Page 108 of Wade’s Wrath

“Sounds like her.” Ripper stepped into the room and then stopped. He always did that. He never came closer until she acknowledged him. He never shut the door, and never reached for anything without warning. Sarah had noticed on the first day. By the fourth, she'd started expecting it.

“Coffee?” He lifted the cup.

Her eyes narrowed. “Do you have cinnamon rolls in there?”

“No,” he said.

“Then you failed,” she teased. “What flavor is the coffee?” He had brought her different flavors of coffee each day, as though trying to figure out which one was her favorite.

“The coffee is caramel flavored,” he said.

She considered screwing with him and telling him that she didn’t like caramel, but it was actually her favorite. “I'll accept it.”

“Generous of you,” he mumbled as he crossed the room and set it on the table. Sarah wrapped both hands around the cup. It was warm and sweet. Familiar enough to calm something inside her.

Ripper leaned against the wall. “You ready?”

No. “Sure.” He watched her. Sarah hated how observant he was. Most people heard words and accepted them. Ripper seemed to hear the parts she didn't say out loud.

“No, you're not,” he said.

“I said I was,” she countered.

“Yeah, I heard you. I just don’t believe you,” he said.

“Then why ask?” she questioned.

“Wanted to see if you'd lie to me,” he admitted.

Sarah frowned. “You do that a lot?”

“Ask questions I already know the answer to?” he asked.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Yep,” he said.

“That’s annoying,” she whispered under her breath. She wasn’t sure that he heard her until he responded.

“So I've been told,” he said.

“By everyone?” she asked.

“Pretty much,” he admitted. Sarah smiled despite herself, and then she looked at the bag again. The smile disappeared. Ripper followed her gaze. “You don't have to go to the clubhouse.”

She looked at him. “Where else would I go?” she asked.

“Butcher offered a room at the clubhouse. It's an option, but you can turn him down,” Ripper said.

“I know,” she breathed.

“Do you?” His tone wasn't challenging, just direct.

Sarah picked at the edge of the cardboard coffee sleeve. “I don't have anywhere else to go.”

“That's not the same as having no choice,” he insisted. She looked up at him, and Ripper pushed away from the wall. “You could go to a hotel.”

“I can't afford one,” she said.