Chapter 14

We both start giggling. I remember that day!

Mom and I were shopping. She pointed to him, and I noticed how good looking he was.

I don't know why it didn't click the night of the gala or these past couple of weeks.

"The pictures I was sent did you no justice. When I first saw you step out of your house, you were all I could think about. I couldn't even sleep at night, and I thank you for that. Seriously! I followed you around and saw a kind, smart, and loving person whom everyone loved. I was even at your flower shop. I popped in there a couple of times to watch you."

Ryder caresses my cheek. "It's so beautiful how you handle your customers. They're always complimenting you."

"Is that what you normally do? Try to see if your target is a good person?" I ask in confusion, placing my hand over his.

He closes his eyes and scoffs. "If I did, I'm sure I would be out of a job."

Ryder opens his eyes when I remove his hand from my face. He then tries to kiss me, but I stop him. "What made me different then? I don't understand."

He looks hurt for a second. I guess he doesn't like that I don't want his kiss because his features change to his creepy, calm expression.

Ryder sighs and continues. "As I said, when I saw you, I wanted you. I guess that's what made me think, first and foremost, about not killing you. You were what I wanted. I have never wanted anything more in my life."

"It was something new, and at first, I didn't like it. I even thought about killing you the day I saw you shopping with your mom. Only because my feelings towards you scared me, it had never happened before. I've killed women in my line of work. None of them stopped me dead in my tracks as you did."

He looks up at me, ashamed. "After a while, I was certain about one thing. I could never hurt you."

He grabs my chin and pulls me in for a kiss. I put my hand up to stop him.

"If you felt that way, why did you still kidnap me?"

Ryder squeezes my chin gently. He then puts his hand and head down. I turn his head up towards me. "Tell me, please."

"You are the job, first and foremost, Sam. That's how it always goes. I see you with your fiancé, and I envy him. I hate him anywhere near you! He is the reason I kidnapped you. Having you away from him is what I want. It sounds horrible, but it's the truth."

"You're jealous," I whisper.

Ryder's facial expression changes. He does that creepy, calm look again.

I am starting to understand him. He does that when he doesn't want to show someone his true emotions.

He doesn't want me to know what he is feeling.

"Why scare and threaten me?" I ask, happy that he is finally opening up to me.

"It's all I know. It's all I've ever known since my parents died. I had my grandparents, but they always had me with a maid or butler. I never got an ounce of love or affection from them. Grandfather always told that me that love was the true weakness in life. If I want someone to respect me, they have to fear me first."

I look at him in shock. How can someone say such things to a child?!

"Having you here has been good and bad. I love having you around, but I needed you to fear me. To hate me! I wish I could get the opportunity to be yours. But you belong to someone else."

Ryder looks at me with sad eyes, and I smile at him. I kiss him, and we both hold it for what seems like forever, wrapping my arms around his neck. I stop and look down at him. "I belong to me."

He sighs and smiles, nodding his head. "Want to see my most prized possessions?"

I pretend to be surprised. "I thought I was!"

He smiles and jumps off his desk, still holding onto me. He kisses me passionately as he gently puts me down. I slide my hands down his chest and abs. When I get to his sweatpants, I hook my pointer finger into it.

Ryder's breath hitches. "Do that again, and I'll have you sprawled on my desk," he whispers into my ear.

I bit my lip and move my hand. "Promises, promises, Mr. Fornay!"

"Come here," Ryder says, grabbing my hand. He points to a clear, round lid that is embedded into the desk. He opens it, and there is a white button. "Push it."

I don't waste any time and push the button.

Cool, white lights illuminate from around the steel wall, and it begins to split into double doors, opening.

My mouth parts as he puts his arm around my neck. "Cool, right?"

I stand there in shock as the doors continue to open. Once open, he hooks his pinky into mine and leads me into his walk-in weapons closet.

Nothing but a sea of rifles, swords, knives, grenades, and a rocket launcher? I look at Ryder in confusion.

"You never know," he says, shrugging his shoulders.

He follows me, with our fingers intertwined, as I give myself the tour. There are three aisles of weapons. The walls have drawers. Each filled with more weapons. As I pick a weapon up, Ryder tells me a story about it.

I have never seen him so animated and laughing so hard.

Wow, he has an amazing smile!

"So they've all been in battles with you?"

"No. I always destroy what I've used on a job. You don't want the police connecting the dots."

That's actually smart!

"Now I understand why the maid threw your stuff into that furnace," I say, shaking my head.

Ryder didn't want to leave any evidence around. I turn and look at him. He lets go of my hand and grabs my arm, rather roughly.

He looks down at me angrily. "Samantha, how do you know about the furnace?"

I look away from him, knowing how uncomfortable this topic is and the fact that I should not have been down in the basement.

Me and my big mouth!

Ryder turns me to face him so fast that I get a little dizzy.

"I may have followed the maid into the basement." I look up at the ceiling and then to the floor, scared to see his reaction.

