I look in the mirror, pushing back the uncertainty that’s been haunting me the past three days since Viktor attacked me. There’s still some bruising, but the puffiness is just about gone.

The first night was the worst. Ryker’s sporting a bruise too after a PTSD nightmare had me lash out blindly in my sleep and nail him in the eye with an elbow. If I ever needed reminding that Ryker is different from Jacob, it was his reaction to that. He never even raised his voice. He just brushed it off and did his best to calm me down.

It’s been like that the past three days. He’s doted on me, nursed me, and been the perfect man for me. When Marcus or anyone else comes by, he has them talk in the living room, never excluding me but also giving me privacy if I don’t want to listen in.

Still, I’ve been going stir-crazy in the apartment. Yesterday, I worked up the nerve to go down to the basement with Ryker as he exercised, but finally, this morning, I’ve had enough.

“So what do you want to do?” Ryker asks me as I come out of the bedroom in a plain scoop-neck tank top and jeans. His eyes flicker down to my cleavage, but in another sign that Ryker’s wonderful, he doesn’t say anything. He’s being supportive but giving me space, waiting for me show that I’m ready before he tries to be intimate.

“I need to get out of here,” I say, surprising him. “I can’t spend the rest of my life holing up in this apartment like some sort of modern-day Howard Hughes. I want to go see the building that the Foundation’s looking at renovating.”

Ryker gives me a relieved smile and nods. “Great. You don’t mind if you’re escorted, though?” he asks, but it’s pretty clear I’m not leaving his sight without security.

I shake my head. “Of course. That’s fine and definitely for the best right now. Think you can ask Kendra? A little bit of girl time, and I think you’ve done more than enough to have earned a little bit of guy time. Go hang out with your brother, have a cheeseburger or something.”

“I think we’ll do more than that, but I’m sure Kendra would be happy to be your bodyguard today,” Ryker replies. He gets on his phone, and about two hours later, the elevator dings as Marcus and Kendra arrive.

“Well, you two look comfy as hell,” Kendra says, spying Ryker and me sprawled out on the couch. “Someday, I need to retire or something, get cuddle time like that.”

“First, you gotta have someone to cuddle with,” Marcus replies, and she gives him a smirk that makes Marcus blush slightly.

“So, how have you been?” Kendra asks me, sitting down. I can see the print of the gun tucked inside her pants pocket, and she glances down, adjusting.

“Ready to get out of here, do something productive,” I reply. “How’s things for you guys?”

Kendra gives Ryker a questioning look, obviously asking if she should speak freely in front of me. Ryker gives it right back, then glances at me. “It’s your decision.”

I shake my head, leaning forward. “I’m tired of ducking out. Guys, I need to hear it. Good, bad, or ugly. I’ve come to accept that the man I love is a criminal. I don’t care what the law sees him as, and what you guys are doing right now . . . it might be against the law, but it’s not wrong.”

Ryker’s eyes glow with warmth and love, and Kendra looks impressed as she gives me another evaluating look.

“Joe did his recon and then went into action last night,” Kendra says as she leans forward. “Dezzie and Sam were taken out at their hangouts in typical Joe style.”

“What, exactly, does that mean?” I ask curiously.

“He’s our wet work guy. They were barely in the morgue before the word got out on the streets. This morning, the rats are scattering. Even our guys are pledging loyalty again, just in case, so that they don’t meet Joe.”

Marcus speaks up for the first time. “Yeah, I’ve been soothing scared big-ass dudes all damn morning. But really, the overall effect is what we expected. Jacob’s network, other than Viktor, is one hundred percent dismantled. Our grip on the city is stronger than ever, and everyone knows we’ll go full-throttle if needed. Even some of the holdout neutrals like Jacob’s cops have reached out through their own channels to make it very clear they don’t want to piss us off.”

“Tell Chief Matthews we appreciate the gesture of friendship,” I reply after a moment. I lean back, dark hilarity bubbling up through me as I start to laugh. Ryker reaches over, taking my hand, worried I might be pushed too far by this.

“Sarah, honey, it had to be done. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t the life you want, but I had to do this. Please understand.”

I realize he thinks I’m upset about the two deaths, some meek mouse cowering from the scary world around her. I understand, really. The past three nights, I’ve averaged about four hours of sleep per night, and not a lot of it being very restful. But I’m strong too, and I steel my gaze at him.

“Ryker, fuck that. I’m not upset you had those men killed. There’s just one more thing. Kendra said Dezzie and Sam, but what about Viktor? The job’s not done yet.”

Ryker’s eyes burn as my meaning soaks through his surprise, and he nods. “Are you sure?”

I reach across, grabbing his hand. “He could’ve killed me, and if I’d been physically able to, I would’ve killed him myself. Because he’s more than just a threat to me, but a threat to you, to your brother, and to the people I care about. There’s a saying I learned back when I was acting, and I always felt silly repeating it. But it makes sense now. Ride or die. And I know you live by that. So thank you. Thank you for doing what I couldn’t do and keeping not just me safe, but the whole city.”

I move in to kiss Ryker, and I can feel his relief as he covers my mouth with his. In an instant, the fire ignites and I’m nearly straddling his waist when I hear someone loudly clearing their throat. I turn, blushing when I see Kendra and Marcus watching us, Kendra looking amused and Marcus looking like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world right this second. Pulling back, I grin sheepishly. “Sorry, guys, got a little carried away.”

Marcus laughs, shrugging. “Quite all right, although I could do without seeing my ugly as hell brother like that. Not again.”

The boys grin at each other, and I catch a glimpse of what they were probably like as kids, always mischievous and getting into trouble. “Yeah, well,” Ryker says, patting my hip, “I think Sarah and Kendra have a visit to make?”

“We do,” Kendra says, bouncing to her feet. “Don’t worry, she’ll be safe.”

I give Ryker a quick goodbye peck on the lips to avoid any more temptation or awkwardness before grabbing my purse and getting in the elevator with Kendra. The doors close, and she gives me a grin. “So . . . ride or die?”

I giggle. The way she says it makes me laugh, and I nod. “Um, yeah. Hey, got a question. Who’s Joe?”

For the rest of the ride down the elevator, I’m in awe as Kendra tells me about the junior high school teacher-slash-hitman, thinking surely, she’s joking, but apparently, he’s the most incognito scary dude in the city.

“Oh, Joe did have one request for this job. He’s apparently a big fan and appreciates what you’re looking at doing with the Broken Angel Foundation. He’s weird like that, ruthless but with a soft side too. He wondered if you’d make an appearance at his school and give a talk about healthy relationships and what to do if you’re in an abusive one. He thinks it’d be a good intro for his students to hear before they start dating in high school.”

I’m in awe that someone wants to hear me talk and thinks I’d have a positive impact. I’m sure not an expert on that topic, but I do know what it’s like to be in an unhealthy relationship. I nod excitedly. “Absolutely. I’d love to.”

Kendra grins, cranking the engine on her car. “Good. I gotta tell you, though, Joe’s not the only person in the life who’s glad about your Foundation.”

Something in her tone gives me pause. “What’s your story?” I ask. “I mean, tell me to fuck off if you want. I won’t be offended. But you know, you’re like the only female friend I have. We’re supposed to share this stuff, right?”

Kendra pulls out into the street, her mouth going tight. “Someday, Sarah . . . maybe I’ll have the guts to tell you. Until then, just know I’ve been forced to stare into the abyss long enough that it knows me inside and out too.”