Page 83 of Ryder’s Storm

“Who we are, what we are.” He put his arm around Scarlet’s waist and pulled her closer to his side. “That’s Amaury, he’s Damian’s and Benjamin’s father, and this is Nina, his mate, and the twin’s mother.”

Amaury let out a breath, while Nina smiled at Scarlet.

“It’s nice to meet you…” Scarlet said hesitantly. “I’ve met your sons. They’re nice.”

“They’re hellions. No need to sugar-coat it,” Nina said. She looked at Amaury. “Are you gonna be civil now?”

“I’m always civil,” Amaury claimed. He looked at Ryder and Scarlet. “So by the looks of it, you didn’t abduct your charge, you seduced her, and alienated her father so—”

“Actually,” Scarlet interrupted. “Ryder didn’t seduce me. I seduced him. So, it’s all my fault.”

“It’s not,” Ryder protested, astonished that Scarlet wanted to shoulder the blame. “I knew what I was doing, and I did it anyway.”

Amaury shook his head and chuckled all of a sudden. “Ryder, you never had a chance resisting her. When a woman makes up her mind, we’re powerless.” His gaze swept to Nina, and Ryder couldn’t help but notice the lusting looks he raked over her. The twin’s claim that their parents couldn’t keep their hands off each other, was definitely true. He knew with certainty that the moment Ryder and Scarlet left Amaury’s office, Amaury would make love to Nina, and bite her again, not for the nourishment her blood provided, but because the bite would heighten their arousal and make their climax even more satisfying.

“Anyway,” Amaury said, his demeanor calmer now as he addressed Scarlet directly. “The point is that your father called me and threatened to have Ryder arrested for kidnapping you. Listen, I’ve never spoken to him before, but believe me when I tell you he was absolutely serious. He’ll make good on his threat.”

“We can deal with the police. They won’t arrest me,” Ryder said. “The mayor won’t let it happen.”

“The police aren’t our problem. The press is,” Amaury said. “Once this leaks we’ve gotta do damage control. I’d rather not put ourselves through that if we can avoid it. We don’t need the press snooping around in our business.”

“Fine,” Ryder said, “then I’ll talk to King and explain the situation.”

“But Dad’s in the wrong! He knows you didn’t abduct me. You spoke to him. I was right there when he told you to take care of me. I don’t understand why he suddenly changed his mind.”

Ryder looked into Scarlet’s eyes. “I do. Claudia got to him after you told him that I saw her cheating on him with Derek. She’s turned him against you and me.”

“What’s that about?” Amaury asked. “Who are these people?”

“Claudia is my stepmother,” Scarlet explained. “And Derek is supposedly her nephew. Only, she’s never before mentioned a nephew, or a sibling for that matter.”

“I saw them having sex,” Ryder added. “Scarlet told her father over the phone, not knowing that Claudia was with him. And of course she denied it. I think Claudia is turning King against Scarlet, and the way to punish her is to take me out of the picture.”

“And that can’t happen,” Scarlet said, and pressed herself close to Ryder.

Amaury nodded. “Have you tried to figure out who this Derek guy is? I have the feeling Brandon King needs hard evidence before he believes that his wife is cheating on him.”

“I’ve already spoken to Thomas and Eddie. They’re working on it.”

“Good,” Amaury said, “but in the meantime, you’ve got no choice but to take Scarlet back to him and hope you can explain to him that Scarlet is with you out of her own free will. I mean, you’re over eighteen, right?” He looked at Scarlet.

“I’ll be twenty-five in three months.”

“Well, legally he can’t do anything to keep you from seeing Ryder. But,” Amaury said, “he needs to see you so he can’t claim that Ryder is keeping you locked up somewhere.”

“He’ll try to blackmail me into staying,” Scarlet said.

“Blackmail? How?” Ryder asked.

“I’ll get access to my trust when I turn twenty-five. There are stipulations… he can try to convince the trustees that I’m mentally unstable, and legally, they’d have to prevent me from accessing my trust…”

“You’re not mentally unstable,” Ryder protested, grinding his teeth. “It doesn’t matter. Let him keep the money if that means you’re free to live your life the way you want to.” Free to love him, to be his mate, his forever.

Scarlet lifted her eyes to him. “I don’t care about the money. I just don’t want his cheating wife to get it. Because if the trust goes back to my father, it might as well be hers. She already spends his money with both hands, I’m sure she’ll do the same with my trust, once it reverts back to my father.”

“One thing at a time,” Ryder said. “Let’s first see your father and show him that you’re well, and that I’m not keeping you against your will. Then we’ll deal with the rest. Once we have some dirt on Derek, your father will see reason.”

Slowly, Scarlet nodded. “I hope you’re right.”