by Faith Gibson
“Is there a problem?” Ryker asked.
“Stupid wife. She’s mental.”
That was the wrong thing to say. If the woman did have mental issues, her husband shouldn’t call her stupid. “She ran that way.” Ryker pointed the opposite direction from where the woman had gone. He didn’t understand why he did it, why he was getting involved.
He’s going to hurt her.
His Gryphon liked to point out the obvious sometimes.
“Are you sure?” the man asked, looking past Ryker.
“Yep. I saw her double back and head for the Mexican restaurant.”
“Fuck!” The man got back in his van and pealed out of the parking lot. Ryker waited until the vehicle was on the road before striding behind the convenience store. There was no sign of the woman, so he used his eagle’s vision to search the area. He still didn’t see anything, but he heard the slightest shuffle coming from inside the dumpster. Ryker lifted the plastic lid and peered inside expecting to see a rodent. Curled up among the garbage bags was Anna, looking like a drowned rat. An adorable, shaking, drowned rat.
“It’s okay. He’s gone.” Ryker used a soothing voice, not wanting to cause any more trauma.
A set of red-rimmed eyes stared at him. “He’ll be back,” she whispered. If Ryker weren’t a shifter, he probably wouldn’t have heard her.
“Is there someone I can call to come get you? Do you need the cops?”
Anna shook her head. “They’ll just take me back.”
Ryker wanted to ask, “Back where?” but if she did have mental issues, he could guess the answer. “And you don’t want to go back?”
“No. I’ll never go back. They’ve kept me prisoner for too long. I’d rather die.”
“Well, you can’t stay in here.” Ryker looked around to make sure they were alone. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist for the man to figure out Ryker was talking to his wife if he drove back around. “Your husband seemed worried.”
“He isn’t my husband,” Anna seethed. She curled farther into herself if that were possible. “He’s nothing more than a warden looking to recapture his escapee. If he finds me, he’ll take me back. I can’t.” Her eyes were pleading, and Ryker cursed himself for caring, but that was his nature. It was why he and all the Gryphons had been created. To care for and protect humans.
“What’s your plan? Do you have somewhere to go? You have money to get you there?”
Anna shook her head. “I-I didn’t plan on running, but I saw an opportunity and took it. Please, you can’t tell anyone where I am.”
“Like I said, you can’t stay here. How about I get you a hotel room for the night while you figure out your next steps?”
“Why would you do that? I don’t have money, and I’m not having sex with you as payment.”
Ryker cringed, but he couldn’t fault the girl for jumping to that conclusion. Not in this day and age. “I’m doing it because it’s the right thing. My family, we help people all the time. It’s what we do. We get people out of bad situations and help get them back on their feet. My parents have a place you can stay for a while. They’ll get you medical care if you need it. Medications or someone to talk to.”
“I don’t take medicine. Don’t need it.”
Thankfully, the rain had slacked off to nothing more than a drizzle. The back door opened, and a clerk came out carrying a garbage bag. She froze when she saw Ryker. “Uh…” The girl looked around, fear pouring from her body.
“You want me to help you with the bag. You’re going to go back inside and forget you saw me,” he instructed, using his Gryphon voice, the one that manipulated someone’s mind.
“Can you help me?” the girl asked, handing over the bag. Ryker took it, and the clerk returned inside. When the door closed behind her, Ryker dropped the bag inside the dumpster, well away from Anna. He didn’t want to use his voice on Anna, but time was of the essence. “You’re coming with me. I’m getting you a hotel room and something to eat.”
Anna climbed to her feet, but she couldn’t get out of the container on her own. Ryker leaned over and lifted her easily. When he had her in his arms, his lion purred.
Not now.
But she smells delicious.
She smells like garbage.
Underneath that. She smells like home.
