by Nicola Haken
I could only assume Ryder’s reunion with his parents didn’t go well, that it’d brought painful memories to the surface. Now he was all alone in a cell, not knowing whether anyone was coming to help him. Was he scared? Angry? Wanting to hurt himself? Whatever was going through his mind it killed me inside to know I couldn’t wrap my arms around him and absorb some of his pain.
“Oh, Ryder…” I muttered to myself, clutching a pillow close to my chest.
I spent the rest of the night awake. Every so often I would walk around the room, look out of the window or draw pointless doodles on the notepad on the nightstand. I needed to see him. Surely they couldn’t stop him having visitors? Didn’t that go against his human rights or some shit like that? With that thought, I decided that as soon as daylight rolled around, I would phone the police station and ask when I could see him.
**********
It was two days later before I was allowed to visit Ryder. I’d not even been allowed to talk on the phone with him. I did however keep in close contact with Elle, Ivan - who was staying on a different floor of the hotel, and Sawyer and Jake were due to land some time this afternoon. Elle told me which police station was holding Ryder and after several phone calls they finally agreed to let me see him. I was given an appointment time of 10:30 AM, and I was sitting in the reception area by 09:50 AM.
“Mr George?”
“Yes,” I answered, standing from the plastic chair without even checking who’d said my name.
“This way, please.” I followed the man, dressed in a dark grey suit, down the long corridor and around a corner. He proffered his hand towards a dark blue door and I stepped forward, thanking him as I stepped past. “An officer will be in there with you at all times,” he informed me. I nodded, too anxious to reply with words, and then pushed open the blue door.
“Ryder,” I breathed, relief flooding my veins just from the sight of him. He stood up from behind the table he was sitting at, and I ran over to him, holding out my arms.
“No touching,” the officer standing in the corner of the room barked. Huffing in disappointment, I backed away. We didn’t take our eyes off each other as we both lowered ourselves into opposing chairs. He looked so tired, his face pale and his green eyes dull.
“It’s so fucking good to see you,” Ryder said, the rims of his eyes red from unshed tears. His arm reached out across the table to touch me but he quickly retreated it, presumably remembering the rules. His knuckles were swollen with angry cuts and I wondered what the hell had happened to him. “That gear wasn’t mine,” he added before I had a chance to reply. “I swear to you, Mason. I’ve only ever been honest with you. You know me better than anybody. Look into my eyes,” he ordered, tapping the top of his cheekbone with a pointed finger. “Look at them and see that I’m telling the truth. I don’t know what the fuck is going on here but I haven’t done anything.”
“I believe you,” I said, because I genuinely did. Just like he said, all it took was one look into his eyes. I’d always felt this sense of being able to see behind them, and this was no different. I saw pain, I saw fear, but I didn’t see guilt or regret.
“Someone planted it. They must have. I know it sounds crazy, like something you see in the movies, but there’s no other explanation. After leaving my parents’ I went to a pub.” Until that moment I’d almost forgotten about his parents. I still didn’t know what happened during their meeting but right now there were bigger issues that needed concentrating on. “There was this guy. He recognized me as Kyle. He came onto me a little, ran his hand down my side. Maybe he did it. I keep asking them to look into it, to find him and question him, but they’re not interested. I’ve been charged, Mase.”
“Holy shit,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“They’re not just talking possession either. They’re trying to get me for supplying too. I’ve never supplied anyone in my damn life! They’re transferring me this afternoon.”
“Transferring you? Transferring you where?”
“Prison. I’ve been refused bail so they’re putting me on remand. I’m fucking scared, Mason.”
“Listen to me,” I said, trying to force confidence into my voice. “We will fix this. Sawyer and Jake will be here this afternoon and you’ve got the best lawyer money can buy. Stay strong for me, Ry. This will be over soon, I promise.”
“You don’t have the power to promise me that, tiger,” he said dolefully. “But I love you for saying it anyway.”
“Time’s up, guys,” the officer who’d been watching us like a hawk the whole time interrupted.
“Don’t give up, Ryder, because I sure as hell won’t.”
“Can you leave your mobile number with reception? I don’t know it and I get another phone call when I reach the prison. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Sure,” I said, nodding solemnly. I wanted to touch him so badly. Stoke his hair, hold him, soothe him. “I love you, Ryder.”
Ryder simply nodded, drawing his bottom lip into his mouth and biting down on it. I could tell by the prominent gulp he took he was staying silent in an effort to prevent himself from crying.
“Come on,” the annoying as shit officer reminded, now hovering impatiently by my side. “Time to go.”
“Call you later,” Ryder said, his voice trembling.
“Stay strong,” I mouthed, forcing a smile even though I was dying inside. Blinking my tears away before they had chance to fall, I turned towards the door and left, leaving a piece of myself back inside that room.
**********
Later that afternoon I received a phone call from Sawyer to say they’d arrived. He gave me the address of their hotel and told me to bring all my things along as they’d reserved a room for me there. I felt uncomfortable taking from them, and planned to pay them back as soon as we got back to the States, until the taxi I was travelling in pulled up outside one of the most extravagant hotels I’d ever seen in my life.
