Page 19 of Dark Captive

I can’t believe I mourned this guy.

When everything I felt for him can’t hold a glimmer to what I felt with Cole.

Inhaling deeply, I steady myself and the fast pacing of my heart. I walk back into the living room, where Ryan stands, his eyes wandering around my personal space as if searching for something. The anger bubbles within me, fueling my resolve.

I approach him, holding the silver necklace tightly in my hand. "Here," I say, handing it out to him. "Now go, and never contact me again."

Ryan's gaze locks with mine, as he reaches out, fingers lightly brushing against mine as he takes the necklace from my hand. All I feel is a cool touch.

Nothing.

This guy means nothing to me.

“You know," he begins, examining the necklace, his expression unreadable, "it isn't cool what you tried to pull with Cole. Do you even know who he is?"

I scoff, bitterness seeping into my voice. "What, I tried to pull? Are you seriously so delusional to think I'd go to the trouble of faking my own kidnapping with a man whose sister you put in a hospital?"

Ryan's eyes visibly widen as his jaw tightens. I can tell he wasn't expecting me to know. He shifts his gaze back to the necklace, the fox pendant gently swaying on its chains.

“It's more complicated than that," he mutters under his breath.

Before I can respond, Cole's voice slices through the conversation, making my heart flutter wildly. “Complicated? that's all you have to say?“

What is he doing here?

Confusion floods my mind as I stare at Cole and his towering physique in the middle of my apartment, the door behind him still open. The room crackles with tension as Ryan and Cole lock eyes, the air growing thick with unsaid words.

Accusations.

Threats.

Cole's gaze darts to Ryan's hand, fixating on the silver chain he clutches. Recognition sparks in his eyes, and with a swift motion, he snatches the necklace away from Ryan's grasp, his fingers curling tightly around the pendant.

"What the…“ His voice cuts through the charged atmosphere. "This is Cheryl's necklace!"

Ryan's surprise is palpable as he attempts to regain his composure. His fists clench as he retorts, "She gave it to me.“

My heart races as the pieces slowly fall into place. Cheryl, Cole's sister, gave Ryan the necklace. The implications of their connection unravel before me, adding another layer of complexity to the already tangled web of emotions.

"Cheryl gave it to you because she was in love with you,” Cole spits. “She thought you were different, that you would choose her over anyone else. But you're still the same, Ryan. A sly fox, going around ruining lives." The bitterness in Cole's voice is undeniable.

The weight of his words hangs heavy in the room, and time seems to freeze momentarily. The necklace dangles between them, a tangible symbol of broken trust and shattered dreams.

I step back, seeking solace in the periphery. Thoughts race in my head, trying to process the revelations. Cheryl was in love with Ryan but somehow he hit her with a car that’s left her in a wheelchair.

And now Ryan’s turned his back on her.

I look at him, unable to see any semblance of the man I believed I was in love with. I knew he could be a douche, but to be that heartless?

Ryan snatches the necklace back from Cole's hand, his voice laced with defiance. "I may be a fox, but you're no saint either, Cole. Don't pretend you're innocent in all of this."

Cole glares at him, his jaw working.

As if the tension couldn't get any thicker, Ryan spits coldly, "Watch your backs, both of you." His glare pierces through me before he abruptly turns and strides out of the open doorway, disappearing into the hallway.

The room falls into an uneasy silence, and I find my eyes drawn to Cole.

My traitorous body sways toward him.