Chapter Eleven

Ryder

I stop my bike on the roadside and stare at the bar where Neve is inside. I track her phone. Not that she's aware, but I needed to know she was safe from that prick, Finn. And when shit gets real, he's going to up his games and I have to be prepared.

I've spent the last few days just riding and fuck it's felt good. I've missed the road and if I didn't have Neve back here waiting for me, I'd consider doing that shit permanently. But it worked, it cleared my mind and now I know I want her more than anything.

I watch as my brother lifts Neve onto a table and they begin to sing a bad version of Meatloaf's ‘I'll do anything for love, but I won't do that.' They're yelling more than singing and it's loud enough for me to hear from over the street.

Griff joins her on the table and I spot Corey watching. My heart twists. I hate he couldn't come to me and be honest about his sexuality. I'd never look at him any differently, he's my little brother and I love him.

I light another cigarette, inhaling deeply and closing my eyes. I'll never sort this shit out if I stand out here watching them, so I head towards the bar. As I get closer, I spot Neve disappearing through a side door. I frown, looking to the side of the building just as a fire exit door swings open, and Neve tumbles out giggling, hand in hand with a guy.

I wait in the shadows, my fist clenched and my jaw tight. The guy kicks the door shut and pushes Neve against it. She's giggling again and the sound irritates me. "Now you have me all alone, what will you do with me?" she asks in a breathless voice.

The man gently brushes her hair from her face and angles his face like he's going in for a kiss. I step from the shadows, dropping my cigarette to the ground and crushing it under my boot. I lean against the wall and sigh heavily. "It ain't even been a full week, Siren," I say.

The guy spins around, keeping Neve behind him. "What the fuck, man?" he demands.

I arch a brow. "Do you want your new friend to die in this dirty alleyway, Siren?" I ask, keeping my tone bored.

She steps out from behind the man, folding her arms over her chest. "What are you doing here, Ryder?"

"Surprise honey, I'm home," I say, smirking.

"Your timing is shit," she mutters.

"As is your choice in men tonight."

"You left, Ryder. What am I supposed to do, wait around in case you decide to show up? One minute you're promising me forever and the next you're gone. You ghosted me."

"I thought we were clear where we stood, Neve," I say, firmly. "I needed some time away."

"Well good for you but in case you haven't noticed, I'm busy."

"You heard the woman," the man chips in, "She doesn't want you here."

"You sure about that, Siren?" I ask, arching a brow. "You sure you want me to leave . . . forever?" She presses her lips together in a fine line and I see her wavering. "Or we can go back to your place. Talk?"

Neve turns to the man. "Sorry, I have to deal with this. Maybe another time?"

The man rolls his eyes, storming past me. I wink, slapping him on the back as he passes. "I didn't think you were the type of girl to be in dark alleyways with strangers," I say, stepping closer to her.

"We met in a cupboard, you fucked me," she says dryly.

I back her against the wall and place my hands above her head, caging her in. I lower my face until our lips are inches apart. "I'm so fucking jealous right now, I want to go after that prick and beat his face to a pulp just for being close to you." She inhales sharply. "It doesn't matter where I go, or how far, we are always together. Don't ever question that. Don't pull this shit again, the next guy won't walk away."

Neve

He's possessive and I like it. I shouldn't, not after everything with Finn, but this feels different with Ryder. I want him to own me, to possess me. He's watching me, staring hard into my eyes while his entire body cages me against the wall. With Ryder, I feel safe.

"You left," I whisper, the hurt still evident in my voice.

"Not you, Siren. I didn't leave you."

"I had to let Harlee go with Finn, you weren't there to stop it."

"I know," he says, "I was watching."

"The you saw how she cried and clung to me." He nods. "Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you answer my messages?" I hate how desperate I sound.

"You haven't told him about us, Siren."

"Because I thought you'd left."

He hooks a finger under my chin and tilts my head back. "I need to be inside you."

I'm under his spell, captivate by his dirty mouth, even though I swore to myself I wouldn't let him do this without explaining himself to me first. "We need to talk," I manage to say.

"After," he says, pushing off the wall and grabbing my hand.

I groan from exhaustion as Ryder pushes into me for the third time since we got home. "Ryder," I whisper, trying to guide his mouth away from my nipple. "You promised we'd talk."

"Anything you want, Siren," he whispers, sliding deeper into me until I arch my back.

"I want to know about Sassy," I say.

He sighs, climbing from me and lying beside me. I feel the loss immediately but he wraps his arm around me and pulls me into his side. "That's a real mood changer," he says with a laugh.

"Sorry."

"What do you want to know exactly?"

"How you met, she doesn't seem your type."

He laughs again. "Believe it or not, she's not the frosty bitch she makes out she is. I met her when we were both in our twenties. She was in some rich bitch bar and I was passing. She caught my eye and I walked right up to her and kissed her. She fell for my charm."

I run my finger over his tattoos, tracing a dragon. "Why did you break up?"

"I cheated on her," he admits and I glance up. "I'm not proud," he adds.

"So you met her, swept her off her feet and then cheated?"

"What can I say, I'm a prick. Or at least I was back then."

His fingers gently stroke my back and I feel my eyes growing heavy but I can't sleep when he's finally opening up. "How old are you?" I ask.

"Thirty-eight."

"You're eight years older than me," I tell him. "How old were you when you met Sassy?"

"I was twenty-eight and she twenty-four."

"Did you leave her for the other woman?"

"No. She caught me."

"Wow, no wonder she hates you. Did she know her?"