“Holy shit,” I muttered quietly, closing the cab door. I was greeted upon arrival by the concierge, who immediately took hold of the suitcases I was lugging behind me. He guided me to reception, where a woman with fiery-red hair provided me with a key-card before asking ‘Daniel’, the man with my suitcases, to escort me to the penthouse.
When we reached the top floor there was a set of oak, double doors right in front of the elevator. On the wall next to them was a doorbell. A freakin’ doorbell! So I pressed it, and almost instantaneously the door began to open.
“Come on in,” Jake said, stepping aside so I could pass him. I heard the brief exchange, a tip I assumed, with the concierge and then Jake joined me on the couch I’d taken the liberty of sitting myself on.
“Ah, you’re here,” Sawyer said with a genuine smile on his face as he walked into the room. Judging by his damp hair and the fact he was dressed only in sweat pants, I assumed he’d just emerged from the shower. I stood up to greet him, and he wrapped me in manly hug, patting my back. “So, the little shit’s got himself in a pickle, huh?” His words were teasing, but there was no humor in his tone.
“He’s real scared, Sawyer. I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ve gotta be honest, it’s not looking too good. With his history and the fact they found him in possession…” Sawyer shook his head and in made my heart sink into my stomach. If Ryder’s friends didn’t believe in him, what hope did he have?
“They weren’t his. I know he has a past and I know it doesn’t look good but I believe him. I know him. I know when he’s lying.”
“Why weren’t you with him when he was arrested?” Jake asked. “Did you have a fight?”
“No,” I answered, sitting back down opposite him. Sawyer headed over to the minibar, pulling out three bottles of sparkling water and then sat down next to me. “He’d been to visit his parents. I can only assume it didn’t go well because he didn’t come back to the hotel.”
“Yeah, Elle mentioned something about that. They’re arseholes from the sound of it,” Saw
yer said.
“Hmm,” I mumbled, wishing I knew what had happened between them and Ryder that night.
“Mason,” Jake said my name with such seriousness. “Are you keeping anything from us about Ryder? We know he’s had a shitty upbringing, but if you know anything else you need to tell us. If someone else is behind this, then we need to start trying to work out who.”
“I don’t understand. Who would want to set him up? How would they think they could get away with it?”
“Someone influential perhaps. Someone who knows the system, maybe even ‘works’ with it.”
“His father.” The word popped out of my mouth before my brain had even thought it. “He’s a politician, right?”
“But why would his father go to such extremes? It doesn’t make sense,” Jake countered.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I’m clutching at straws I guess. But it’s worth looking into, no?”
“Maybe. What else do you know?”
“Nothing.”
“Mason?”
“Nothing that could be related to this.”
“You don’t know that. I’ve spent my whole adulthood in security, protecting people, searching for people. Believe me, everything is important.”
“He trusts me,” I said defensively.
“He’s in prison, Mason,” Jake uttered. “Whatever you tell us is to help him, and it goes no further than us.”
“When Ry was fifteen…” I’m sorry, Ryder, I said silently in my mind. “He was raped.”
“Jesus,” Jake gasped, closing his eyes briefly.
“Fucking hell. That poor kid,” Sawyer added, taking a swig of his water.
“It was a friend of his dad’s. Completely fucked with his head. Honestly, on the outside he’s this young, carefree, confident guy…but inside, inside he’s so damn broken.”
“Should we be looking into this guy?”
“He’s dead.”
“Look, Mason, I know you’re worried, we all are, but there’s nothing we can do tonight. Go to your room and rest. You look like you haven’t slept in days. We’ll visit his parents tomorrow, find out what happened there.”
“Okay,” I agreed weakly. Sawyer was right, I was exhausted, yet I still doubted I would be able to sleep. “I really appreciate you guys coming over here.”
“He’s family,” Sawyer said. “And so are you.”
Wow. Taken aback, I blinked like an idiot.
“Thank you.” The words didn’t seem enough, but they were all I had. “Guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Call before if you need anything, okay?”
“Sure. Thanks, Jake. You too, Sawyer.”
We said our goodbyes and I left for my room which was on the floor below, pulling my luggage behind me. After familiarizing myself with my suite, yes suite not room, I stripped down to my boxers and climbed into the four-poster bed, preparing myself for another restless night.
The next morning I showered and dressed quickly, skipping breakfast and heading straight up to Sawyer and Jake’s suite.
“Good morning,” Jake greeted, answering the door, already dressed in one of his staple black suits. “We’re just having breakfast. Have you eaten?” he added as I walked into the room.
“No,” I admitted. “Couldn’t face anything.”
“Come and eat with us,” Sawyer said in an almost demanding tone, patting the chair next to him. “You’ll be no use to anyone if you make yourself ill.”
Smiling weakly, I joined Sawyer at the table. Smiling again to Jake as he sat down too, I grudgingly picked up a croissant, splitting it open with my fingers before proceeding to spread it with raspberry jam. I picked at it for a while, tossing tiny pieces into my mouth every so often. I ate just over half of it before I started to feel sick – I was too full with worry and nerves.
“Can I come with you today?” I asked, knowing right away I would be going to Ryder’s parents regardless.
