Forever Yours by Victoria Gale

Author:Victoria Gale [Gale, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: steamy short, romantic suspense
Publisher: Deryn Publishing
Published: 2019-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chloe

Chloe looked at Ryder’s perfect face through blurred vision. How could he have betrayed her like that, again? She desperately wanted to get away. Nausea rose in her stomach and threatened to bring up what little she’d eaten of her sandwich.

She blinked away her tears and looked down at Ryder’s hand, still holding tight to her wrist. “Let go of me,” she said in a voice little higher than a guttural growl.

Ryder hardened his expression. “I’m sorry, Chloe,” he said. “I can’t do that.”

At that moment, with the look on his face, she knew it was all true. He had known. Why the charade? Why not tell her? Her mom had gone home of her own free will and Ryder had been far too eager to take her back too. She couldn’t comprehend what any of this meant. Johnny would never have considered laying a finger on her without her father’s blessing. What punishment awaited her when she returned, and why was Ryder happy to take her to meet it?

Whatever was going on, one thing was clear. He’d used her. Played on her desire for him and tricked her into coming with him. To think, she’d believed they’d had something special. That after all these years he’d come for her. That maybe, just maybe, he loved her? How could she have been so naïve? So stupid?

Chloe shook her head, trying to expel all the negative thoughts and conflicting emotions inside her. “Tell me,” she said after a moment. “How worse off would I be with Johnny than I am with you?”

“You don’t mean that,” he said. “I can explain everything. I just can’t right now. When we get to the mountain—”

“The mountain! Yeah, that’s all that matters, isn’t it? That I get to the mountain.” Chloe looked to the door. Helplessness flared inside her. She didn’t dare look at Dale or Jason, afraid of meeting their condescending gaze.

Turning back to Ryder, she shook her arm in his grip. “You can let go,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere. It’s not like I have a choice. But save your explanation, here and on the mountain, I don’t need to hear any more of your lies.”

Chloe’s heart pounded, but she focused on keeping everything together. She sure as hell didn’t plan on giving more of a show for these assholes.

Now that her attention was no longer focused on the exit, Ryder released her arm and she inhaled deeply through her nose, set her shoulders, and walked calmly over to the barstool and the remains of her sandwich. With her back to the others, she focused on taking small bites out of her food and swallowing it down. She had a feeling, she would need the energy in the time to come.

“Chloe.” She flinched at the touch of Ryder’s hand on her shoulder, then shrugged it off.

“Dale,” she said, turning to the other man. “I’d like another lemonade, if that’s okay? Then, I guess we should get back on the road.”

“No problem,” Dale said, stepping between her and Ryder.

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