"I'm gonna be completely honest now, Neve," he says and his tone is suddenly serious. I sit up and turn to face him. He remains on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "I was cheating on Sassy with her sister."

It's not what I expected and my expression must show it because he also sits up and grabs my hand. "I want you to know I'm not the same man I was back then. I'd never do that to you."

"I need you to tell me everything, Ryder, right now," I demand.

He gives a nod. "There's no excuse for what I did. Alice was a year younger than Sass and she was jealous of her. I'm not making excuses, you can ask Sassy and she'll tell you it was always like that between them. Whatever Sassy had, Alice wanted. I was weak and a fucking idiot and when she came on to me, I encouraged it. We ended up having a cheap affair behind Sassy's back. She walked in on us and shit got ugly. They fought and I had to drag Sassy out of there. Alice was upset, she saw it as me choosing Sassy over her. By the time I'd got back to Alice, she'd worked herself up into a temper. We argued, like this huge volcano erupting, and it spilt out into the street. She ran. It turns out she was seeing a guy, he wasn't a good person and when he saw how upset she was over me, he got angry. I turned up there after he'd laid into her . . ." he pauses to compose himself. "She was clinging onto his arm, begging him . . ." he frowns, like he's lost in that memory. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me." He shudders. "And then he shoved her really hard and she stumbled back. Her head bounced of the kerb, Neve, I still hear that thud in my nightmares."

"Shit, what happened to her?"

"She died," he mutters and I gasp. "In my arms."

"What happened to the man?"

He shrugs. "He ran. The police showed up and I was cradling her body apparently telling her over and over I was sorry. With the neighbours seeing our fight, it looked like I'd killed her."

"Didn't they find the other guy?"

"They didn't care, Neve. I'm a fucking biker, they were just happy to put me away and they didn't give a crap if I was innocent or not. They got your ex, a bent lawyer, to screw me over for assault."

"Does Sassy know the truth?"

He nods. "Yeah, she knows I'm not like that. She believed me right from the start but I'd hurt her and she couldn't forgive me. I get it. That's not all," he says, glancing nervously at her. "I have a kid . . . with Sassy."

"Oh my god," I gasp, my hands covering my mouth. "How could you not tell me about that?"

"He's four and Sassy doesn't want me to have contact. He's settled and happy."

"Wait, you haven't even met him?"

He shakes his head and his shoulders hunch. "No. She wrote to me in prison and told me she'd met someone new soon after Alfie was born. As far as the kid knows, that's his dad. I can't rock up and ruin his world. It's selfish. He's doing great, Sassy has him in a private school and he's top of his class. It's the least I owe her after what I did."

"Oh, Ryder," I murmur, climbing onto his lap and wrapping myself around him. "That's got to be so hard."

"I'm good with her decision. I have no regrets there."

"You're a good man, Ryder and you'd be the perfect dad."

He gives a small smile. "Maybe one day I'll get a second chance."

I watch Neve pacing back and forth in front of the living room window. Finn was supposed to return Harlee at eleven, and now at half past twelve, there is still no sign.

"It's because I didn't answer his calls," she mutters.

"He'll bring her back," I say firmly, because if he doesn't, I'll be going to collect her myself.

I know the second he pulls up because Neve breathes a sigh of relief and rushes outside. I wait ten seconds, counting each one carefully before following Neve. I stand in the doorway, leaning against the frame and watching as Finn kisses Neve on the head. She turns away slightly, making it obvious she's uncomfortable. He opens the back door and reaches inside. "Why is she so pale?" asks Neve, taking Harlee. "And she's floppy."

"She was sick in the night. When I went in this morning, this is how she was."

"And you didn't call a doctor or think to bring her home?" snaps Neve, feeling Harlee's forehead. "She's burning up."

"She wouldn't quit whining so I left her to sleep it off," he tells her, pulling out Harlee's overnight bag. "Besides, you didn't answer my call so what was I supposed to do?"

"Leave a fucking message so I know to call back." She snatches the bag. "You can't have her overnight again, Finn. You don't know how to care for her properly."

I feel proud as she squares her shoulders and delivers the news. I'm already walking over when he grabs her upper arm, twisting it and causing Neve to cry out. Her eyes connect with mine and Finn looks over, to see what she's looking for. I give a smug smile and he instantly releases his grip on her. She stumbles back and I catch her, taking her arm in my hand and checking the red mark. "Go inside, Siren," I whisper, kissing her lightly on the head.

"This better be a fucking joke," yells Finn. Neve rushes inside, ignoring him and his face reddens in anger. "Neve!" he screams. "Get back here."

"Now there's the face of a man who knows he's lost," I say, grinning.

"This is a joke, right?" he demands, "You're not fucking sleeping with my wife."

"She's not your wife, Finn. She's my old lady."

"Bullshit. That's fucking bullshit."

I can't resist twisting the knife a little so I smirk right before I tell him, "She fucks me good, Finn. I had to make her mine."

He growls, rage filling him and he throws a weak punch, missing me. I laugh at his attempt, landing one right back in the centre of his face. His nose bursts open, spraying blood down his shirt. "I'll have you back inside for assault," he warns.

"Then I should make it worth it," I growl, rearing back again. This time, someone grabs my fist and I turn to find Griff. "He ain't worth it, brother. Who will keep Neve warm at night if you're inside?"

"Once I tell her the truth about what you did to that woman, she'll run a mile," Finn sneers.

I scoff, turning back to him. "She knows everything, Finn, you're too late. And when I get the evidence I need, she'll know that final last detail. And then you'll be going down for so long, Harlee will forget your face and she'll be calling me Daddy."