In bed with Havoc

CHAPTER SIX

AVA

I woke up to white ceiling above me and the steady beep of a heart monitor.

My body felt heavy like someone had filled my body with cement. Everything hurt. My ribs ached with each breath, my head throbbed and even blinking felt like work.

I tried to sit up but pain shot through my torso and I fell back against the pillows with a gasp. That was when I noticed the IV line taped to my arm and the bandages wrapped around my left wrist. My right temple felt tight and when I touched it carefully I felt stitches under more gauze.

Where was I?

The room looked expensive.

It had floor to ceiling windows on one side that showed nothing but darkness outside. The furniture was modern and minimalist. Everything was white, chrome and spotless. A medical cart sat near the bed with supplies that looked straight out of a hospital.

This was not a hospital though. Hospitals did not have silk sheets or designer lamps or the this kind of silence that made me feel like I was in the middle of nowhere.

I tried to piece together what happened. The car crash. The men chasing me. The flash drive still tucked under my seat assuming they had not found it. And then Ryder.

Ryder had been there.

My stomach twisted. That made no sense. Why would Ryder Kane be in the middle of nowhere at the exact moment I crashed? Why would he pull me from the wreckage? And why would he bring me here?

Unless this was not a rescue at all.

Was he working for the people chasing after me?

Movement near the window caught my attention. A figure stood with his back to me. He was tall broad shouldered with dark hair hanging on it.

He wore black slacks and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hands were in his pockets and he stood perfectly still like a statue.

I knew that posture. I had memorized it years ago when I was stupid enough to think I would spend the rest of my life with him.

"Ryder." My voice came out rough and scratchy.

He turned slowly. The moonlight hit his face and I saw him clearly for the first time in five years.

He looked older and harder. The boyish softness I remembered was gone and replaced by sharp angles and edges. His jaw was covered in stubble. His gray eyes were unreadable. A small scar ran through his left eyebrow that had not been there before.

He looked at me like I was a problem he needed to solve.

"You're awake." His voice was flat. It held no warmth or concern. Just a statement of fact.

"Where am I?" I tried to sit up again and this time managed to prop myself against the headboard despite the pain screaming through my body.

"My estate."

"Your estate." I repeated the words slowly. "You brought me to your estate."

"Yes."

"Why?"

He did not answer. He just stood there watching me with those cold gray eyes that gave nothing away.

"Ryder." My voice harsher. "Why am I here?"

"You crashed on my property. I found you and I brought you inside."

"Bullshit." I ripped the IV from my arm without thinking. Blood welled up but I did not care. "You don't just happen to own property in the middle of the desert. You didn't just happen to find me. What the hell is going on?"

He walked toward the bed and I pressed back against the pillows instinctively. He stopped a few feet away and crossed his arms.

"You need rest. We can talk when you're stronger."

"No." I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The room tilted but I gripped the mattress and forced myself to stay upright. "We're talking now. Where's my phone? Where are my keys? I need to leave."

"Everything's been secured."

"Secured." What the f**k. "You mean you took them."

"I mean they're safe."

"Give them back."

"No."

I stood up too fast. Pain shot through my ribs and I stumbled. Ryder moved forward like he was going to catch me but I held up a hand.

"Don't touch me."

He stopped. His jaw tightened but he said nothing as he dropped his hands to his side.

"I need my things." I was shaking now from pain or anger or both. "I need to leave. People are after me and I can't stay here."

"I know people are after you. That's why you're staying."

"You can't keep me here."

"I can and I will."

Before I could respond the door opened and aman walked in. He was built like a tank with short cropped hair and the kind of presence that screamed military. He wore tactical gear and had a gun holstered at his hip.

"Everything okay?" He looked between Ryder and me.

"Fine." Ryder did not take his eyes off me. "Gabe this is Ava Sinclair. Ava this is Gabe Walker. My head of security."

"Security." I laughed but there was no humor in it. "Of course you have security. Why wouldn't you?"

Gabe studied me carefully. "Your brother hasn't returned our calls."

My blood went cold. "Ethan? You called Ethan?"

"Multiple times." Gabe glanced at Ryder. "No response yet."

"Why would you call him?" I looked at Ryder. "What does he have to do with this?"

"He works for me." Ryder's voice was calm. Too calm. "I run a private security. I owe him a debt. So until it's safe you stay here under my protection."

Something about the way he said it felt wrong.

The words sounded more rehearsed than true.

"You're lying."

Ryder's expression did not change. "I'm not."

"Yes you are." I took a step toward him and ignored the pain. "Ethan would have told me if he worked for you. He would have mentioned it. We talk every few weeks and he's never said your name once."

"Maybe he didn't think it was important."

"Or maybe you're lying." My voice rose. "Maybe you're making this up because you need an excuse to keep me here. What's your real reason Ryder? Why did you bring me to your estate? Why are you keeping me locked up like some kind of prisoner?"

"You're not a prisoner."

"Then let me leave."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not safe."

"That's not your decision to make."

"It is now." He moved closer. His presence filled the space between us. "You're in danger Ava. Serious one. The people who ran you off the road aren't going to stop. They'll keep coming until they find you. Until they finish what they started."

"So what?" I shoved his chest. It was like pushing a wall. "You think you can protect me? You think I need you?"

"Yes."

"I don't need anyone." My hands were shaking. "Especially not you. You're a liar and a control freak and a kidnapper."

"Call it what you want." His voice stayed level like nothing I said affected him. "You're staying until this is over."

"This is insane." I turned away from him and grabbed the IV stand for support. "You can't just keep me here. I have a life. I have work. I have people who will look for me."

"Let them look." Ryder walked toward the door. "They won't find you here."

"Ryder." I spun back around. "Don't you dare walk away from me."

He stopped with his hand on the doorknob. For a second I thought he might turn around and actually explain what was happening.

But he didn't.

He just said two words.

"Goodnight Red."

Then he walked out.

I heard the lock click.

"No." I ran to the door and grabbed the handle. It would not turn. "No no no. Ryder open this door."

Silence.

"Ryder!" I pounded on the wood with both fists. Pain shot through my wrist but I did not care. "You can't do this. You can't lock me in here. Open the door!"

Nothing.

I pressed my ear against the wood and heard his footsteps moving down the hallway, getting quieter and fading away.

"Ryder!" I screamed his name until my throat was raw and I tasted blood. "Let me out!"

But he was already gone.