are going to destroy her.

How do I help her find them and watch the woman I lo—I care about fall apart in front of me? Regardless of how much it’s going to hurt us both, I promise to talk to her about Faye when we get back to the apartment.

Thirty

Camryn

After Seb returned my phone, I called Jamie straight away, there were already some missed calls from her, and I knew she’d be worried. We spent an hour or more catching each other up.

Apparently, her mum and dad are driving her insane, between Louise’s constant fussing and her parent’s arguing, she can’t wait to go home. She’s concerned about what’s going on with them, claiming she’s never seen them row so much, but I tell her I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.

She tells me about her nightmares, and I give her some tips that might help. I know only too well what effect nightmares can have if you don’t deal with them. When we say goodbye, I promise to come and see her as soon as we are back in the city, in a few days hopefully.

I don’t see Ryder until the evening, when he brings dinner up to my room and changes my dressing with barely a word, and then he’s gone again, claiming to have work to do.

When I finally fall asleep, the nightmares are there to greet me, and it’s not long before I’m screaming and crying in my sleep. Then, like the night before, arms wrap around me that help keep the demons at bay, but they are gone by the morning.

The next two days pass in the same manner. Ryder visits only to bring me food and change my dressing. I refuse to let him see how much it hurts that he’s distancing himself from me.

Seb often comes and sits with me in the evenings, and we watch reruns of The Young Ones and Only Fools and Horses, both of us laughing until our sides hurt.

On Friday morning, Dr. Wallis returns to check my wound. It’s healing nicely, and I should be able to have the stitches removed in a week or so, providing I stay off it as much as possible.

Then after lunch we pack up and say our goodbyes. Seb promises to come and visit soon, and when I give him a hug, I spot the tattoo on his neck again, and it brings back the memory of my interview. He’s the guy from the lobby, I’m sure of it. But what was he doing there? I’m not concerned, I find I like and trust Seb, but I make a note to ask Ryder later, if he’ll talk to me.

I hear a low rumbling growl from Ryder as Seb embraces me, and just to piss him off, when I pull back, I quickly lean in and give Seb a small kiss on the corner of his mouth. The growl turns to a roar as Ryder calls out. “Get in the fucking car, Camryn.” I wink at Seb as I step away.

“You’re naughty and a little crazy poking the bear like that. Although, with all that growling, he’s more like a wolf, or a mangy mutt.” Seb steps back several steps as feet pound the ground behind me. I spin just as Ryder reaches me, then I’m thrown over his shoulder and carried to the car.

“If I’d have known I’d get this sort of reaction, I would have kissed your friend sooner.” I say it loud enough for Seb to hear, looking up to see him doubled over with laughter, just as a hand smacks me on the arse making me yelp.

“You kiss another guy again and I’ll make your arse shine so bright the sun will be jealous,” Ryder says, the words rumble through his chest causing arousal to flood through me.

“Wow. For a guy that’s barely said two words to me, you sure are possessive of a woman that doesn’t belong to no fucking man.” I bark at him, my words falling slightly short of the venom intended as I bounce on his shoulder.

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