Dangerous

Chapter 1: Ryder

Ryder

Humans are unpredictable. Some are good, and some are bad. Some are kind and caring, others are ruthless. Some do reckless things, for love, money, or power. Is there ever a right side?

The splintering wood echoed through the empty warehouse as I kicked the door open. I stepped back and let Parker enter the room, then followed silently. Going around to the other side of the room, I unlocked and opened the door to allow Tony and Cameron in.

The warehouse was just an open, concrete room that contained a few vehicle bays, two of which had cars in them. In the back right of the warehouse, there was a dark hallway.

"Ryder, have you found the keys yet?" Parker asked, rummaging through one of the cabinet drawers.

"No." I looked along the walls, trying to find some hook or shelf that they might be hanging from. There. "Found 'em."

"Here." I tossed them to Tony.

Popping open the trunk of the car, he took out the duffle bags. "You'd think that people would learn to hide things better."

"They aren't exactly planning for their treasures to be stolen." Cameron grabbed one of the bags from him and set it on the ground. It thumped on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He waved a hand in front of his face, coughing, then brushed the ends of his hair out of his face. I grabbed one of the bags as well, setting it on the ground.

"Do you ever wonder what's in the bags?" Tony asked.

I looked up. "We're not allowed to."

"Yeah, I know. Still curious, though."

"Tony, that's enough," Parker barked, coming out of a back room. "No more. Now, come back here, there's something that you all need to see."

The darkness seemed to envelop everything the father back we went. Switching on my flashlight, I kept walking down the hall. There was a door to the right at the end of the hall. Parker entered the room and found a light switch. It lit up a small lightbulb in the center of the room, casting a yellow glow along the floor. The room was bare, and cold, with concrete walls and a single table and chair in the center of the room.

"This doesn't feel right," Cameron said, taking a moment to scan the room.

"This is just like every other time. We follow orders and we do what we are told, alright?" Parker replied, switching off the light and heading back out to the main room. "Come on. Let's get the bags back to the base."

No one argued, but the tension in the air was palpable. We left in silence, packing up the car and heading back home.

"Where are we supposed to drop things off?" Cameron asked.

"I'll take care of it," Parker answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

Silence fell in the car, an uncomfortable quiet that didn't typically occur between the four of us, and lasted until Parker dropped us off at the base. "They're setting up another fight in a couple of days. Make sure you're there."

Only one car was in the driveway when I got home. Opening the front door silently, I took off my shoes and scanned the area. I didn't want to run into Dad without warning. The kitchen was a mess: plates left in the sink and on the table, a smear on the wall, broken glass beneath it, and the smell of beer permeating the room. There was a small, dark stain on the tablecloth as well.

Shit. I reached for the gun concealed at my waistline, pulling it out. "Briar?" I yelled, praying for a response. "Briar!"

"Upstairs," came a weak call.

I dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. "Where are you?"

The door to the bathroom creaked open, revealing my sister's tear-stained face. "Here, with Mom."

"Dad home?" I asked, looking around again and putting my weapon back in its holster.

She shook her head. "No, but..." Tears started to pour down her face again.

"What happened?"

She opened the bathroom door wider. Mom was there on the tiled floor, a fresh bruise on her face and a bandaged hand sitting in her lap.

Double shit. I went in and knelt on the ground in front of her. "What happened?"

She lifted her head, her wide, scared eyes meeting mine. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her chest was heaving.

Fury and rage filled me. I stood up slowly, my gaze focused on the wall as if I could burn a hole through it. "Briar...? What happened?"

"I - I don't know. Dad was drinking, like normal, but then he got mad about something, and started throwing things around, and..." She swallowed roughly and looked at Mom. "I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there, and I couldn't do anything, and then he started yelling at Mom, and somehow, her hand got cut, and then after a while, he just grabbed the car keys and walked out."

Briar leaned against the edge of the sink, closing her eyes. Her whole body was shaking. Shoving my feelings down, I stepped closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze before I let go.

"This has gone too far," I said, taking a seat on the edge of the bathtub. "This is not the first time this has happened, and if we stay here, this is not going to be the last."

Mom raised her head slowly to look at me. "What do you mean?" she croaked.

I knelt next to her again. "I mean this..." I ran a finger along the edge of the bruise and over the bandage on her hand. "Needs to stop."

"How, though?" Briar asked. "You and I both know he's a controlling a-hole who doesn't understand what boundaries are."

"We have to leave. Get a small house, the three of us. Maybe across town? It won't stop him forever, but it will give us the needed space."

Briar nodded. "But what about school? And work? Are they going to be okay with you just dropping everything and moving?"

I picked up my phone from the counter and dialed Kane's number. This was not going to be a fun conversation. "They have to be. I'll talk to the guys. But we leave tomorrow. Pack your bags."