Chapter Twenty

Bryn

An hour after lunch, Cullen fell asleep on the sofa, watching television. He had wanted to go to the park today, but I had been waiting to hear from Rio that it was safe. I didn’t like having to keep Cullen inside all day, but I had no other choice.

Rio had said he was going to handle things this morning. Maybe he hadn’t planned on updating me. I was just supposed to trust he had done it. However, I had Cullen’s safety to worry about, and I needed to know for sure. I thought about calling Henley and checking to see if she had heard anything. In the end, I decided to just wait. If I didn’t hear from him by tomorrow, I would call Henley. Right now, we would stay inside, locked up safely.

I wasn’t sure what I expected now that he knew the truth about the Jeep. I hated that Cullen had heard any of that, but there was a sense of relief. No matter how I felt about Rio March, him knowing I wasn’t the kind of person who would bash in someone’s vehicle was important. He knew my background, and as stupid as it was, I wanted him to see what I had overcome. He had made it out, thanks to his grandparents. I had made it out, thanks to me. I had done it. I had survived it.

Rio had kept his distance when I arrived in town. Other than a nod and smile when he saw me at work, there was nothing else. He looked at me as someone lower than himself. It had been painful at first, but I was over that now. Or close to over it.

I knew the job I worked to give Cullen a decent life was something Rio saw as a failure. I needed to stop caring what he thought of me. It did not matter. I was never someone he had interest in since my return. I was the one with the silly attraction to a boy I’d once known, dreaming of something stupid when I’d decided to come here and find him.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts, and I glanced back at the sofa to make sure it hadn’t woken Cullen. Moving quietly, I made my way to the window to peek outside to see who it was. It wouldn’t be Rio. I had expected a call or possibly a text from Rio but gotten neither. There was no chance he was going to come by here to update me in person.

Saint’s tall form startled me, and I dropped the curtain and quickly went to open the door. My first concern was something being wrong with Marley or possibly Trix. Instead of letting Saint inside, I stepped outside so that our voices wouldn’t wake Cullen.

Without my platform heels on, I had to tilt my head back to make eye contact with Saint. The leather jacket he was wearing told me he was on his Harley. There was no other need for a jacket this time of year.

“Sorry, Cullen fell asleep on the sofa. I don’t want to wake him up,” I explained, nodding my head toward the door. “What’s wrong?” I then asked, trying to tamp down my imagination.

Saint smirked. “I miss you. That’s what’s wrong,” he replied.

Oh. I stood there, relieved that this visit wasn’t because something bad had happened. “I, uh, I think I’ve just been expecting the worst lately.”

His smirk instantly faded. “Has something else happened?”

I shook my head. Marley would have updated him on things. She had sent me a text last night, and I’d explained the situation. I knew that was part of the reason Saint was here.

Saint scanned the area with his gaze. I had no doubt he could spot a problem. It was his main job at the club. He weeded out the trouble before it became an issue.

“You shouldn’t be staying here alone,” he said, his gaze locking back on me.

I opened my mouth to say that we were fine and explain how things were being handled, but I didn’t get a word out before another voice spoke up.

“They’re not alone,” Rio said from behind me.

I spun around to face him. He had come back. My heart rate picked up, and I wanted to curse myself for feeling anything where Rio was concerned. So, he had come to tell me what had happened instead of calling. Henley had probably made him do this.

Rio wasn’t looking at me. He was glaring at Saint. Rio stepped beside me, much closer than I was used to him being. I could feel the heat from his body. If he moved an inch closer, he’d be pressed against a portion of my back.

Why was he acting possessive? Did he assume Saint was here to make me work? I had to say something, I realized.

“Rio, y-y-y-you r-remember Saint from the c-c-c-club,” I stammered, wincing at the sound of my voice.

Rio needed to back away from me. I was struggling to focus on my words. My breathing was a bit off too.

His gaze dropped from Saint to me. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Of course,” I replied. Why wouldn’t I be okay?

“She was fine until you arrived.” Saint’s deep voice reminded me he was here, and my gaze swung back to him.

I felt my face heat from him witnessing my obvious weakness where Rio was concerned. I had told Saint that a guy broke me. He didn’t need to know who, and if I continued to stammer and act nervous, he would figure it out easily enough.

“She wasn’t struggling with her words when I left her this morning. That leaves me to assume you’re the cause of it.” Rio’s tone was challenging.

“Funny thing,” Saint replied. “She rarely ever stutters and never like this.”

I felt Rio stiffen beside me, and although I wasn’t sure why Rio was unhappy about Saint being here, I did know why Saint didn’t like Rio.

I held up my hand and took a deep breath before speaking. “Stop. Please.”

Both sets of eyes were on me then. My heart began to quicken its pace, and I was unsure what it was I needed to say and if I had the ability to say it without struggling with each word. The door opening slowly behind us saved me from having to do anything.

“Bryn?” Cullen said softly, looking from me to both men, then back at me.

I moved over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. I could see the fear in his eyes and realized he’d woken alone, and like so many times before, he’d thought he’d been left. I never wanted him to feel that way again.

“Hey, buddy. I didn’t know you were awake. We had company, so I kept them out here, so you could sleep,” I explained to him.

He moved closer to me then, pressing his small body against my leg. My heart ached, as I knew he was searching for security. I was all he had. I slipped my arm around him and held him there, then looked up at Rio and then at Saint. I no longer felt nervous, but protective, and I knew I could control my words. Cullen needed me.

“Thank you for stopping by, Saint. I appreciate it. We are fine,” I told him. I knew his rough appearance would frighten Cullen.

The dark look in his eyes made it clear he believed something was going on between Rio and me. He had that all wrong, but I wasn’t going to explain it to him. This part of my life wasn’t Saint’s business. I hadn’t crossed that line with him, and I never would. He was work. This was home.

“If you need me, call,” he said. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

I sighed in relief. I didn’t want to burn bridges, but Saint would always be my boss and a friend. Nothing more. I didn’t want him in my personal life. It was separate from the club and needed to stay that way.

“Can we go inside?” Rio asked, and I nodded but said nothing as I walked Cullen back into the apartment.

I heard Rio close the door behind us, and I bent down, so I could look into Cullen’s eyes. Before I moved any further with Rio’s visit and the information he had for me, I wanted to reassure Cullen.

“If you ever wake up and you can’t find me, I will always be right outside the door. I did that, so we wouldn’t disturb you. But, buddy, I will never, ever leave you here. I promise you that,” I told him, holding both his little hands in mine.

“Pinkie promise?” he asked me.

I let go of his right hand and held out my pinkie for him to link with his.

“Pinkie promise,” I said as we held our pinkies together like that for a moment.

He let go and put his little arms around my neck. I held him close, swallowing the emotion clogging my throat. It would take years for him to trust me completely. I’d left him with his mother too much. She had ruined his faith in adults or having any form of security.

“I love you,” I told him, wishing those three words could heal all the mistakes.

“I love you too,” he replied and squeezed me harder.