Mercy on my Soul

TWENTY-SIX

I walk into the house and the first person I see is Ryder walking down the steps. He looks at me with a surprised look. He gets to the bottom step looking at me. I give him a small smile. He walks up to me in a hurry and checks every part of my skin. I giggle. "Ryder, I'm fine." He looks at me. 

"I thought that my father got you," He said. I shake my head. He wraps his arms around me and kisses me roughly. His arm goes around my waist as he pulls back a little. "Where were you?" He asked with a worriedly look. I take a deep breath. 

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to get mad," He narrows his eyes as he looks into my eyes. His hand on my waist starts to fold up. 

"Silas," He growls. I put my hand on his chest. 

"Ryder," He lets out a groan as he drops his hands. 

"Azura, don't you dare protect him on this. He was supposed to protect you. I trusted him to do just that. If you are going to tell me that he brought you to Ronan than that means he betrayed my trust. If he betrayed my trust he will die." My heart ached at the thought of not Silas in my life anymore. I take a step towards him as Quill comes walking out of the living room. 

"Azura? Are you okay?" He asked as he walks up to me. I give him a small smile as he checks me just like Ryder did. I let out a small breath. 

"I'm okay, Quill." I look at Ryder. "Just listen to me before you do anything to Silas, please," He narrows his eyes at me. 

"I told you not to defend him or protect him. I barely ever trust anyone and the one time I do he betrays me. There is no way he is going to get away with it." 

"Ryder-," He takes a angerily step towards me and grabs my face roughly but not hard. His eyes go on mine and he looks down at my lips for a second. 

"I'm trying to be better man for you and I'm trying not to be so aggressive with you but you have to meet me halfway. Just meet me halfway, baby," His eyes go back on mine. I give him a confused look. 

"What?" He gulps as his eyes look into mine as if we were the only ones in the world. 

"I am trying to love you the way you deserve but when you sit there and defend another man to me it makes me very angry. I don't want to be angry anymore Azura. I just want you and our child. I love you so meet me halfway," My heart fluttered as my stomach heated up. I was so shocked that he admitted it loud enough for me and Quill to hear. I lick my dry lips as I swallow harshly. 

"I'll meet you halfway," I whisper as I look at his lips. He lets out a breath of relief. His lips go back on mine and he kisses me like I was going to disappear. I had never seen Ryder so defenseless or vulnerable. There was no way I was going to say or do anything to ruin it. 

"Where were you?" Quill asked. Ryder looks at him before looking back at me and dropping his hands. I take a deep breath and look at Quill. 

"Silas took me to Ronan," I mumble as I look at Ryder. His face changed as he realized Silas did in fact betray him. 

"He did what?" Quill yells. I open my mouth to explain as Molly comes running down the steps alert. I give her a small smile. 

"I'm sorry, I was trying not to make them angry," She shakes her head as she walks past Ryder and hugs me. 

"I don't care. I'm just glad you are safe," She breathes. I smile as I hug her back. She pulls back and looks me over. I roll my eyes. 

"The guys already did that," Her eyes go back on mine. 

"So you're okay?" I nod. 

"I am," She swallows harshly. 

"Reed or Ronan?"