Page 41 of Payne's Envy

“Okay,” Ryan said.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Even if you never remember a single thing, we’ll remember for you. You are my son, and that will never change. I will help you through this—”

“You’re not my father. You are not like me.”

He was something else entirely. We shared no blood, or I’d sense it. Even Joy wasn’t exactly like me, which I found strange, but I knew with all my being she was meant for me. I was there forher.

For the first time, I saw weakness within the male. His step faltered as he took a step closer. “I am your dad.I am,but it’s okay. You’ve forgotten.”

“I don’t wish to remember.”

His posture crumbled. The irritating pinch in my chest grew and only got worse when I saw the expression on my mate’s face. Her displeasure tethered itself to me.

“You are upset,” I declared as I met her stare.

“He’s your father,” she whispered.

“Leave it be,” Ryan said. “Payne won’t remember by arguing.”

I didn’t like the uncomfortableness in my chest. That place and those people caused the awful feeling. They wished for me not to be Joy’s mate.

“We will leave this place,” I said to Joy.

She backed away. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m not asking.”

Ryan blocked Joy. A gleam appeared in his eyes. “Now, son, what’s this?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You might not remember your love for Joy, but I do. You think I don’t know how much you’ve sacrificed to get to this point? I never said a word because I knew you wouldn’t listen if I tried talking about it. Plus, I respected what you were trying to do. You’ve finally found your way, and a means to have her. And now this?”

Sacrificed? I had no clue what he spoke of, but I didn’t like him saying old me cared more for Joy. If it wasn’t for me, she’d still be a captive.

“Do you doubt my loyalty to my mate? What is your claim of some great sacrifice? It’s obvious I’m here because he was weak!”

“No.” Ryan’s jaw tightened. “That’s where you’re wrong. Where’s your gun, Payne? Your sword?”

“I’m not Payne.”

“You better find a weapon, or it’s going to be a lot more difficult for you than me.” A black sword materialized in Ryan’s hand.

The cloaked figure sighed. “You just told Joy arguing wouldn’t work, so now you plan to fight him instead?”

Ryan smirked. For a second, I saw another version of him. He stood in front of a waterfall with the same evil glint in his expression.

“Come on, son. If you want to keep up with Grim’s boys, you better watch and learn. They might have immortality, but you have me.”

I swayed, and the two figures became one again.

Ryan said, “This is between Payne and me. We’ve done this plenty of times. It might jog a memory or knock some fucking sense into him.”

Then he charged.

Chapter Twenty-One

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