Page 33 of Mad As Hell

He sucked in a sharp breath between his teeth. “I never lied to you.”

I snapped my fingers. “That’s right. You thought I was the one who was lying.”

With a growl of frustration, Ryan massaged his temples. “Can we not do this? I’m trying here, Maddie. You wanted a schedule, so let’s make it happen.”

I hated when he made sense. “Fine.”

He tossed my phone at me. “I programmed my number into this one, since it’s new. You really should use a password. Also, I told Bex you were okay, since she was threatening to come over herself.” A ghost of a smile played on his full lips. “She might’ve threatened to string me up by my nuts if I fuck this up again.”

I didn’t bother adding that Bex would have to get in line behind me for that privilege. Not that I was actually going to give him a second chance. But it was good for me to file that memo away in case he disappointed me in a non-romantic way.

Yeah, that sounded like bullshit even as I thought it.

“Games are easy enough,” Ryan went on, opening the calendar app on his phone. “I already synced my schedule with yours, but you’ll have to let me know which games you won’t make, since you’ll be traveling with the academy.”

“I won’t,” I murmured. A pang of regret rippled through me as I mourned the loss of one of my favorite things to do. Not that I expected the squad to welcome me back, especially not after this morning.

Ryan shot me a questioning look.

“Gary told me no more cheer,” I added bitterly, running a hand through my hair. “One of his many new rules designed to keep me in line.”

Ryan gave me his full attention then, his forehead creasing. “What other rules has Gary laid down?”

I barely held in a laugh, because the new spindles on my gilded cage were barbed and designed to inflict maximum damage. One wrong move, and I’d be sliced to ribbons. Or, worse yet, someone I cared about would pay the price.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” I finally replied, keeping my tone as even as possible.

He stared at me for a beat. “This is ridiculous. Maddie, you have to—”

“Trust you?” The mocking edge in my tone chilled the very air in the room. I cocked my head. “I don’t think so, Ryan. I’ll tell you what you need to know. If that doesn’t work… tell your daddy you want a new fiancée.”

He raked a hand through his hair as if barely resisting the urge to yank it out at the roots. “Fine. Is there anything I need to know?”

“No missing class.” I gave him a long look. “That’s why Gary called a few minutes ago. I got a generous pass today on account of working things out with you. Oh, that’s another condition. I’m supposed to win you back.”

A faint smile tipped up the edges of his mouth. “So, he still has no idea that I know you’re you?”

I shook my head. “No, and we should keep it that way. As far as he needs to know, you’re giving me a second shot because my blow job skills are the best in the state.”

“Fact.” His eyes glittered as he watched me. Instead of offering a smile or a retort, I looked away with a blank expression.

“Okay.” He gritted out the word through clenched teeth. “Anything else?”

He’s holding my mom captive and drugged up to keep me in line. Oh, and I’m pretty sure he wants me to spy on you and your dad.

“That’s pretty much it,” I lied. I glanced down and picked at a loose thread on my skirt. “I’m either in class or in my room if I’m not with you.”

The smile he flashed made my pulse race. “In other words, I’m the key to your freedom?”

I knew he meant it in a joking way, but his words rang true. The realization soured my stomach, and I clenched my jaw.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean… Fuck.” He looked pissed at himself now.

“Whatever,” I mumbled. “Honestly, after today? I have zero problem staying in my room and ignoring all of that.” I waved a hand in the direction of the door.

“That won’t be a problem after today,” Ryan said, the hard edge in his tone making me pause.

Unease trickled through my blood. “What are you talking about?”

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