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“Where?” My mind is trying to process everything that has just happened, including Ryker’s weird behavior.
“Get up and follow me. Now.” His voice is low, and I can see him practically vibrating with fury. Ryker looks like he’s about to combust.
To avoid getting him more upset than he already is, I nod, and we start walking down the sidewalk to the station. My stomach starts to turn, and I can feel the bile rising in my throat.
Once we arrive, Deputy Dalton says hi to me, but Deputy McCormick merely glares.
Ryker drops me off in his office. “Stay here.” He slams the door shut, making me yelp.
My mind’s racing at a million miles a minute. I try to think about what happened with the deposit from last night, the run-in with Brett, and now Ryker’s attitude change. I dropped the deposit off. I know I did. I run my fingers through my hair and pull. Crazy. That’s the only word for it. This is all completely insane. And for what? Because Mitch wants to win at some game he’s the only one playing? He just can’t let me go.
While deep in thought, Ryker comes back and walks around to his chair. He slams a folder down on his desk and sits. He glowers at me, practically fuming as his cheeks redden.
“Who is Allison Davis?” he booms. Ryker folds his hands in front of him. The edge of his tattoo barely peeks out of his shirt sleeve.
Closing my eyes, I try to take in what he just asked me. Allison Davis? “I have no clue who that is. Who is she? Does she work for Mitch?”
Ryker doesn’t say anything.
I can feel the bile rise again.
“Ryker, I don’t know who that is. She must be part of Mitch’s crew or maybe a business associate. I’ve never met everyone he worked with, but that could be who. Look, please listen to me. They did all that stuff on the ranch! Brett told me it was Mitch.” My voice starts to rise.
“Enough!” Ryker slams his hand on the desk, making me jump. “Who the fuck is Allison Davis?”
My head spins, and I try to rack my brain for that name. Was it someone from school? An ex of Mitch’s? A family friend? Who is she?
“I … I have no idea, Ryker. I don’t know Allison.” My lips start to tremble.
“Why are you lying?” Ryker’s voice is almost a whisper.
“I don’t know what I lied about. If it’s about who I was, I told you, I had to leave Mitch. And I didn’t lie, I just didn’t tell you my real name was Nicole.” My leg starts shaking up and down.
“See? More lies. Why have you lied about everything? The ranch issues, the diner issues? Nothing you’ve said has been the truth!” He gets up and walk around his desk over to me. He places his hands on the arms of the chair I’m sitting in, his face mere inches from my own. “You’ve been faking this whole time. Lying this whole time about who you are and what you’re doing here. You destroyed my family’s livelihood. And for what? Because you were scared to get married? Afraid to be committed again?”
Scared to get married? Committed? What the actual fuck is he talking about? I was scared, but of being killed by Mitch. What does this have to do with Allison?
“I don’t understand what the fuck you’re saying, Ryker! I didn’t do anything on the ranch! Someone set me up! Mitch! He’s behind all this!” My whole body vibrates. My heart is pumping so fast I think I’m about to faint.
“Again! The lies! Who. Is. Allison. Davis?” He punctuates each word, saying it through gritted teeth.
“I don’tknow! Who the fuck is she?” I scream at him, completely at a loss for whatever the hell is happening in this shit storm. Tears stream down my face, and my throat tightens with a sob threatening to escape.
He looks right at me, his eyes blazing with hate. “It’s you. You’re Allison Davis.”
Chapter 18
Zoey
What the ever-loving fuck?No. I’m Nicole Moore—well, Zoey Krause these days. But I was Nicole Moore. I’m not Allison Davis.
Shaking my head, I look at Ryker, “You’re wrong. I’ve never even heard of that person.”
Ryker glares at me, his eyes piercing through me. “DNA doesn’t lie,Allison.” The way he says the name, it’s almost vile.
“DNA? How? Wait, why? What?” My mind runs a million miles a minute trying to process everything, and now I have to add on that he used my DNA without me knowing. “You never asked me for a sample.”
“Nope, I didn’t. But seeing as how you have been lying to me, I’m glad I didn’t. You would’ve had an excuse not to give it to me.”