31. Chapter 31

31

I was falling in love with them. And the idea that they don't feel the same way has me feeling nauseous. Men are weird. They can act as if they care, they shower you in love, but then with the flip of a switch, they want nothing to do with you.

I don't understand how I could fall for both of them so quickly, but I did. I want to stay in this cabin forever. To never go back home where they all treat me like I'm going to break. Ryker and Jace make me feel safe, like I belong somewhere. I feel normal for once.

But what if they don't feel the same way? How would I go back to what it was like when they weren't in my life? It's not possible.

"Fuck!" someone snaps out in the living room. Sitting up in bed, I glance around, registering that neither Jace nor Ryker are in the room.

Swinging my legs over, I quickly use the restroom, pulling on one of Ryker's shirts before stepping out of the room.

"Jace, we can't, so stop fucking thinking about it," Ryker whispers harshly.

I frown, slowly making my way further into the room. What the hell could they be talking about ?

"We can't just…" Jace trails off, spotting me from the corner of his eye. "Morning, Sunshine." He grins.

Smiling, I let out a sigh, stepping into his arms. I lean against his chest, hugging him tight.

"How did you sleep?" Jace asks kissing the top of my head.

Tilting my head up, I smile, nodding my head.

"Good, that's good." His voice shakes. It's small, but I can tell when something's going on with others. There's tension in his shoulders and the way he's holding me, it's like he's afraid I'm going to disappear.

Turning around, I lean my back against his chest, looking over at Ryker, who looks like he's going to climb across the counter and murder Jace.

What happened? I ask.

Ryker's eyes flicker up at Jace. I can feel him shaking his head not wanting Ryker to tell me what's going on.

Is it about me? I ask, my toes becoming numb. This is it. This is when they tell me it's done. That they're done with me. I stand up, stepping away from Jace. I can feel myself starting to shut down, ignoring the emotions that are dragging my heart down.

"Fuck it. Luna just called and something happened." Ryker crosses his arms over his chest.

"Ryker."

"Don't Ryker me. She deserves to know. Jace, here, wants to run after her," he growls, throwing his hand towards Jace.

Swinging around, I cock my head to the side, waiting for him to tell me the truth. Because there is no way Ryker is right about this.

Well, I sign.

Jace looks up to Ryker.

"Tell her the fucking truth," Ryker's voice rises. He's getting more upset by the minute.

"Don't say it like that!" Jace bellows .

I raise my brow, confused and hating the hurt that is seeping into my heart. Did something happen between Luna and Jace? Was I just blind, and not wanting to accept the fact that they were once something?

"Blake, let me explain…" Jace trails off, reaching towards me. I shake my head, stepping back. I thought they could have been mine, but fuck, how wrong was I?

"Just spit it out," Ryker says somewhere behind me. But all I can focus on is Jace, and that sad expression that he thinks is going to save him.

"Luna called and something happened, I'm not sure what. But she screamed and now I can't reach her." Jace sighs.

I blow out a breath. This is what had them so worried? I glance over at Ryker, scowling at him for making it sound ten times worse than it actually is.

So, are we going to go see what's happening? I sign.

"Absolutely not," Ryker growls, shaking his head forcefully.

Why the hell not? Jace's friend needs help. He should go and help. I glance over my shoulder, making sure Jace knew we were talking about him.

I'm not taking you to see Luna, let alone out there, when someone is hunting you down, Ryker angrily signs.

"Enough!" Jace bellows, slamming his hand down on the counter. "Not understanding her is one thing, but I refuse to stand here while the two of you fucking talk about me behind my back!"

I bite my bottom lip, glancing down.

Ryker suddenly stands in front of me, squaring his shoulders. "You want to yell at me, go right ahead. But don't you ever take that tone with her."

I can't see Jace over Ryker's shoulder, so I peek around. Jace glares at Ryker only to stop when he sees me peering around.

"You're right, I'm sorry."

Grabbing Ryker's shoulder, I pull him back.

We should help her—

"No, we're not," Ryker snaps.

Grabbing his chin with one hand, I shake my head.

"I can't risk them finding you," Ryker whispers .

Oh, my heart. My lips tip up in a small smile, cupping his cheeks. How did Ryker go from hating me and wanting nothing to do with me, to now this?