Ryker ignored his beast. This woman didn’t need them sniffing her. She needed help. It wasn’t going to be easy getting her to a hotel unseen on the back of his bike. He didn’t have a spare helmet, and if the man from the van was in the area, Anna would be too exposed anyway, wearing a dress and torn pantyhose. “Stay here.” He propped her up behind the dumpster, jogged to the front of the store, and moved his bike to a parking spot at the side of the building. As he walked back to where he left Anna, he pulled up the app for a car on his phone. While they waited, Ryker tried to ease Anna’s fears.
“My name’s Ryker. Ryker Lazlo. I’m taking you down the street to the Continental. I’ll order room service and then I’ll call my mom. She can bring you some clothes and anything else you need. Okay?”
“Yeah. Uh, thanks. I’m Rhiannon Spencer, but you can call me Rhi.”
“Rhi? The man you were with called you Anna.”
Rhi rolled her eyes. “That’s what they call me. They thought Anna sounded more biblical. Less pagan.”
“And are you? Pagan?”
“Does that matter?”
Ryker didn’t get the chance to answer because their ride pulled up. He held the door open for her, then climbed in beside her. Since he already input the destination into the app, the driver pulled out of the lot, glancing in the rearview mirror. “Not many people call a car to go three blocks.”
“My bike wouldn’t start, and I hate walking in the rain.” Ryker gave the man his best scowl, which wasn’t hard to do since it was his normal visage. The driver remained silent after that. Within minutes, they were out of the car and in the hotel lobby. Ryker checked them into a suite for three nights, since he didn’t know how things would go with Rory or how long it would take his mom to get there. He signed his name and accepted the key cards, then placed his hand at the small of Rhi’s back as he led her to the elevator.
They stood on opposite sides of the lift, which was good. Ryker didn’t need her close. When he opened the door to the suite, Rhi didn’t move. “I vow on all that’s holy I won’t hurt you,” Ryker soothed, once again using his Gryphon voice. He needed her to trust him. She nodded once, then stepped into their room.
“Wow.” Rhi walked around the living area, stuck her head in the bedroom, came back out, then stared at the sofa.
“Why don’t you have a seat?”
“I’m all wet.”
Ryker stepped into the bathroom, returning with several towels. He placed one on the sofa, then handed the others to her.
“Thank you.” Rhi wrapped a towel around her dress and used another to dry her braided hair. She finally sat, twisting her hands in her lap. “Dang, that’s a big TV.”
Ryker thought it was small compared to the one in his own living room back home, but he didn’t know Rhi’s story or where she’d been held. She didn’t seem dangerous, and she wasn’t. Not to him, anyway. If she did have mental issues like the man suggested, she could be a threat to herself. Ryker would have to watch her closely.
Chapter Three
Ryker
Instead of grilling her like he wanted, Ryker asked, “Are you hungry? Because I am.” He found the room service menu and handed it over. “Pick anything you want.”
“Oh, my god. I haven’t had a cheeseburger in forever. And fries. I need all the fries.”
While Rhi was gushing over the food choices, Ryker finally allowed himself to study the woman. She was young, early twenties. Long, dirty-blonde hair was braided. She wore no makeup, but she didn’t need it. She had a natural beauty. Her eyebrows were a little bushy, like she’d never seen a pair of tweezers, but it didn’t detract from her looks. Her dress was frumpy and il
l-fitting. Her shoes were basic slip-ons, and something about them niggled at his brain. Big, blue eyes met his when she asked if she could get two orders of fries.
“You can have all the fries you want.” In that moment, Ryker would give her anything she wanted, and he mentally chastised himself. Rhi wasn’t his. She was a young woman in need of help, not anything else. She couldn’t be anything else.
Yes, she can.
Shut it. We don’t know enough about her.
I don’t need to know more. She’s ours.
Ryker ignored his Gryphon, even though he wanted to agree. There was something about the woman that called to him for more than protecting her. “Did you settle on the cheeseburger?” Rhi nodded. “What do you want on it?”
“Everything. And a Coke. No, a milkshake. Chocolate. No, a Coke.”
