Page 26 of Ryder

He nods. “Yeah, she knows I’m not like that. She believed me right from the start but I’d hurt her and she couldn’t forgive me. I get it. That’s not all,” he says, glancing nervously at her. “I have a kid . . . with Sassy.”

“Oh my god,” I gasp, my hands covering my mouth. “How could you not tell me about that?”

“He’s four and Sassy doesn’t want me to have contact. He’s settled and happy.”

“Wait, you haven’t even met him?”

He shakes his head and his shoulders hunch. “No. She wrote to me in prison and told me she’d met someone new soon after Alfie was born. As far as the kid knows, that’s his dad. I can’t rock up and ruin his world. It’s selfish. He’s doing great, Sassy has him in a private school and he’s top of his class. It’s the least I owe her after what I did.”

“Oh, Ryder,” I murmur, climbing onto his lap and wrapping myself around him. “That’s got to be so hard.”

“I’m good with her decision. I have no regrets there.”

“You’re a good man, Ryder and you’d be the perfect dad.”

He gives a small smile. “Maybe one day I’ll get a second chance.”

I watch Neve pacing back and forth in front of the living room window. Finn was supposed to return Harlee at eleven, and now at half past twelve, there is still no sign.

“It’s because I didn’t answer his calls,” she mutters.

“He’ll bring her back,” I say firmly, because if he doesn’t, I’ll be going to collect her myself.

I know the second he pulls up because Neve breathes a sigh of relief and rushes outside. I wait ten seconds, counting each one carefully before following Neve. I stand in the doorway, leaning against the frame and watching as Finn kisses Neve on the head. She turns away slightly, making it obvious she’s uncomfortable. He opens the back door and reaches inside. “Why is she so pale?” asks Neve, taking Harlee. “And she’s floppy.”

“She was sick in the night. When I went in this morning, this is how she was.”

“And you didn’t call a doctor or think to bring her home?” snaps Neve, feeling Harlee’s forehead. “She’s burning up.”

“She wouldn’t quit whining so I left her to sleep it off,” he tells her, pulling out Harlee’s overnight bag. “Besides, you didn’t answer my call so what was I supposed to do?”

“Leave a fucking message so I know to call back.” She snatches the bag. “You can’t have her overnight again, Finn. You don’t know how to care for her properly.”

I feel proud as she squares her shoulders and delivers the news. I’m already walking over when he grabs her upper arm, twisting it and causing Neve to cry out. Her eyes connect with mine and Finn looks over, to see what she’s looking for. I give a smug smile and he instantly releases his grip on her. She stumbles back and I catch her, taking her arm in my hand and checking the red mark. “Go inside, Siren,” I whisper, kissing her lightly on the head.

“This better be a fucking joke,” yells Finn. Neve rushes inside, ignoring him and his face reddens in anger. “Neve!” he screams. “Get back here.”

“Now there’s the face of a man who knows he’s lost,” I say, grinning.

“This is a joke, right?” he demands, “You’re not fucking sleeping with my wife.”

“She’s not your wife, Finn. She’s my old lady.”

“Bullshit. That’s fucking bullshit.”

I can’t resist twisting the knife a little so I smirk right before I tell him, “She fucks me good, Finn. I had to make her mine.”

He growls, rage filling him and he throws a weak punch, missing me. I laugh at his attempt, landing one right back in the centre of his face. His nose bursts open, spraying blood down his shirt. “I’ll have you back inside for assault,” he warns.

“Then I should make it worth it,” I growl, rearing back again. This time, someone grabs my fist and I turn to find Griff. “He ain’t worth it, brother. Who will keep Neve warm at night if you’re inside?”

“Once I tell her the truth about what you did to that woman, she’ll run a mile,” Finn sneers.

I scoff, turning back to him. “She knows everything, Finn, you’re too late. And when I get the evidence I need, she’ll know that final last detail. And then you’ll be going down for so long, Harlee will forget your face and she’ll be calling me Daddy.”

Chapter Twelve

Neve