“Are you fucking serious?” Prickett snaps in my face the moment we’re out of the room and jumping on the elevator. Thankfully, it’s just him, Gunner and me. The others stayed behind.
“What was I supposed to say?” I growl.
“No. That you refuse to work with him.”
I snort at that.
“He’s obviously setting you up.” He goes on.
“Let him.” I shrug.
“Ryat …”
“I don’t give a fuck about him right now.” I snap at Prickett and put my attention on Gunner. “I need a favor from you.”
“I’ve got it covered.” He nods, already knowing what I was going to ask.
“Thanks, man.” The elevator dings and stops on the first floor. We exit, and Lincoln stands there.
“May I have a moment?” he asks me.
“Yeah,” I tell him as Gunner and Prickett walk off down the hall, leaving us alone. “What’s up?”
“Sure you want to do this?” he asks.
“Doubting me?” I arch a brow.
He chuckles. “Never.” His face gets serious, and he checks his watch. “All I know is that you’ve got five hours. So, I’d make sure your girl is home and in bed asleep before you leave.”
BLAKELY
“IS EVERYTHING OKAY?” Sarah asks me while we sit on Ryat’s bed.
“Yeah.”
“Why do I feel like you’re lying to me?” She laughs softly.
I sigh, pulling the hair tie loose from my hair. The messy bun was falling anyway. “Does Gunner tell you anything about the Lords?”
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “And I’m totally fine with that. I’d rather not know.”
“It drives me nuts,” I admit. “Like what the fuck could they possibly be doing that’s so secretive?”
“Listen, Blakely …” She takes my hands in hers. “Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. Okay? I’ve heard some shit while staying here, and you’re much better off not knowing.”
“Like what?” I urge.
Letting go of my hands, she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “They …”
The door opens, and she jumps when I look up to see Ryat and Gunner both enter the room. “Hey, babe. Come on.” Gunner stands in the doorway, holding the door open, obviously taking her away from me.
She looks back at me, giving me a soft smile. “I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
I nod, pissed that they interrupted whatever she was about to tell me, but I guess waiting until morning isn’t too bad.
Ryat enters his bathroom, and I get up, following him. He turns on the sink and bends over, splashing water on his face. “Are we staying here tonight?” I ask him.
“No,” comes his clipped answer before yanking a hand towel off a hook and running it down his face. Then he just tosses it onto the counter. “We’re headed to your apartment.” Then he walks past me, going back to his bedroom.
“How long are we going to do this?” I ask, following him.
“Don’t, Blake,” he snaps. “I’m not in the mood right now.”
“Maybe I’m not in the mood to put up with your shit!” I push.
He spins around, his hand goes to my throat and shoves me back into the wall. So hard it knocks the air out of my lungs. His face lowers to mine, our lips almost touching, and his green eyes are slits on mine with a tic in his sharp jaw.
I almost forgot how terrifying he could be. He’s been nice, understanding even. But it reminds me that this is just an agreement, and I’m nothing to him. Like I said in the car, I’m just here so he can piss off Matt.
“I said I’m not doing this right now. And I meant that. So, unless you want to really see me pissed, I suggest you back the fuck off.” His voice is low, his words controlled, but his hand around my throat is shaking, giving away his true feelings at the moment.
I wonder if it’s me or something else. Lifting my chin, my lips thin. “I understand.”
Letting go of my neck, he steps away. “Let’s go.”
We exit his room, and I look up across the hall to see Matt walking out of a room. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a smile. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. His blue eyes go to Ryat, and I notice the black eye that he has. What the hell happened to him? Did Ryat do that? Are they fighting? Is that why Ryat is on edge? Did Matt say something to him about me? It’s not like Matt knows any secrets about me. I never got the chance to do anything crazy.