Ryder grabs my chin and makes me look at him. He looks annoyed but isn't as upset as he could've been.

"Please don't ever go to the basement. What did you see?"

Maybe I should lie and say I didn't see anything?

Ryder clears his throat and crosses his arms in front of his chest.

"The maid took your metal case to Jose to get proof of death."

Ryder looks very angry and bites his lip. He must've been trying to suppress his anger.

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again, Ryder. I promise." I put my hand on his chest, and he instantly calms down.

Is it really that easy to tame the beast?

"Those palm scanners are put in place to protect you, not just to keep you out. You can go anywhere in the house. I'll even grant you access here. Just stay out of the basement and attic. Okay?"

A smile creeps up on my face. "So you're saying you trust me with a landline and internet connection?" I ask, wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him toward me.

"Are you leaving me anytime soon?" Ryder asks, looking bothered.

"Am I able to go outside?"

He ponders my question for a couple of seconds. "Okay! Under two conditions, though. First being I get to lay next to you. And I'll tell you the second one over breakfast."

The thought of laying next to him at night excites me. I can agree to that, so I nod.

We walk out the weaponry, as he calls it, and I see the time.

5:22 am.

I instantly yawn.

Ryder kisses my hand. "Should we lay on your bed?"

"We shall not! My bed is so uncomfortable. Let's lay on yours," I say. I completely forget about switching mattresses with the first bedroom.

"All right," Ryder says as he hit the button, closing the weaponry. He then grabs my hand, and we walk toward his bed.

"So, how much do you charge? You know..." I don't feel comfortable finishing the sentence.

"For killing someone?" He asks, letting go of my hand.

"Yes."

We both pull the covers back and get into bed, facing each other.

"Anywhere from a hundred thousand dollars to fifty million dollars. It depends on who the target is. If it's someone big, with, let's say, bodyguards, it's trickier to get to them. On the other hand, Joe Schmo is just walking to the car from his regular nine to five is easy. I get more jobs regarding people of power anyway. Also, everything in my weaponry isn't cheap. That and the fact that I'm good at what I do."

Is he okay with telling me all of this?

I nod and turn around, trying to get comfortable. Ryder throws his arm around my waist and pulls me close to him.

"Sam," he says softly.

"Hmm?" I ask, closing my eyes and yawning.

"I'm sorry for scaring and hurting you. It was never my intention to do so. It's just-"

I turn to face him. His look of sadness breaks my heart.

Is it that easy? Do I believe every secret he has told me tonight?

I put one hand on his face and examine his eyes. "I know. Now go to sleep."

The curtains opening suddenly awakens us—the sunbeams brightly into the room.

"Rise and shine, lovebirds!"

Freddie is standing near the table by the window. He has brought us breakfast. I cover my face with the quilt. The sunlight is stinging my eyes.

"What time is it?" I ask in annoyance.

"9 am!" Freddie yells at me as he walks out of the room. I uncover my head slowly and face Ryder. His eyes are shut, and he is wearing a faint smile.

I snuggle up near him, trying to remember if last night was a dream.

"Why are you smiling?" I take my finger and run it down his face.

"Because," he says, opening his eyes.

"Because of what?"

"Because I'm going to Italy today and I want you to come with me."

I prop myself up with my elbows. "Are you serious?!"

He sits up and straddles me. "Please?"

Ryder looks so cute, begging me. I put my hands on his head and pull him in for a kiss. He lays on top of me, and I wrap my legs and arms around him. He stops and looks at me.

"Sam, listen. When we get back from Italy, I'm going to let you go-"

I kiss him before he can finish his sentence. I know what he's going to say, and I don't want to hear it. He pulls away from me—a look of concern written all over his face.

"Don't you want to go back to your life?" Ryder stands and helps me off of the bed. He slowly puts his arms around my hips.

"No. Well, I do! I want to make sure my parents don't stress anymore. I also think I should break it off with Max."

Ryder looks at me hopefully.

"Not because of us!" I yell.

He then looks hurt.

"I mean, yeah! Well..." What the hell am I talking about? Spit it out, Sam!

"What I'm trying to say is I can't marry someone when I'm thinking about someone else! Does that make any sense?"

All right, floor! Swallow me whole right now! Please!

Ryder's brows furrow as he tries to stifle a smile. "I know what you mean."

I breathe a sigh of relief.

Poor Max! I really thought I loved him and wanted to be with him. It's evident I don't since I kissed another man.

He smiles and pulls me toward him. "Well, since you're throwing your life away, I guess I should do the same. I'm going to Italy to meet some people. After that, I want to devote myself to you and Boeing. I can try the whole nine to five thing. See how it goes. I'm not making any promises, though!"

"Really?!" He's really willing to do that for me?

"Yes."

"I have no clothes," I say as he lets me go and walks to the table.

He removes the lids on our plates.

Pulling my chair out, he waits for me to sit. "Don't worry about it. I'll make sure you have everything you need over there."