Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ryder slammed the door to his vehicle and hit the steering wheel. He didn’t mean to upset her. The hurt and confusion on her face gutted him to the core. Why didn’t she insist on talking it out? She didn’t even hand him anything to work on while she vented her frustration at him. She stood ramrod straight and demanded he stick with Dr. Hill. He’d say she tried to remain professional if they hadn’t experienced the scorching kiss the other morning. Something about her actions today seemed off. Why did she slip a paperweight in her pocket? Did she plan to bash him upside the head to knock some sense into him?

He forced a few slow breaths as she taught him when he felt overwhelmed. Ryder’s head hit the steering wheel as he fought the urge to return and demand she take him back as a patient and confess he screwed everything up. He thought about the first time he drove to her house, determined to keep her from setting the abysmal pink abomination on fire. She ran out of the house and right into his arms.

He paused, remembering the expression of fear across her face. It wasn’t a startled expression from someone who seemed surprised to find someone at their door. It felt like fear.

His brows furrowed as he considered when she threw the wine glass at him. He witnessed terror in her eyes before shock at what she did hit her. Did Claire have fears of her own?

The reel began to play in his head as if in a movie. Attempting to avoid her after the blindfold incident, he rose a half hour earlier to avoid her on the running path in the woods. He finished the jog, patting himself on the back for breathing normally compared to his last jogs with her, where he struggled to catch his breath and upchuck from the exertion.

When he glanced up, he witnessed her running for her life. Fear etched in her face as she glanced behind her, blindly running. It wasn’t her typical pattern. Something spooked her. When he raced toward her, she screamed as if she thought he planned to murder her.

One thing he learned from staying on the mountain, security remained tight. From what, he wasn’t sure. It felt more like an overload for a facility, but it wasn’t like any other he stayed at.

Resting his head against the headrest, he viewed the house. His mind replayed their last few moments together. She held the same expression as the one in the woods. Starting the car, he backed out of the driveway and drove less than half a block away. He picked up his phone and called Whiskey.

“Hello, Ryder. Do you need me to come up?” Whiskey cut to the chase.

“Whiskey, I’m half a block away from Claire’s. Something’s wrong. I don’t know what, but she’s terrified, and I’ve got a gut feeling,” he rushed, praying he didn’t sound crazy. “I didn’t know who to call.”

“I’ll call Leo. Stay put.” Whiskey hung up.

A second later, his phone rang.

“Ryder, What’s up?” Leo asked.

“I went to see Claire. I thought she might be upset about me changing docs. Something’s wrong. She wanted me out of the house and she’s scared. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve got a feeling in my gut, and it’s screaming.”

“We’ll be there in five. Place your phone on silent. Watch and observe, Ryder. That’s an order.” Leo commanded.

He heard the sound of movement and the slamming of a door, maybe multiple.

“I parked down the street and am returning to the house now. I’ll wait for backup,” he informed him as his body tensed and his brain focused on the mission.

“I’ll call you as we approach for a report. And Ryder?”

“What?” he asked as he shut his door and started jogging toward her house.

“Always listen to your gut.” The phone went dead.

Ryder proceeded toward Claire’s and his senses kicked in. Determined to find out what threatened her, he ignored all the doubts as he focused on the woman who broke through all his fears. The one who made him want to live.