“We don’t want to ambush them,” Sawyer said, sounded unsure. “Three of us might be a bit much.”
“Actually,” Jake interjected. “I think it’s probably best if you don’t come,” he said, looking at Sawyer. “There are already some photographers waiting downstairs, we don’t need them getting wind of this.”
“Shit,” Sawyer muttered. “You’re right.”
“I think it might even be worth you heading out somewhere on your own. That way they’ll follow you and me and Mason can head out unseen.”
“Sure,” Sawyer agreed. “I’ll go to Elle’s salon, get a haircut or something.”
“Doesn’t she have like huge waiting lists?” I reminded him.
“Not for me,” he replied, winking.
“Of course,” I smiled, feeling like a total moron. Who would expect thee Sawyer Knight to wait for a haircut?
“Okay, well you call Elle and sort that out…”
“It’s the middle of the night there,” I pointed out.
“She’ll answer,” Sawyer said confidently.
“I need to nip downstairs and arrange a rental car,” Jake continued. “Then, Mason, I’ll meet you back here in half an hour?”
“They can get a car to you that quickly?”
“They can get anything to me for the right price.”
In that moment I had one of those ‘holy shit I’m actually friends with a world famous rock star’ moments. I didn’t get them so much anymore, but sometimes something would remind me, like the fact no amount of money was an issue for them, or the fact I was sitting in one of the biggest, most extravagant hotel suites I’d ever seen, and it would all feel kind of surreal.
“But…we don’t know where they live.”
“I do. I was looking into them last night. Seems Ryder’s father might have some skeletons in his closet that may be worth looking into too.”
“Skeletons?”
“I don’t know what yet, but from the contacts I’ve spoken with there are too many inconsistencies. He’s hiding something.”
“Don’t all politicians?” Sawyer said with a hint of humor lacing his voice.
“Probably, and whether I look into it further depends on what we find out today.” Jake took a final swig of his coffee, wiped the corner of his mouth on a napkin and then stood up from the table. “Right, I’m going downstairs. Are you going back to your room or waiting here, Mason?”
“Might as well hang around here.” I didn’t like being in my room. Being alone gave me too much time to think, and right now, thinking hurt too much. After giving me a nod, Jake bent down and kissed Sawyer’s forehead before picking up his briefcase and leaving the room. That brief and simple display of affection formed knots inside my heart. I’d have sold my soul to be able to kiss Ryder’s forehead right then.
“It’ll be okay, you know,” Sawyer tried to reassure, noticing my despondent expression. “You wouldn’t believe the things Jake can do, the people he knows. He’ll sort this. I have one hundred percent faith in him.”
“He’s scared, Sawyer.” And it’s fucking breaking me, I added mentally. “He rang me from prison last night.”
“I bet. I had no fucking idea about his past. I keep thinking about it and finding myself in complete awe of him. To achieve what he has after that? He’s incredible.”
“He doesn’t see it that way, that’s why he’s never told anyone, not even Elle. He’s spent years believing he was weak, thinking it would be weak to let someone love him. I finally thought I was starting to change that for him and then this happens.”
“That’s so fucked up. Poor kid. Damn I wish that sick bastard was alive so I could rip off his dick and fill the void with vinegar. Do his parents know?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think he was planning to tell them but I have no idea what went down when he visited them.”
“Does he need anything? Clothes, toiletries?”
“Yes. He’s using some things they provided him with for now, but he asked if we could take him some stuff later.
He has to wear their clothes but I’ve got some shampoo, toothpaste, stuff like that for him in my room. We won’t be allowed to see him though.”
“No problem. Gather what he needs when you get back from his parents’ and we’ll head straight over there.”
“Great. Thanks. Thank you for everything.”
“It’s what family do,” he shrugged. “Or what they should do. Can’t understand what’s going through the minds of his asshole parents.”
“Guess we’ll soon find out.”
After finishing up our conversation, Sawyer left the room to get showered and changed. He called Elle, and just like he said, she answered and told him to turn up at the salon whenever he liked. He also called Ivan to bring him up to speed, and just like the rest of us he was worried out of his mind.
Jake returned around half an hour later as planned, and we waited for Sawyer to finish getting ready and set off to the salon before we left ourselves. The hotel grounds were clear from press and photographers when we reached it and we slipped into his hire car without running into any problems.
With the help of satellite navigation Jake took us straight to Ryder’s parents’ house. I went to open my car door as soon as we arrived but he stopped me, wanting to take a few minutes to survey the area from where we sat.
“Somebody’s home,” Jake noted, nodding towards the house. “I just saw some movement. Let’s go.”
My legs felt like Jell-O as I stepped out onto the sidewalk and I had to make a conscious effort to slow my erratic breathing, drawing long, deep breaths into my lungs. Jake however didn’t look the slightest bit nervous, striding towards the door with his usual confident and determined swagger. Just like his expression, Jake’s knock was firm. It took only a few seconds for the door to open and when I saw the small woman standing on the other side, I had no doubts I was looking at Ryder’s mother. She had Ryder’s green eyes, the same color hair as his untouched roots…