Banished (A Retribution Novel) by Cindy Stark

Author:Cindy Stark [Stark, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ryan pushed through the door to the kitchen, pulling Violet along with him. She’d literally dropped a bombshell on him, and he wasn’t about to let her get away without finishing the story. “Tell me, sweetheart.”

She took a breath and focused on him, her dark lashes shimmering with tears. “It’s nothing. I can handle it.”

He wasn’t sure why she seemed to be retracting her story, but she couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes. “If you can handle it, then why are you hiding here in Seaside?”

“I’m not hiding. I’m…” She turned away. “I’m dealing with things,” she whispered.

Hell. He walked around and stood in front of her. “You don’t get to tell me enough to make me care, and then shut the door in my face.”

“I didn’t.” She seemed taken aback by his accusation.

“That’s exactly what you’re doing. Same thing you did to Flo, except she caught on to what you weren’t saying.” He took her by the shoulders. “Now, tell me why you think he wants you dead.”

She opened her mouth and paused before she spoke. “Because he wants complete control of the family business. I think he killed my father, too. He was dying anyway from colon cancer, but his death was so sudden. He still had months.”

He drew his finger over the healed cut near her collarbone and she shivered. “Did your brother do this to you?”

She held his gaze, hers looking too vulnerable. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Jesus.” Heated anger boiled inside him at the thought of someone hurting her.

The kitchen door flew open, and one of the guys he’d left in charge stepped inside. “They’re revolting. Are you going to be much longer?”

Damn it. “No, I’ll be right there. Tell them one minute.”

He waited until the door closed again. “We’re not done with this conversation. Not by a long shot. You’re going to stay and help me close, and then we’re going to talk. Until then, I want you back behind the bar where I can keep an eye on you.”

* * *

Violet bit her tongue to keep from sobbing. Ryan’s anger on her behalf and protectiveness flayed open her heart. She’d had no one to turn to, no one to lean on, and the idea of having someone on her side toppled her right over.

He held her hand as they headed out into the restaurant. Big Jake and Sharon carried on enough conversation to keep her distracted during the next hour, but she constantly found Ryan’s gaze trained on her. It made her shiver and warmed her at the same time.

She didn’t know if she should trust him, but Flo and everyone else who knew him seemed to believe in him, and she was beyond desperate. He’d saved her once. Maybe he could help her again.

At eleven o’clock, he ushered the few remaining customers out the door and locked it behind them. He cleaned the kitchen while she wiped down the tables and mopped the floor. When she’d finished her chores, she walked back to find him.

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