Ryker’s heart broke for her. Had she been denied something as basic as food and drink choices? If she’d been held in an institution, she probably had to eat shitty food. He took the menu from her and decided on his own meal. The cheeseburger did sound good. He called room service and placed their order. When he asked for a six-pack of sodas and four orders of fries with extra ketchup, Rhi’s eyes filled with tears.
“What’s wrong?” He hung up the receiver and squatted in front of her. The need to touch her was great, but he kept his hands on his own thighs.
“It’s been so long since I had junk food. I…” Rhi closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I don’t know why you’re doing all this, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to call my mom and let her know what’s going on. Then I’m going to put you on the phone with her so you can tell her your sizes. I have to warn you, she’ll probably outfit you like a biker chick. Jeans and boots are her usual dress code.”
Rhi’s smile was sad. “I miss wearing jeans, so I have no problem with that. Um, is it okay if I use the restroom?”
“Of course. You’re not a prisoner, Rhi. You don’t need my permission to move around. I would ask you don’t leave the room alone, since we don’t know if that man is still looking for you.”
“James. His name is James, and I guarantee he’s still looking. He won’t dare go home without searching everywhere.”
“Do you want to talk about it? You know what? Don’t worry about that. For now, go use the bathroom. I’ll call Rory, that’s my mom, and then we’ll eat. Everything else can wait.”
“Thank you, Ryker Lazlo. I’m really glad you’re the one who found me.”
“Me too.” Ryker stood and moved out of the way so Rhi could go to the bathroom. When she got to the door, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. It was full of appreciation, not anything else. It didn’t matter, though. The reason for it still transformed her face, and Ryker merely inclined his head. His lion was purring, and the last thing he needed was his shifter getting the wrong idea. He was helping a human in need. Nothing more.
Liar.
Rhiannon
Rhi shut the bathroom door and leaned against it. Closing her eyes, she sent up a silent prayer to the goddess, thanking her for her freedom. For sending Ryker Lazlo to find her. It had to be divine intervention for someone like him to be the one to find her in the dumpster. If what he said was true, his family helped people in need, and there was no one needier than her. Pushing off the door, Rhi took a look at herself in the mirror. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost her head covering. Her hair had come loose from her braid, so she unplaited it. Instead of redoing it, she left it loose around her shoulders. It had been years since she’d been able to wear it down. Years since she’d been allowed to be who she truly was.
Since she told Ryker she needed to use the bathroom, Rhi took the time to pee and wash her hands. She was in serious need of a shower after hiding amongst the garbage, but that would have to wait until she had clean clothes. She didn’t know where Ryker’s mom was or how long it would take her to reach them. There were two plush robes hanging on the back of the door, but she didn’t have deodorant, so she decided to wait a while. When she returned to the living area, Ryker was on the phone.
“Here she is.” Ryker handed the phone to Rhi. “Talk to my mom.”
“Hello?”
“Hello, Rhi. My name is Rory. How are you holding up?” Rory’s voice was a soft, southern twang.
“Uh, pretty good. Except I need a shower. I stink.”
Rory laughed, and the sound was bittersweet. Rhi hadn’t heard her own mother’s laugh in years. “Yeah, Ryker told me about you hiding in the dumpster. That was smart thinking on your part.”
“I don’t know about smart, but it worked.”
“Tell me your sizes, and I’ll stop and get you some clothes on the way.” Rhi did as Rory asked, guessing at her size, but then she nervously looked over at Ryker. There were some things she didn’t want to talk about in front of the handsome man.
Ryker must have read her mind. He stood from where he was sitting at the table and said, “I’m going to step out in the hallway a second.”
When the door closed behind him, Rhi said, “If it’s not too much trouble, I need some pads. I’m due to start my period in the next couple days.”
“Not a problem. Ryker said your hair’s long. Is there any special shampoo and conditioner you prefer?”
“I honestly don’t know what’s out there now. Where I’ve lived the last ten years, we made our own stuff. So, just get whatever’s cheapest. Same with deodorant.”
