Challenging Ryker (Kringle Security #2)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Amelia went to the same place in her mind she did every time Gavin violated her as the nurse collected samples for the rape kit. She didn't blame Ryker for bringing her to the hospital, despite the fact that she never wanted to go.

She had been so out of it when he had shown up that she had convinced herself she was hallucinating. At least until the nurse had spoken. Then she realized Ryker was real and it was too late to protest the hospital. Not unless she wanted the nurse to think Ryker had something to do with her state of undress and the blistering around her ankle.

"I'm going to stay in here with you while the doctor completes the rest of the exam, okay?" the nice nurse explained.

Amelia couldn't remember her name but she was sweet and had explained everything as she did it. As far as bedside manner went and dealing with traumatic patients, the nurse was top-notch. Too bad her skills were wasted on someone like Amelia. Her only answer was a shrug. That was all she had to give.

She knew the statistics. She knew what people would say. They wouldn't blame her for what happened but Amelia blamed herself. If only she had gone to the cops after the first time. If only she had sought help when she finally got the courage to run away. If only she had continued to watch over her shoulder better, she wouldn't be in her current predicament.

She had been convinced she took all the necessary steps to stay hidden.

Living in a shitty apartment that accepted cash? Check.

Cashing her paychecks at different banks? Check.

Renting a P.O. Box instead of using the address to her apartment? Check.

And a dozen other things to ensure Gavin never found her, and for what? In the end, he followed through on his threat that she would never be free of him.

It was humiliating.

"Oh my God, Amelia!" Monica came crashing through the door and gasped. "Are you okay? Ryker wouldn't tell me anything other than I needed to get here and to bring you clothes. What happened?"

Thank goodness for small favors. Not that Ryker keeping his mouth shut would do any good. Monica would dig her heels in until she got the answers she wanted.

"I'm sorry, miss, but you can't be back here." The nurse whose name she still didn't know attempted to shoo Monica back out the door.

It was almost funny, and if she had been in the laughing mood, Amelia would surely laugh at the scowl on Monica's face. Her boss was geared up for a fight and she knew better than anyone that if Monica wanted something, she would get it.

"It's okay. I want her here."

The nurse didn't hide her surprise. Understandable. It was the first words she had spoken since Ryker carried her in. Surprisingly, her voice was stronger than she expected.

"It's against . . ."

"Please." She cut the nurse off, not in the mood to hear what was against the rules or not. She had followed the rules her entire life and look where it got her. Maybe it was time to see how breaking them worked better.

Amelia wasn't sure if it was the determination in her voice or the stubbornness of her jaw, but the nurse caved, further proving just how nice the woman really was.

"I'll be back with the doctor soon."

The nurse wasn’t even fully out the door before Monica jumped right in with the questions. "What the hell happened? Why didn't you call me and tell me something was wrong? And why did Ryker ask me to bring you clothes?"

Amelia held her hand up to slow down the assault. Her head was still pounding from whatever Gavin had given her in the early morning hour; he had mentioned needing to leave for a bit and didn't want her to call out for help. Not that anyone in her shitty apartment would've come if she called anyway. Amelia learned in the first week that her apartment was in the kind of building where you didn't get involved in anyone else's business. Two days after moving in, one of the tenants on the floor below her got stabbed for attempting to stop a woman being robbed in the stairwell. Needless to say, that was the only warning she needed.

"I don't want to talk about it. Not yet," she pleaded.

Monica climbed up onto the hospital bed, down by her feet, and placed a hand on her ankle.

"I know we've always kept our friendship work related, but that doesn't mean I don't care about you. If something was going on, I would've done everything I could to help you. And if I couldn't, then you know Luke would've in a heartbeat."

She did know, but she had been too embarrassed. Who moved in with a guy after only knowing him for three months? Then, to make matters worse, who lets that same guy start controlling the household finances because he wants to make life easier for her?

She did, that's who. All because her mother had drilled it into her head that a woman's role was to find love and get married. Every story her mother had ever told her about involved men treating their wives like queens. And sure, that's what her father did for her mother, but Gavin? He was the devil disguised in a pretty face. He sweet-talked her until he had what he wanted and then he showed his true colors.

Those colors involved rape, manipulation, and draining her bank accounts so that when she finally got the nerve to leave, her only choice was the apartment just a step above living on the street.

"You don't need to tell me now," Monica sighed when Amelia stayed quiet. "But I hope at some point you feel comfortable enough to talk, and maybe let me help."

That wasn't going to happen. It was bad enough that Ryker had witnessed how bad things were, she wasn't about to let her boss see that part of her life as well.

"Can we please talk about something else?" she begged. "What did I miss at work?"

Gavin had called her a workaholic, said she couldn't separate herself from her job. It wasn't true. If she had hated her job, she would've been glad to leave it behind at five o'clock like most did. But she really loved it. Monica was an amazing boss and a true inspiration. She worked so hard because it made her truly happy. That should've been the first red flag. Gavin insisted that when they got married, she would leave her job to take care of the house and the kids they were going to have.

