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“You had no fucking right, asshole!” I scream in his face. My hands squeeze into fists and my nails dig into my palms, nearly drawing blood.
“I had every right! My family got involved when you started pulling shit around the ranch. You’re only pissed that I caught you red fucking handed with your bullshit.”
“I. Didn’t. Do. Anything! Nothing! It wasn’t me!” My voice is now reaching a new octave. How dare he look me in the face and tell me I am lying when he stole my DNA to spy on me! Who the fuck have I been living with? This isn’t the man who said he would keep me safe, and he just proved that.
His voice lowers, “Then who was it? Who did all those things? I have combed through everything, but it all leads back to you.”
“Really? So, you’re just going to assume it’s me?” My eyes narrow, and I can’t help the disdain that spills into my words.
“If the shoe fits …” He shrugs, glaring at me.
Immediately, I stand up from the chair and get in his face. “Are you fucking out of your mind? You promised I was safe with you! You promised to protect me!” My whole body is burning with rage.
He’s silent for a moment before saying, “I think it’s best if you head back, pack your shit, and leave.” His voice breaks, but so does my heart.
My stomach drops, and I immediately feel sick. “No, please. Let me fix this. I just need to prove it’s Mitch. Please. If I can find this Brett guy …” I beg, my hands in front of me folded together.
“Zo—Allison, you’ve done nothing but ruin my family.” His eyes become a little misty as he continues. “You’ve allowed me to believe and trust you. You … You made me f—” Ryker turns away from me with his hands on his duty belt. “Just get the fuck out.”
“Please, I’m not lying. I’m Nicole, I swear. That’s who I was before all this. Please, you have to believe me …” I trail off into a whisper. I realize he doesn’t have to believe a damn thing.
“Stop lying to me and to yourself. Just leave. Get out of here and out of my life,” Ryker says sadly.
“I thought I was safe with you, Ryker,” I whisper. Tears are steadily falling from my eyes.
“Zoey was, not Allison.” With that, he leaves his office, and I fall to the floor on my knees. My heart shatters into a million pieces, and every jagged edge stabs me inside with each breath I take. I sob into my hands, knowing I’ve lost Ryker for good.
After a few minutes of trying to collect myself, I get up and run from the station. I don’t stop and say goodbye to anyone; I’m sure they know what’s going on. Hell, they probably heard us. I have no idea where Ryker went, but I hop in his old pickup and drive like a bat out of hell to get to the house. I need to find a new place to hide.
Why is this happening? How did I become Allison fucking Davis?Who the fuck is Allison Davis?I feel so broken right now, and my body aches from the stress of it all. My heart aches from the shattering; from the full-on blow that it took from the hatred Ryker threw at me in his office.
Trying to get my breathing under control as I drive, my head pounds from the complete turn of events. Fucking Mitch is determined to destroy me. And now I’m apparently known as someone who I’ve never heard of before.
When I pull up to the house, I jump out of the truck and run inside. When I reach my room, I grab my bag and check to make sure my “savings account” is in there. I call for a cab to come get me and take me to the next town over.
Looking inside the bag I check the stash. The envelope still has all the money. Not the missing money from the restaurant, which I’m sure Ryker thinks I have stashed in this room. I’m surprised he didn’t come home and look.
Home.
This isn’t my home anymore.
I look over my room after I’ve thrown what I can in my bag and make sure there’s nothing else I need. Walking out into the hall, I turn my head and look at the open door to Ryker’s room. My heart sinks knowing I will never sleep next to him again. I blink back the tears that are threatening to spill from my eyes.
Without realizing it, I walk towards his room. Immediately, I’m hit with the scent of him. My heart squeezes at the thought of losing him. I walk over towards the bed, and my heart picks up pace. I fell asleep with him here just last night.
I sit on the bed, on his side, and bow my head.
Who the fuck is Allison Davis and why does he think that’s me?
He promised he would protect me, that I was safe with him. He lied. I was never safe. All it took was enough doubt and I was thrown to the curb. But I guess he has a reason to be doubtful; the evidence does all suggest that it’s me. Eventually, he had to see what was right in front of him. The DNA was obviously the last straw. At that point, I was no longer safe.
Especially my heart. My heart was never safe.
I stand up and walk towards the bedroom door. With one last look, I wipe the tears away from my face. “I fell in love with you, Ryker. I’m sorry you think it was me. I’m sorry I ever came here. But I’m really sorry I fell in love with you,” I whisper to his empty room.
I leave the key on the counter and take one last look around. It was home for just a minute, but it was the first time I felt comfortable and wanted. At least I had that feeling for a moment in my life. Walking towards the door, I open it up and step out, locking it behind me. The sound of the door closing makes me let out a small whimper. This is the end.
Walking over to the cab, I take in one last look around me. I’m going to miss this place. I was finally feeling like I belonged somewhere. The Hollidays, for the most part, treated me like part of their family. I finally felt like I was part of something, that I wasn’t an outcast like I was in my family. Not anymore.