was spent trawling through articles about Dad's accident on my phone.
Unsurprisingly, there was nothing that pointed to foul play. Ryland had been right—Estelle did know how to cover her tracks.
Sighing, I switched over to the news websites, dispassionately browsing through the sections.
I hadn't left the motel room for the fourth day in a row, and the inactivity was starting to make me feel trapped. I badly wanted to head out and do something, anything to feel normal again.
But what did ‘normal' even mean now? Was it going to get groceries like it was a regular Wednesday morning, pretending that everything was okay?
Articles flashed on my screen as I scrolled blindly through the business section.
Then one of the headlines made me do a double-take.
Wyatt Corp CEO calls for press conference Friday morning.
I blinked.
From what I recalled, there weren't any conferences scheduled for the next month.
What was going on?
I bit my lip and spent the next few minutes debating if I should call Ryland.
In the end, worry edged out my grief and anger just a fraction.
Before I could change my mind, I turned the phone on. It vibrated immediately as usual, but I ignored the alerts and called Ryland’s number.
He answered within two rings.
“Hey.” His voice ran over my skin like velvet, and I hated how much I missed it.
I cleared my throat. “Hey. I just saw the news. What's up with that?”
“I can't explain over the phone.” He paused. “How are you?”
“I'm fine,” I said curtly. “By the way, if this is a trick to get my attention, it's not going to work.”
“It isn't. I called the conference for another reason. A reason I need to explain to you in person,” Ryland added.
“Nice try. Say it already, or I'm hanging up.”
“I'm stepping down as CEO.”
“What?” I burst. “Why!”
“Like I said, I can't explain over the phone. Meet with me, Allie. Your time and place.”
I floundered for a reply, and Ryland added in a low voice, “Please. I need to see you.”
Jerk. He knew what that did to me.
I paused.
Could I meet the guy who had broken my heart without breaking off another piece of it?
I'd find out soon enough.
“Fine,” I said shortly. “I have something to tell you too. I'll be at Brooklyn Bridge Park in an hour. Meet me at the waterfront.”
Ryland was already waiting when I got to the boardwalk overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
He was standing by the railings with his hands in his coat pockets and his collar turned up against the biting wind. His breath misted in the crisp air, and his gaze roamed over the few other groups of people around. I knew that he was looking for me.
My heart ached as I took in his profile.
I hadn't seen him in four days, but it felt longer than that. Every warning I'd told myself about not caring evaporated with every step I took towards him.
It was all I could do not to run to him, and yet here I was, going forward with the aim of letting him go.
Ryland spotted me from afar and straightened. His gaze heated me even with the distance between us.
I had not been prepared for the way he looked.
There were dark smudges under his eyes, which were red-rimmed and bloodshot. His cheekbones were in even sharper contrast now, as though he had lost some weight in the past few days.
Ryland's gaze followed me all the way until I stood in front of him.
“You have fifteen minutes,” I said quietly. “Use it wisely.”
Ryland reached a hand out slowly, as if I were a wild animal that might bolt at any moment. My breath caught when he caressed my cold cheek with his warm fingers.
“I miss you,” he said solemnly.
I knew I should step away, but I couldn't force myself to move from his touch any more than I could stop breathing. The October air that blew in from the East River was biting cold, and my body drew all its warmth from his hand alone.
“Where are you staying?” Ryland asked next.
“As if I'd tell you.”
Ryland exhaled silently, the white puff of his breath lingering in the air between us. “It's in Brooklyn, since you told me to come here. Probably a hostel or a motel.”
I scowled at his accuracy. “I said I'm not telling.”
“I'm not compromising on your safety, Allie cat. I'll arrange for you and Karin to move into a proper place. It doesn't have to be one of mine, just somewhere I know you're safe.”
“In other words, somewhere you can keep an eye on me. Where I stay is not up to you, Ryland.”
He let his hand fall from my cheek, and I had to bite back a sound of protest.
“This discussion isn't over,” he informed me.
“Yes, it is. What did you want to tell me, about you stepping down from your position? You have twelve minutes left.”
Ryland checked his watch with a small lift of his brow. “Thirteen.”
“Ten,” I said shortly.
Ryland watched me, his expression inscrutable.
“I was an asshole,” he finally said. “Am, an asshole. I wanted to fix it first. Tie it up in a neat bow, and ask your forgiveness after I did.”