"You really want me to discuss work with you when you're sitting in a hospital bed?"

She nodded her head vigorously. She didn't just want it, she needed it.

Monica huffed, but dropped down into the chair next to her bed. Her boss was dressed in her typical pencil skirt and blouse. The skirt had little pinstripes that matched the mint color of the blouse. It was exactly the type of coordinated outfit Amelia had come to expect from her.

"Carmichael didn't come to the office yesterday. He opted to play a round of golf instead. Pretty sure it was with a client, so I'm not sure it can totally count as stepping back, but it's a step in the right direction. His dragon assistant was still there though and I swear she gave me dirty looks all day."

Those dirty looks were probably because Amelia had missed work. The only two people in the office who missed less time than she did were Carmichael and his assistant.

"He retired, remember? He's not supposed to be just stepping back. He's supposed to be staying away from the office completely."

"Oh, please," Monica snorted. "We both know his retirement was his official way of turning things over but he could never walk away. He wants to make sure I'm not going to run the business into the ground within the first year. A full day away from the office is a good start."

The sad part was that everything her boss said was true. Carmichael might've retired because the board was in agreement to turn things over to Monica, but that didn't mean he was ready to do so. Carmichael claimed he was simply there to advise now but everyone knew the truth. Retirement was hard for people like Carmichael. Thankfully Monica was willing to play along. For a little while anyway. There would come a time when that was no longer the case.

"You're right." Amelia shifted around uncomfortably on the bed. "I think I'm finally going to take that shower the nurse recommended."

Monica stared at her, trying to decipher if Amelia was really as okay as she seemed. The uncomfortable truth was, she was okay. This wasn't the first time but it was going to be the last. Somewhere between yesterday and today, while she was chained to her bed, strength she never knew she possessed kicked in. Amelia promised herself if she made it out of the situation alive, this time she would take Gavin down.

Now it was time to keep her word.

"Okay." Monica dragged the word out. "I want you to call me as soon as you leave here though. I know Ryker already claimed dibs on being the one to whisk you away once you're released, but I want a call. I want to know what your plan is and how I can help."

That was news to her. She had been so sure Ryker had dropped her off and left since she hadn't seen him after getting checked in.

"I promise I'll call. Now go. I want to shower in peace."

It was mostly the truth. She wanted to make sure she was alone if she broke down during her shower. Monica didn't need to hear that. She was her boss and no amount of friendship would change that fact.

Once Monica had slipped out of the room, after making her promise yet again to call, Amelia shuffled to the bathroom. The hospital gown was itchy like it was new and had yet to be washed a million times to soften it up.

Amelia cranked the shower as hot as it would go. She let the uncomfortable gown puddle beneath her feet as she stepped under the spray. She should've done this as soon as the nurse gave her permission, but Monica had swept in and comforting her boss had taken priority. It was nice to see how much Monica cared about her well-being.

The entire time she had lain on that bed, shackled and naked, she prayed her absence wouldn't go unnoticed. Amelia no longer had friends. Gavin made sure of that. He isolated her until her only choice was to turn to him when she needed something. That left her job. Thankfully she was a hard-working employee and missing a day was unheard of. Two in a row was sure to raise red flags.

And they had. Monica, being the good person she was, didn't just brush the absence off. What she hadn't counted on was Monica sending Ryker to check on her. He was the one man she hadn't wanted to see her that way. Weeks of lusting after him and the occasion flirting left her thinking maybe there was a chance for some fun.

That was off the table now, not after the way he’d seen her.

Amelia scrubbed her body until every inch of it was bright red. It wasn't the first time she had been forced to wash away the filth, but it would be the last.

She managed to do it without letting the tears fall. The first time Gavin had raped her, she sat on the shower floor and cried until the hot water turned to ice. By the fourth time, she had been so numb that she went through the motions of washing him off in a catatonic state. That's when she decided she needed to get away from him at any cost necessary.

Now anger fueled her every motion. She was supposed to be free, she had been brave and broke the cycle. She had moved into a shitty apartment, upended her entire life, and lived on practically nothing.

And for what? So Gavin could find her again, to make her feel unsafe once again? To try and take back the little strength she had found?

No.

She refused to let him win. Slapping the shower off, Amelia reached for the tiny white towel and quickly dried herself. There would be no pity party. She wasn't going to feel sorry for herself. This was her future and she was in control of it.

Amelia looked around the hospital bathroom for her clothes, and then remembered she never brought them in with her. Slapping her hand against her forehead, she groaned. With any luck, no one was in the room.

With the towel wrapped tightly around her body, Amelia opened the bathroom door and froze. Luck wasn't on her side.

Standing next to the bed was none other than the man who rescued her, and based on the look he was giving her, he was just as surprised to find her standing there in a towel that barely covered her lady bits. Hospital towels were meant for kids. Not grown-ass adults.

Ryker's gaze roamed over her body, and for the briefest of seconds, she could see the heat in them before he masked his expression.

Just like that, a light bulb went off in her head and an idea formed. Gavin didn't break her and she was about to prove it.