Not because of how high we are.
But because I can feel it—the change.
“I’ll protect you, Ezra,” his words are a gentle rasp, but they turn wicked as he clarifies, “as long as you follow my rules. We do this my way.”
“That sounds ominous,” my tone is wary to cover the zing of excitement that shoots through me.
Ryker’s hands fall away from my face while his mouth pulls into a smirk that is all sin and fire.
I’m in trouble.
And I’ve never felt safer.
CHAPTER 6
RYKER
When the ride starts to move again, I pull out my phone and dial. I hate to do it, I really wish I could enjoy this ride a little more, but I need to make sure Ezra is safe. She says the carnie who saw her was following her which is enough for me.
She’s not one for hysterics.
And I definitely have a few questions for Bobby. Maybe it wasabove board, but I doubt it.
“Show me the carnie again,” I tell Ezra and nod at her camera.
I snap a picture of her display just as Playboy picks up. “What’s up, Prez? Where’d you go?” He sounds chipper as fuck, and I almost roll my eyes.
His attitude is going to get him in trouble. Sometimes he forgets not everyone puts on a comedy mask to hide their pain.
But I’m sure as fuck not going to tell him about his own bullshit. It’ll either bite him in the ass, or it won’t.
“Meet me at the Youth in Government tent,” I growl into the phone, unable to hide how angry I am at the thought of my woman being scared.
My woman.
Fuck.
When I look into Ezra’s blue eyes, all I see is trust.
“Bring Sidewinder,” I add, not breaking our locked gazes.
“You want me to grab Snake, too? He’s right here,” Playboy offers and I can hear the curiosity in his voice.
“No,” I insist, “he’s with Graycie and that’s where he should be. He’ll kill me if she doesn’t have a good time at her first fair or if some shit goes down.”
I don’t give him the chance to respond or speculate on what my words mean because I hang up on him just as the ride glides to a stop at the platform where we get off the ride. After sliding my phone in my pocket, I offer Ezra my hand.
As her hand slides into mine, a feeling of possession roars through my veins. Even though I hate to do it, I let go of herhand and gently lead her through the crowd while touching the small of her back. I glance around, but I don’t see the man who was following Ezra. If he saw her with me, it’s possible he’ll back off. But if there’s something bigger going on here, he might do something stupid and desperate.
Ezra is more alert while we’re walking this time and I’m thankful. Earlier she zoned out and I could tell she was stuck in her head. Part of me was tempted to take her over my knee because she doesn’t really know if she can trust me.
Now, knowing what she had just gone through, she was crashing. Hard.
Thinking about her dad, the county’s fucking sheriff, not taking her concern and fear seriously has me wanting to track the man down and have a very serious conversation with him. He’ll judge the fuck out of me, but leave his own daughter out to dry? I just don’t fucking think so.
Ezra is mine and there’s no way I’ll be able to hold back from claiming her. She just doesn’t know it yet.
Once I get her to the clubhouse, I’m going to make sure she only has reasons to stay.