“That's not how it works.” I stared up into his beautiful, heartbreaking face. “You lied to me. My father died, and I didn't even know how or why.”
“I know. It was fucked up.” Ryland thrust his hand into his hair. “I fucked up. When I saw you that night,” he said haltingly, “at the exhibition, I thought that you were something I deserved, for all those years I'd given up. For all the shit I had to do for Wyatt Corp. I thought you were my reward.”
My brows drew together. “I'm more than that, Ryland.”
“You are, and I should have done everything differently from the start.” Ryland watched me with intent blue eyes. “I came to tell you just one thing, Allie cat. I'm not giving you up.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“I know that makes me a selfish bastard,” he said grimly, “but fuck, that's who I am. And I can't stop wanting you any more than I can stop breathing. If I have to, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, chasing you down.”
My stomach did a flip at Ryland’s solemn confession, even though I was uneasy.
Was he stepping down just so he could make it up to me? That wasn't what I wanted at all.
Ryland watched me with an inscrutable expression. “After I make the announcement that I'm stepping down, I'll go to the police and turn Estelle in for your father's murder.”
I stared at him in shock. “But she has the weapon with your fingerprints on it. Won't she just pin it on you?”
“She'll try,” Ryland agreed, “but the fact that she bribed a member of the force will play a role in the case. If it works out, I'll only go down as her accomplice. It's not as good as her taking full responsibility for it, but at least she isn't getting away scot-free, and Cam and Gabriel will also be clear of it. And most importantly,” he tugged my hair from the wind and tucked it behind my ear, “I can give you closure.”
“Closure?” I echoed dumbly.
“For your father's death.” Ryland’s gaze was grave. “I can't return him back to you, but I can give you justice for his murder, and the life you deserve.”
Then his lips curved ruefully. “It's been a long time coming, Allie cat. You won't worry about making rent and bills anymore. You can travel the world, or go to college. I already have the finances in order.”
I blinked, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
Ryland raised a brow expectantly. “So? What do you think?”
“What do I think?” I repeated, dumbfounded.
Then I shoved hard at his chest.
Ryland was so surprised he stumbled back a step. His stunned expression would have been funny if not for the fact that he had just offered to throw his life away, and for what?
For closure?
“What do I think! I think that for a Fortune 500 CEO, you can be so…” I choked as I searched for the right word, “dense!”
Ryland blinked, but he wisely held his tongue.
“I don't want you to take the fall just so I can have closure! Sacrificing yourself is not closure! What am I going to after you go to jail? Live happily on your money?”
He frowned. “That was the idea—”
I beat a fist against his chest, angry tears building. “Don't ever, ever, say something like that. You can't throw everything away for such a dumb reason—”
Ryland grabbed my hand in his, forcing me to meet his intent gaze.
“I can,” he said in a low voice. “If that's what it takes to earn your forgiveness, I can give that up and more. Allie, it was hell seeing you cry and knowing I caused it. Knowing I could do fuck-all about it.” His expression turned dark. “I won't let that happen again.”
“You're doing it right now!” Frustration pricked at my eyes. “I don't care if Estelle is right there beside you in prison, I'd let her walk free for my father's murder if it meant keeping you out of it.”
“Allie—”
“You don't get to ruin your life just so I'll forgive you. It's not that easy, you selfish, stupid jerk!”
Ryland tugged me into his arms. I struggled weakly, but he held me firm in the warm cage of his body.
“You care for me, don’t you,” he murmured, resting his chin on the top of my head.
“No,” I said sullenly. “Stupid assholes aren't my type.”
Ryland laughed softly, sounding relieved.
“I care for you too,” he said. “I don't have the right to say it, but I will anyway. I care for you, very fucking much.”
I absorbed his words helplessly.
“Then don't do something like that,” I mumbled. “I don't want it.”
Ryland exhaled, his breath stirring the hairs at my temple. “The other alternative is paying Estelle off, but I don't want a single cent to go to that bitch. She tried to hurt you.”
“What about Theo? He isn’t involved. He might know a way.”
“I thought of that too, but there's a high chance it won't pan out the way I want.”
“Talk to him first,” I insisted. “Don't turn yourself in for a crime you didn't commit.”
