BABY by Dani Wyatt

Author:Dani Wyatt [Wyatt, Dani]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dani Wyatt
Published: 2020-05-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Chloe

Ryder’s brows snapped together at my announcement. If I didn’t know him, I’d think he was in shock.

“Ryder?”

He shook his head, as if to clear it. “What did you just say?”

My lower lip trembled, and I bit into it so it would stop. I wished I wasn’t so scared, but I could feel my body trying to curl up into a ball, my shoulders scrunching together, my legs growing weak.

I’d lived a lifetime fending for myself and worrying about me, because there was no one else willing to take on that job. And now, it was just nature.

“I’m scared, Ryder.”

“Aaah. Baby girl. We talked about this. You don’t have to be scare-” His eyes dropped to the phone in my hand. His jaw clenched. “Is that why you think you can’t stay? Because you’re scared of me?”

“I'm not...I'm not scared of you.”

I thought he’d smile, but I was mistaken. The tension in the kitchen was dense enough to slice with a blunt knife.

I shook my head. “I really can’t stay. Not like this.”

A muscle began to pulse spasmodically in his hard jaw. I fought the urge to reach out and stroke some warmth into it. Instead, I looked down at the phone in my hand.

“These messages. These vile things...”

“They’re not your problem anymore.”

“But they’re my parents and that is my sister. It’s my responsibili—”

“We talked about this, Chloe. You need some time, but you’ll get over it. Your family does not give a flying fuck about whether you’re okay or not. And it’s only fair that you fucking return the favor.”

I dropped the phone on the kitchen island and tentatively pushed it over toward Ryder. But he didn’t even glance down. His eyes bored holes into mine. It was like his gaze pinned me into place. The deep blue turning stormy and intense.

“I thought this is the life you wanted.”

“I did. I do.”

“This is how it works, babygirl. When you’re in, you’re in. We have a commitment, and you can’t keep reneging on it. It’s done. It’s made.”

“I'm not saying I don’t want to be with you. I'm saying there has to be a way for us all to coexist.”

“You want to coexist with that sick fuck who sneaked into your bedroom at night when you were ten years old?”

My cheeks flamed. He had a point. But I’d gotten over that a long time ago. I mean, I’d had to. I lived with that man and he was my father. He was the only male presence I had in my life, for a very long time. I didn’t know any better. So that was the father I had loved and cared for.

I gasped as inspiration struck. “I have a plan.”

“Babygirl...” He walked around the kitchen island and a thrill ran through me. His strong muscular body towered over mine. I felt tiny and vulnerable, yet so amazingly safe in the world. And I wanted to leave this behind?

Just for a while.

“They’ll understand. I’ll talk to them. I’ll make them see reason—”

He grimaced.

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