I humored him. “Yes.”
Jayden’s mouth dropped open. “And? Is he like a dominatrix in the sack? I picture him tying you up and giving orders.”
“Oh my God, no. He’s a weirdly perfect mix of strong and sweet.”
Jayden looked disgusted. He let go of me. “Sweet? How boring.”
I shook my head. “Remind me never to ask about you and Oliver. I don’t even want to know what goes on behind those closed doors.”
Jayden batted his long eyelashes at me. “It’s anything but sweet, I’ll tell you that.”
Before I could retort, Ryder flung open my bedroom door looking pissed. The swirls of silver in his eyes were practically glowing. Unfortunately he was already dressed, wearing his clothes from last night. They looked slightly wet, like he had thrown them on without drying.
Shit.
I was on my feet, coffee forgotten. “What’s wrong?” My heart was racing. My hand went to my hip where I should have been wearing my walkie-talkie. I’d left it in the bedroom. Double shit!
“We got a call.” His voice was clipped as he ran through my kitchen, “A vampire infected a little girl … on purpose.”
“Oh hell no,” I breathed, and took off after him.
The more shit I heard about the vampires, the more I was sure I hated them.
Kyle and the boys were waiting for us at the Humvee. Thankfully one of them had the foresight to bring coffee and a few bottles of blood. Oliver looked as smug as Jayden when he scanned Ryder’s outfit and saw it was the one from the night before. He gave me the same knowing smartass smile as his boyfriend. Nosy ash.
The second we jumped into the car, Kyle gunned it.
“Give me a report,” Ryder ordered while chugging the coffee in one go.
Kyle’s face looked thunderous, his eyes black as night, and I was pretty sure he was flashing fang. “A fucking vampire infected a twelve year old girl. He attacked her.”
“God damn vampires!” Sam was the surprising owner of the angry voice. “They should all be eliminated.” There was that darkness which simmered under the surface of our normally silent enforcer.
“Where is the girl?” My heart was hammering. This was so not okay.
Kyle gritted his teeth. “That’s the really messed up part. She’s in the medical wing, recovering with the permission of the Quorum. They’re acting like this isn’t a big deal.”
Ryder’s face took on a stone cold deadly look. “What? Then where are we going?”
Kyle pointed to the road. “The humans found out and there’s a riot outside the gates. Our orders are to disperse the crowd.”
As we neared the gate to exit the Hive, I saw a bunch of picketers wearing masks. They had signs with Don’t touch our children! and Monsters! written on them.
“Stop the car!” Ryder ordered, and Kyle screeched the Humvee to a halt.
Ryder turned to all of us, staring each in the eyes. “We no longer take orders from the Quorum. I’m not doing this kind of dirty work any longer. If the vampires want this crowd gone, they can do it themselves.”
“That’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said,” I told him, and he graced me with a rare grin.
“I reckon we head back in and mess up every vamp we find. What do you think, mates?” Jared called out.
The Aussie was growing on me. He was hot, he was lethal, and he was not taking shit from the Quorum any longer.
Ryder turned to Kyle. “I want you guys to go back to the locker room and wait for me. I’m going to see the Quorum. Alone.”
“I’m going with you,” I stated as Kyle turned the car around.
Ryder glared at me. “No way. The Quorum already has it out for you.”
I crossed my arms. “Yes way. Lucas won’t let them hurt me.”
I knew the second it came out of my mouth that it was the wrong thing to say.
Ryder’s features hardened, but there was a wounded look in his eyes. “I won’t let anyone hurt you either, Charlie.”
My face fell as the guys all started to stare with great focus out the window.
“I know,” I squeaked. I hadn’t meant to imply that Ryder couldn’t protect me. I just did my usual speak before thinking thing.
Thankfully a distraction arrived in the form of Kyle parking the Humvee back in the garage. None of us wasted time exiting the vehicle and dashing through the Hive. I stayed right by Ryder, even after we left the other five guys at the locker room. I could tell he still wasn’t happy about me coming along, but he was learning not to argue with my stubborn butt. Of course, I had no doubt that if he’d felt that strongly about me staying behind, I’d probably be tied up next to Kyle right about now.
We made our way to the medical wing. Before using his key card to open the door, Ryder turned to look at me. “Don’t do anything stupid.” His tone was serious, but there was a spark of humor across his eyes.
I feigned an innocent look. “Who, me?”
He pressed a quick kiss on my lips. “I didn’t get a chance to say good morning.”