"Don't ask me to do this," he says, his voice so low that I can barely hear him. Poking my bottom lip out, I give him those puppy dog eyes. And I know I got him the moment he lets out the breath he's been holding.

"Jace," Ryker growls.

Jace steps closer, standing next to us.

"One sign of trouble and we're out of there."

"Of course." Jace nods.

Reaching over, I grab Jace's hand while I hold Ryker's face with the other. Putting my life into Jace's hand in the beginning, I felt like I was being forced. My parents handed me off as a job, and now I'm willingly letting Ryker and Jace care for me out there.

I just hope I don't regret it.

"Here, take this." Ryker holds his hand out.

Tilting my head, I take the knife he's holding out to me.

"If anything happens, stab and don't stop."

I grin, nodding my head. Tucking the knife into my pocket, I follow him out of the cabin. Jace stands by the trunk, placing our duffle bags in. Ryker hands him another one before grabbing my hand.

"You sure about this?" Jace asks, slamming the trunk closed.

"No," Ryker snaps as I nod my head. Squeezing his hand, I glare up, daring him to say something about us going again.

Since it was decided we were leaving, Ryker has been in a bad mood. Jace continues to apologize and I'm about at my wit's end dealing with hormonal teenagers.

"I'll drive," Jace mutters.

Each of us climb into the car, Jace in the driver's seat, Ryker in the back, and at the last minute I get into the passenger side. Grabbing Jace's hand, I hold it in my lap. Scooting the back of the seat back, Ryker's hands move through my hair, and before I know it, I'm falling asleep.

"Is she asleep?" Jace asks, glancing in the rearview mirror.

After a few hours, Blake climbed into the back so she could lay in my lap to be more comfortable. Glancing down, I brush some of her hair out of her face. Her mouth parts, snoring into my stomach.

"She's asleep," I answer back.

"I think after we figure out the Luna situation we take her back to her parents."

"Excuse me," I growl out.

"I don't mean just drop her off. I think we should hunt down those who hurt her. You were right about Dimitri probably not doing anything to get Antonio off his back. And we're hitmen, Ryker. While I'm glad we took this protection job, I think we should hunt them down."

I nod my head along, agreeing with everything he's saying. I've thought about leaving in the middle of the night and hunting down those who scarred her body. I just have to figure out who did it, and while Blake isn't that forthcoming, I could make Dimitri talk.

"After we deal with Luna, we could leave her with Walker. I trust him more than her family." Dropping my eyes down, I stare at Blake. Afraid that she's going to disappear. In my thirty-six years of life, I never planned or wanted a future with someone. After my parents' death, it was about Laia, taking care of her and her needs. I didn't care about myself. Then she was killed, and I didn't care if I lived or not. There were a few close calls and the only reason I survived was because of Jace.

Now I want to live. I want Blake and having her means making sure no one can touch her. No one but Jace and myself.

"Do you love her?" Jace asks. I can feel his eyes on me, but I can't tear my eyes away from her. She might think she's damaged, but she's our baggage. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Do you?"

The silence in the car tells us our answer. We might not have to say the words, but we're willing to die for her. I'll burn the world down for my pet.

"Blake," I growl. I'm going to push her out of this booth and shove something healthy down her throat. "You can't just eat cinnamon rolls this entire trip."

She holds her fork as if she's daring me to try and take it from her. While I'm not afraid to get stabbed, I'd rather not in the middle of some hole-in-the-wall diner.

"You're being a brat," I hiss out, leaning forward. Of course, she's not intimidated by me, she never was.

And Jace is no help. He just sits there watching this unfold. It dawns on me that he's done this with her before. Of course, he finds it funny now.

"Jace, if you don't shut your mouth, I swear to God I'll put blue dye in your shampoo."

Blake glares at me over the counter, taking a much too large of a bite, just trying to make a point.

"You keep acting like a brat and I'm going to treat you like one."

Jace chokes on his drink, drawing the attention of a few tables as he coughs.

"And you…" I point to Blake. "You finish that cinnamon roll without eating something else and I'm going across the street, and buying a remote vibrator that you will wear for the rest of the drive."

Blake raises her brow, challenging me.

Bring it on.