Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“Alex can make his own damn coffee,” my brother continued as though I wasn’t two seconds away from punching him in the face. “Don’t let him treat you like his fucking bitch. What the fuck are you doing slumming with us anyway, rich boy?”
“Kenny!” I snapped. I started to rise, but Ryder’s hand landed on my thigh, keeping me in place. The warm contact immediately settled me from a raging boil to a low simmer, though if Kenny continued to run his mouth, I’d make sure he regretted it.
Ryder tilted his head as he stared at my brother with a neutral expression. Only the narrowing of his eyes and the tension in his shoulders hinted at his anger over Kenny’s nasty words. “You know what, Kenny? I’ve been trying to give you the benefit of the doubt for Alex’s sake,” Ryder said, his voice controlled but razor-sharp. “But I’m starting to think you’re not worth the effort.”
Kenny smirked. “Oh, did I hurt your feelings? Go cry about it in your fucking Range Rover.”
“My car?” Ryder laughed, but there was no humor in it. “That’s what you’re fixated on? Jesus Christ.” He leaned forward. “I’m not ‘slumming’ anywhere. I’m with Alex because he’s the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to me. Something you’d understand if you weren’t so busy getting arrested or getting your ass kicked. You’re welcome for helping you out, by the way.”
“Fuck off,” Kenny spat. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“I know enough.” Ryder’s grip on my thigh tightened. “I know you’ve been leeching off your brother for years. I know you’ve got every excuse in the book for why you can’t get your shit together. And I know you’re too damn selfish to see what it’s doing to your mom or Alex.”
Kenny’s face flushed with anger. “This is family business. You’re just—”
“Family?” Ryder cut him off. “Pretty sure I’ve been more family to your brother and your mom in the past few months than you have in years.”
A knot formed in my throat. I should step in, but Ryder was saying all the things I’d been thinking for so long.
“That’s rich coming from you.” Kenny sneered. “Playing house with my brother like you give a shit. We both know you’ll be gone as soon as you get bored with your little charity case.”
I gasped—bullseye right to my biggest fear.
Something dangerous flashed in Ryder’s eyes. He stood slowly, palms flat on the table. “Listen carefully because I’m only going to say this once,” he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper that somehow felt more threatening than if he’d been shouting. “Alex isn’t my charity case. He’s my boyfriend. The man I’m building something with. And unlike you, I do give a damn about him.” He straightened up. “So, you can call me whatever names you want. You can mock my car or how I like to make him coffee or whatever the fuck else makes you feel better about your own failures. But don’t you ever imply that what I feel for your brother isn’t real. And for the record…” he said with a wicked smirk, “… there’s not a goddamn thing you could say or do to make me stop licking his ass, so keep your fucking opinions to yourself.” The kitchen fell silent except for the hum of the refrigerator. Kenny stared up at Ryder, his expression wavering between rage and something that almost looked like respect.
This was the moment where one right word from Kenny could turn his life around. Where he could ask for help, apologize, or just not be a dick. But instead, he rose from the table with so much force that his chair clattered to the floor. “Fucking douchebags,” he muttered under his breath before storming out of the kitchen.
I flinched at the sound of his door slamming, then found Ryder’s gaze.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at me as he ran a hand over his stubbled face. “Shit, Alex, I’m sorry. I was out of line, yelling at your brother like that. He jus—”
I grabbed the front of his cashmere sweater as I shook my head. “No, you were perfect.”
Then I slammed our mouths together, kissing him with all the feelings I was afraid to voice.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
RYDER
When tearing Kenny a new asshole, I might have gone overboard, but the way Alex had tried to dive down my throat afterward let me know he didn’t mind my aggressive approach at all. Someone had to put that little punk in his place, and I knew the situation was complicated for Alex due to his mother’s feelings on the matter. The funny thing was, I didn’t balk at saving Kenny’s ass from violent drug dealers, and I would have bailed him out of jail in a heartbeat if he’d shown an ounce of remorse and asked for help. But instead, he’d run his mouth. What I wouldn’t tolerate was him talking shit about Alex.