Ryder scoffs. “That’s bullshit and you know it. That night was some of the hottest damn sex I’ve ever had and I know you felt it, man. How well we all fit together.”
“Jack, I’m serious… now is not the time…”
His words are drowned out by the memories slamming into me.
Jack.
No.
It can’t be…
It can’t.
“No,” I whimper and both their gazes snap to mine.
“Kitty Kat, thank fuck.” Styx rushes to the side of the bed, taking my hand in his. “I’ve been going out of my fucking mind. I’m so sorry, baby girl. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Hey, Kitten, how you feeling?” Ryder approaches the other side of the bed.
But I’m transfixed on that word.
Kitten.
I always thought it sounded familiar. But I couldn’t place where I’d heard it.
Now I have no problem remembering.
Ryder is Jack, the masked guy from that night at the club.
All this time, and he didn’t tell me.
Theydidn’t tell me.
“Why?” I manage to choke out over the angry storm of emotion raging inside me.
“It’s all my fault,” Styx says, clutching my hand as if he can’t believe I’m awake. “Faith came by, talked me into letting her stay. Said she needed help. But I think it was a ruse. Think she gave her piece of shit boyfriend intel on my place. I’m so fucking sorry, Kat.”
“W-what? I don’t understand. Faith was here, in Red Ridge? She stayed with you?”
Styx nods and a new sense of betrayal snakes through me.
“When?” I ask, trembling.
“The day before you were attacked.”
“She was in your house… you let her stay—”
“Nothing happened. I swear to God, Kitty Kat. She saw you leave and I knew she’d kick up a fuss with Diesel so I let her stay the night, to try and get herself sorted. She played me. I should have known, I should have—”
“Get out.”
“W-what?” The blood drains from his face.
“Come on now, darlin’. Styx screwed up, but he couldn’t have known she was scoping out the place for her junkie boyfriend.”
“Oh, I’m sorryJack, but it seems to me like I can’t trust a single thing that comes out of either of your mouths. There’s the door, you can both get the fuck out.” I snatch my hands out of theirs and pull the sheet up around my body.
“Fuck,” he hisses, scrubbing his jaw. “You heard us talking.”