Page 15 of Scream Little Sister

Jaxon hates me. Why would he want to defend me?

“C’mon, man. Let’s go,” Kyle says. He backed out of Ryder and Jaxon’s orbit at some point. “The losers want to play the hero. Let them. We’ll take care of Maddy later.”

Mickey’s features slacken, and I don’t miss the flash of fear in his eyes. I’m sure he’s remembering the time Jaxon lost his shit on him in the cafeteria, when everyone watched him scream and cry like a baby. Snapping out of it, he forces a cocky smile and tilts his head as he works out a kink. He turns to me and leans to the side, ensuring I see him past Ryder. “I’ll see you later, Mad. We’re not done talking.”

An empty smile lifts the corners of Ryder’s lips, his attention still on Mickey. “No, you won’t. Come near her again and find out what happens.”

Mickey scoffs and leaves with Kyle hot on his trail. Jaxon watches them until they’re out of sight, then glances at Ryder. They share a look before Jaxon walks away, leaving me alone with my stepbrother.

Ryder keeps me boxed in, blocking out the rest of the world from interrupting this moment. After what feels like an eternity, he turns his head and pins me with a scowl. “One of these days, that bratty side will get you in a lot of trouble, sis.”

“I don’t care,” I snap without thinking. My cheeks warm out of embarrassment and guilt. Even though he said some horrible things to me over the years, I can’t be angry at him. All I want is for him to accept me. He’s my brother, for crying out loud.

Ryder’s expression doesn’t change. His gaze slides down to my throat and lingers there. His nostrils flare and he grabs my chin, then angles my head to the side as he inspects the damage Mickey caused. I suck in a breath and sway for an entirely different reason this time. Butterflies fill my stomach and worsen as Ryder continues to touch me.

His expression turns thunderous as he eases my head the other way. He traces the sensitive skin on my throat, like he’s memorizing the bruises Mickey left.

“What the fuck were you thinking, sis?” he says. It’s so strange to hear the venom in his voice when I’m so used to it being flat and emotionless.

“What should I have done,bro?” I say. “Let him pull me in every direction until he gets what he wants?”

Ryder drops his hand to his side. A muscle ticks in the corner of his jaw. “You have me to keep you safe.”

“I don’t want you fighting my battles for me.”

“Because you’re doing so well protecting yourself,” he deadpans, and shakes his head in disappointment.

Why does that cut so much deeper than anything else?

I shove his chest so I can have room to think, but he doesn’t budge. Ryder moves closer, eliminating the small space between us.

“I had it handled,” I say softly. I meant for it to come out stronger, but having him this close is making it hard to breathe.

I withdraw my hands from Ryder. He catches my wrists in a tight hold, but it doesn’t hurt. Not like Mickey’s grasp. Ryder places my palms on his chest, with one right over his pounding heart.

“I’d say otherwise from what I saw,” Ryder says. “Mickey and Kyle looked seconds away from hurting you worse than what I walked into, and I’m afraid of what would have happened if they did.”

“Nothing would have happened. They wouldn’t have done anything else.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. I could have died if Ryder and Jaxon hadn’t shown up.

Ryder shakes his head. “I’m not talking about them. I’m talking aboutme. I would have killed them in the worst possible ways, Madison.”

He said my name.

I pause and blink a few times. “Wh-what? You can’t be serious.”

Ryder leans in until his face hovers above mine and his warm breath puffs against my lips. His lips draw back in a snarl. “I would have killed Mickey, then Kyle, for hurting you. Possibly even drag Mickey’s dead body behind my car. Only I get to mess with you. Only I get to hurt you. Do you understand?”

I freeze and stare at him, wide-eyed.

Did he really just threaten to kill someone?

Shaking out of my shock, I shove him again. Ryder’s grip on my wrist tightens until I wince.

“Of course you had ulterior motives for helping me. Go away, Ryder,” I growl.

He grins like he’s won some game I didn’t know we were playing. He leans in closer until his mouth is right beside my ear. “Only I get to watch you crumble under my words. You always look so goddamn pretty when you’re flustered.”

I grind my teeth together. “Fuck. You.”