Rory made a humming sound. “I’ll take care of everything. Sutton, that’s Ryker’s father, and I will hit the road here in the next little bit. If you’re already asleep, we’ll see you in the morning.”
Rhi choked back a sob. How’d she get so lucky to be found by these amazing people? “Please, don’t rush on my account. You’re already doing too much for someone you don’t know.”
“Nonsense. This is what our family does. If you think of anything else you need, just have Ryker call or text. I don’t know your story, but I promise, everything’s going to be okay now.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll talk to you soon.” Rory disconnected, and Rhi stared at the phone. It had been ten years since she’d seen anything modern. Anything that wasn’t approved by the elders. Cell phones weren’t on the list.
Ryker strode in the room, holding the door for the man pushing their food cart. Ryker instructed him to put everything on the table. He tipped the guy, then motioned for her to join him. Rhi’s stomach grumbled just thinking about what was waiting for her. When Ryker removed the domed lids, Rhi stared at all the food. It had been so long since she’d enjoyed a meal. She should be used to eating home cooking, even if it was prepared in massive quantities. It had been devastating, going from a happy teen with two parents to a miserable girl whose father lost his mind when his wife died. Rhiannon’s mother had been a ray of sunshine, living her life as though each day could be her last. Daisy – Rhi’s mom – had tried her hand at painting. She took drum lessons. She even went skydiving. But she was never happier than when she was in her garden. Rhi never minded helping her mom. Working with dirt, learning about the various herbs, that had been their thing. Something just the two of them did. Rhi’s father never complained openly, but his mother did. Grandmother would call Daisy a witch. She would chastise David for allowing Daisy to influence Rhi in things that went against God’s word. It wasn’t until Daisy died that Rhi understood how much influence her grandmother had over Rhi’s dad.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Ryker had one of the thick, juicy burgers halfway to his mouth.
“Yeah, sorry. Just lost in thought. Thank you again.” Rhi sat down across from Ryker. It was tempting to sit next to him, but putting space between them was necessary for her sanity. Where she’d escaped from, unmarried men and women weren’t allowed to eat together. They weren’t allowed to spend time together. The preacher talked more about sins of the flesh than any other topic, but Rhi didn’t th
ink they pertained to her. Not once had she entertained an impure thought about a man. Until she was locked inside a hotel room with Ryker Lazlo.
Rhi took a tentative bite of her burger and groaned. It was better than she remembered. “Oh, man. This is so good.” She dipped a couple fries in ketchup and shoved them in her mouth. She closed her eyes as she chewed, relishing the saltiness. All the food she’d eaten the last ten years had been bland and unremarkable. Next, she took a sip of the cold soda Ryker had poured over ice. It was so good she chugged half the glass before it burned her throat. When she let out a belch, Rhi slapped a hand over her mouth and looked at Ryker. His expression was a mixture of confusion and laughter. What she didn’t see was condemnation. “I’m so sorry,” she said anyway.
“Nothing to apologize for. My brother Hayden would give that a seven.”
“A seven?”
“It had depth but not a lot of volume.”
“Your brother rates belches?”
Ryker grinned. “He does. Hay is thirty-two going on twelve. He’s still a kid at heart.”
Rhi let that sink in. It was hard for her to remember how her life had been before her mom died. Burping at the table wouldn’t result in a lecture or having food withheld as punishment. After eating half her food, Rhi was stuffed. She’d been taught not to waste her food, but the portions were never this large.
“You full already?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the burger would be so big. I’ll finish it. I promise.”
“You don’t need to eat it if you’re full. It’s not like it’ll go to waste.” Ryker took her half-eaten cheeseburger and put it on his plate. “I’m a growing boy,” he joked and took a bite. At least she thought he was joking. There was nothing boyish about the man. He was ruggedly handsome with dark, messy hair and equally dark eyes. He wore jeans and black boots. Not the same kind some of the men did where she came from. These were scuffed leather, and they looked well-worn.
“After we eat, I need to go get my bike from the convenience store. Will you be okay here by yourself?”