Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Shock exploded over his sibling’s face. “What? God no. I would never do something like that to her.” He squared up to his brother. “Is that what you told her? Is that why she’s not answering my calls?”
“She’s not exactly taking any calls from me either, Tyler. How close are you anyway?”
There went his jealousy again. He couldn’t stop it any more than he could stop the next sunrise.
Tyler narrowed his gaze. “Why? What’s it to you?”
“She calls you Grant.” He spat the accusation. Tyler had never let anyone call him by that name, claiming he despised it. All sorts of reasons he would allow Rayla to address him in such a manner raced before him.
And I hate every single fucking one of them.
Tyler opened and shut his mouth a few times before a pensive look crossed his face. One thick black eyebrow rose as he canted his head to the left.
“Holy shit! You like her. Something happened between the two of you in Hallelujah Crossing because you’re pining after her like a lovesick boy.” Tyler shifted his weight crossing his arms over his chest.
Ryker had to admit his younger brother was no longer that much smaller than him and could probably do some damage if they got into it. Not that it mattered, he wasn’t about to back down if his brother had something to say.
“Rayla is my safe space and I’m hers. Were friends, close friends, who share almost everything with one another and have zero expectations of family names and connections of people we know.” He inched closer getting right up in the Ryker’s face. “And I will fucking bury you if you hurt her.”
While he appreciated his brother didn’t press him for the more intimate details of his relationship with Rayla, he still couldn’t deny the jealousy burning through him like a living flame at the thought of their closeness. Shrugging, he arched his own eyebrow and held his brother’s glare.
“What happened between us is our business. But I can tell you she’s not your safe space anymore. She’s mine.”
“And yet, you’ve not been in contact with her either. Are you sure she is still yours?”
“I have no problems killing you dropping your body somewhere.”
Tyler grinned and just like that the tension between them dissolved like the mist underneath the morning sun. His brother clapped him on the shoulder with a nod.
“I like her for you, Ryker. Truly.”
“She’s gonna be your sister-in-law I’m glad you approve.”
Tyler chuckled even as he shook his head. “So it’s like that?”
“Damn straight it is.”
* * *
Five hours later he along with Tyler, Preston, who he’d served with as a PJ but now worked with another group wrapped up their meeting. They were Macsen “Mac” Williams, Jason “Snake” La Rue, and Aidrian “Hondo” O’Shea who were members of a protection agency named Tungsten Protective Services.
“We can definitely put a protection on your woman,” Aidrian said his Irish lilt a mix of confusing and yet soothing as he hooked his arms behind his perfectly smooth bald black head. “My question is do you want her to know it, given where she is working? It’s going to be hard for us to be near her all day if she’s to be kept in the dark.”
The other men nodded and Tyler took a deep breath.
“She’s not a fan of being protected. She grew up in DC political circles, having someone watching her all the time is one of her least favorite things in the world.”
“Excuse me.” The interruption came in a soft, slow drawl from Jason “Snake” La Rue. He leaned forward, resting muscular arms on the table, nudging the now empty containers which had held Chinese food toward the middle of the table. “You,” he pointed at Ryker, “say she’s your woman but you,” he jabbed a finger in Tyler’s direction, “keep providing more intimate details of her. Who’s woman is she?”
“Mine,” Ryker growled. “Does it matter?”
“Only if you both are demanding updates and giving suggestions. We don’t have the time to waste going back and forth between the two of you. Not if she’s a target of the Abdulov Family.”
He appreciated the blunt speak. And deep down he knew the man spoke nothing but the truth. It was a waste of resources to try and handle both him and Tyler.
Preston looked at him and shifted in his seat. “Ryker will be fine. He’s like the rest of us with our women. He’s hardheaded, stubborn with a possessive and protective streak deeper than the Mariana Trench. In the end, he wants her safe, so he’ll not make it more difficult for us.”
“Good.” Aidrian rapped his knuckles on the tabletop. The sparkle of his wedding band was something Ryker longed for on his own finger, with a match on Rayla’s. “Let’s get this plan in action, wrap it up, have a wedding, and recruit a new member.” He shot a pointed look to Ryker.