Ryland was silent for a long moment, rubbing his chin on my hair.
“Okay,” he finally said. “Okay, I'll talk to Theo.”
I shut my eyes in relief. “And this time, I want to be in on everything. What you talk about with Theo. How far Cam and you are getting with your lawyers.”
Ryland’s arms stiffened, and I knew he wanted to object.
“He was my father, Ryland,” I said quietly. “Estelle may be dangerous, but I can’t hide from this.”
“I know. And if I keep it from you, you’ll just go behind my back anyway.”
“Yep.” I pulled away from his arms, knowing that I was getting too comfortable.
Ryland didn’t comment on it. “Now that prison is not in my immediate future, I’ll lay out my plans to win you back,” he said instead, sounding businesslike again. “You tell me which will work and which won't, and I'll scrap the ineffective methods and double down on those with promise.”
“I don't know if I can ever forgive you,” I told him honestly. “I don't know if it will ever be right between us again, and I rather you didn't waste your time. That’s what I came to tell you. We’re over.”
“And I told you I'm not letting go.” Ryland’s hand went to my cheek again, as if he needed to touch me constantly.
“Even if it takes the rest of my life,” he told me, “I'll earn your trust again. But a word of warning, Allie cat. I've always played dirty. It's the only way I know, and I'm going to pull all the stops. Starting now.”
He reached into his coat and took out a manila envelope, handing it to me.
“What is it?” I asked warily as I opened it.
A letter and a colorful, glossy booklet slipped out into my hands.
I'd seen those before when Karin had first been accepted into college. My eyes went wide as they scanned the letter, catching the phrases “Alecia Grace Beckett,” “pleased to welcome you,” and “School of Business Management.”
Ryland had gotten me accepted into Bramston University.
“How did you know?” I whispered, staring up at him in shock.
Ryland's smile was a little smug. “Because I know you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Try again.”
“You were always the studious type, even back in San Juan.” He shrugged. “And you spent the past ten years working to give your sister a college education when you missed out on it yourself. So I sent in your SAT and GPA scores and job experiences.”
“And they accepted me just like that?”
Ryland looked uneasy, rubbing the back of his neck. “They would have, since your scores are pretty impressive. But I wanted to speed things up, since I expected to meet with you. So I wrote to the Dean with a letter of recommendation.”
“Wow. You expected to meet with me. I'm amazed at your presumptuousness.” Shaking my head, I stuffed the contents back in the envelope. “Thanks for your bribe, but I’ll have to pass. I can't accept an application that wasn't rightfully earned.”
“You earned it, I was just moving things along—” Ryland broke off at my set expression. “Look, there's an open house coming up in a couple months. At least check it out before deciding.”
“We'll see,” I muttered, tucking the envelope into my bag. “You weren't kidding when you said you didn't play fair.”
Ryland's gaze sharpened. “Why? Is it working?”
“No.” I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and stuffed my hands into my pockets. “I'll see you around, Ryland.”
“Wait.” He took my arm, staying me. “You haven't told me where you're staying.”
“And I'm not going to.”
“I have a unit at 3rd Avenue—”
“No.”
“I need to know you're safe,” Ryland said simply. “So until you tell me, we'll be standing in this wind, freezing our asses off. Choose.”
His immovable expression told me I wasn't going anywhere until he got his answer.
I raised my eyes to the sky. “I'm looking for a new apartment for us. I'll text you the address after I iron out the details, but in return, there will be no bodyguards, no tailing me, no any of that crap. I'll keep my sister and me safe from now.”
“Fine,” he clipped, letting go of my arm reluctantly.
“Goodbye, Ryland.”
I turned from him, feeling his gaze burning into my back the whole time I walked away.
Just after I got back to the motel room, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
“Are you back safely?” it read.
I hesitated a moment before texting simply, “Yes.”
Ryland’s reply came immediately. “Tell me something only I would know.”
“You're an asshole.”
“Everyone knows that. Try again: Where was the first time we met?”
I bit my lip at the question.
The first time I’d spoken to Ryland was at the art exhibition, but that wasn't the first time he'd spoken to me.
“In the hall in high school. You had your arm around two girls and had the nerve to ask me out on a date. In your car.”
A long minute went by, then my phone vibrated again.
“I don't remember the girls, but the rest is correct. I'll see you soon, Allie cat.”