CHAPTER 46. OUT OF MY LIFE
RYDER
“So here's how it's gonna be, Ciara. I ask the questions and you try your hardest to be honest. Do you understand?!“
Her defiant stare was the last of her pride, but I knew she got the message. They took the duct tape off.
“Now tell me, how did you know I was staking out Hara's apartment?“
“I followed you every night, and you know what? You're a bastard and I hope you rot in hell for every pain I went through. You treated me like some worthless creature and then you ran off to that freak!“
“Her name's Hara. Be sure to remember that, or I'm slitting that tongue of yours,“
“I don't give a damn about her name! My heart's hurting. I can't afford any iota of niceness right now,“
“Don't come playing the victim with me, Ciara. It doesn't suit you. And for the record, whatever pain you had to endure was caused by you. I never gave you a reason to think I had feelings for you. Hell, I never shot any shots at you. All I've ever done from the onset is reject you and your pussy. Any bitch with brains would have already taken a hike. You just chose to stick around and that's on you, alright? All on you!“
“Maybe I chose to stick around but that's what you do for someone you love, right? You stick around for them. All you should have done is love me back. What's so hard about that?!“
“It's not just hard, Ciara. It's impossible. I can never love you. Never.“
“Why not?!“ She shrieked in tears. “Any man in his right mind would want me,“
“Then I guess I'm nuts. But I wish you accepted that fact and didn't go after Hara. After what you did, seeing you makes me sick. And I'm fighting, trust me, I'm fighting hard not to annihilate you.“
“What?“ She scoffed in disbelief, “You're gonna go that far over some shameless hag who got pregnant from fucking random dicks. You most certainly are beside yourself, Ryder,“
”Certainly.“ The bickering was not on the list of things I mapped out to do with her. Some people just never get it, even if you shove their heads into their assholes. They still wouldn't get it.
“What is she to you? Why do you seem so smitten by her?“ She sobbed, writhing anew.
I crouched In front of her, looking into her damned eyes. Bet she's never cried this much ever. “That's because I am. You got no idea, Ciara. And I wish you did, for Father's sake,“
“What do you mean by that?” Her eyes widened in panic. Ciara is a smartass, and what would have gone unnoticed by others, she caught on. And that's the venom in my tone.
“Take a good look around, Ciara. Be sure to say your goodbyes as this would be the last time you'll be in here. I need you to get the hell out of this house and out of my life,“
“What?! You can't do this to me, Ryder! I won't let you! Please, Ryder, don't do this. Don't throw me out!“
I stood to my feet, putting some distance between us. “I should have done this a long time ago. I'm sorry it took so long,“
“Please Ryder, please. We're gonna get married. I should live here, beside you,“
“I already told the media that our engagement has been annulled. I was lenient enough to tell them it was a mutual agreement, saving you some face,“
”And you think I should be grateful for that?! Ryder, our marriage has to push through or my life's gonna be ruined. I love you, Ryder, please,“
“I can't say the same. But I did develop some bit of tolerance for you at some point. I can give you that.“ This was as far as I could drag out this talk. I gestured at the guys and they untied her from the seat.
Dragging her out of the room, she was yelling out a bunch of cusses, pleading, and threats.
I was walking ahead of them but I merely got to the door when she said something that caught my undivided attention.
I turned to her and she had a smug smile painted on her wet face. She wanted my attention, now she has it.
“What was that?“
“Jason is a traitor.“ She repeated more firmly this time, picking every word so they could hit.
I glanced at Darius and he looked as curious as I was. Giveon had his brows arched and the two other warlord trainees were staring at her with sheer interest in whatever it was she had to say.
I had to take notice of their expressions to convince myself I wasn't starting to obsess over any issue that had Jason's name on it. I could be deep in dreams and just hit the roof at the mention of Jason. That was how much I'm beginning to obsess, Jason was becoming a pain in the ass.
“Why do you say that?“ I asked her, taking careful note of my tone so I don't come off as disturbed by whatever she had to say.
“Those nights you send him in before your arrival, he'll always make her take a walk with him. And he's always all smiley and you could literally see the stars glistening in his eyes.“
Again, I never sent Jason to Hara before my arrival. I wasn't gonna explain that to Ciara though, I'll just rather listen to her theory.
”What are you trying to say, Ciara? I don't get it,“ But I did, I fucking get it all. Jason fell for Hara. Never saw this twist coming!
“Jason is a sellout. He fucking betrayed your trust. If you're looking for someone to annihilate, it should be him. Who knows, he might also have fucked your slut!“
“Tell me something, Ciara. Why do you have so much hate for Jason? You've never liked him, why?“
“I don't like lowlifes and Jason falls in that category. But this isn't about my hate for him. This is about him, and the facade he has on. You gotta see him for who he truly is before he destroys you. You've been a fool long enough, Ryder. Get rid of Jason,“
“Right. I'm gonna start by getting rid of you. Take her out of here!“ I watched them drag her out of sight.
Her words echoed in my head, relishing me of all the strength I had. I crashed against the wall, shutting my eyes briefly.
“You heard her, right?“ Darius spoke up. For a moment there, I forgot he was still in here. “I never wanted to be one to say it, but Jason seems rather twisted. Watch out for him, man. You never know when he'll bite.“
As If Ciara's words haven't done enough damage, Darius had to put in his, leaving me more distorted. It was now or never, the talk we needed to have, it was now or never!
“Where the hell is Jason?!“