Allie

Twenty two

Allie:

I sat against the bar as it's empty today Evie was on top of the bar dancing to Luke Combs One number away. Ryke sits at a bar stool in front of the bar. "Would you like a drink?" I asked him and he nodded. "Cider. I can't get drunk." He shrugged and I stare at him confused.

"Why?" I asked him and he lets out a sigh. "I'll tell you when we get home." I thought for a moment and then nodded. I went to the fridge and got him a cider. "I'll be back, I just need the toilet." Im nodded and as soon as he walks away the door opens a man walks in. He looks straight at me. Fear floods my eyes and Evie looks down at me to see my reaction. "Go and get Ryke!" She tells me. I looked up at her and she gestured for me to go. I looked in that direction. Then back at her. "I'll hold him back."

"Thank you!" I ran to the bathrooms, me and Evie has become really good friends over the last couple of weeks I've been here. She knows my story and I know hers, where she ran away from abusive family.

I ran into the men's bathroom, "woman you can't come in here!" A man shouted. I had no idea who he is. I just know he's one of the main guys who come in. Ryke was at the sinks and turned around to me when he saw me.

He walks over to me as he can see the fear in my eyes. "He's here Ryke!" He stares at me confused but then realised who it is. "Quinton." He mumbles before running back into the main bar to see him standing there. I ran after him. I stood behind him blocking me from his view. I go to stand out but he blocks me and gestures me to sit still with his hands and don't move from this spot.

"Don't come near her." I blocked my view, "stupid bitches don't know-" I heard a loud slap and I moved away. Moves out of Ryke's grip making sure Evie was ok and not hurt from the man in front of us. But what I didn't expect was to see Quinton holding his cheek. "You stupid-" Ryke rushes over and slams him into the wall behind. "Ryke not in the bar!"
I rushed over and he opens the door and walks out of the bar. Leaving me alone with Evie.

I ran outside making sure Ryke's alright but I see Ryder and Aspen next to him. As Quinton is on the floor. "Don't ever come near her again! You worthless piece of shit!" Ryke says before smashing his fist against his face. "Ryke." I grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.

I want him to do more, but the problem is. If Quinton goes to court for assault. Then he would loose as his family's are lawyers. I place my forehead against his back right shoulder blade. We've fucked up.

"Ryke come on." I pulled him into the bar and sat him down on a bar stool. I know he was protecting me from the man I was going to marry. But this is going to turn back on him. I leaned against him. He wraps a protective arm around my waist.

He leans against my chest and lets out a sigh. My hands run through his hair. "Do you want me to get him some ice for his hand?" Evie asked and I nodded not wanting to speak. Just want to here for him right now. He just wants to be held tight to me.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry Allie." He whispers and I shake my head kissing the top of his. I felt him shaking under neath my grip. I held his head as he leaned against me. He had adrenaline from the moment I told him. But now he knows what he's done. He knows his family and what can happen.

I got a plan which can help him, I got the photo proof where I can help him. I got another thing where... I have to speak to his siblings. The amount of times I went to them and ask them for help and they did before his parents found me and he found me and brought me back.

Also his grandparents, uncles. They were with me. The amount of times they found me crying in the room. And they're the lawyers. But right now I want to be in his arms as he just realising what he has done.

Aspen and Ryder come into the bar to see his state, then Evie came it with a frozen bag of pees. "Give me your hand." He does. Without lifting his head up, or moving. I grabbed the pees and placed it against his already bruised knuckles. "Hold them there." He nodded placing a hand on the pees.

I held his head against my chest. I fears what the outcome would be if it didn't work. He's nervous out the outcome. What if he ends up in jail because he beat up my abusive ex. What if he ends up in jail? It would be all my fault. "I'm so sorry Love." The nickname sent shivers down my spine. Why is he telling me he's sorry? There's nothing to be sorry about. That man deserves what just happened with him. But it's the outcome of my doing which would affect Ryke the most.

"I will find away to make sure you stay away from prison. I'll make sure there's no way in hell that you would end up in a jail cell. Ryke. You don't deserve that. It's my fault your in this predicament." I told him and he shakes his head. He doesn't stop. Oh come on Ryke. It is my fault. If I didn't ask him to take me away from the wedding. He won't be in this position. "Nothing of this is your fault, love."

"It's my fault! It's my fault." I whispered five times. Unable to say anything else. I shake my head, not knowing what else to say or do. "If I didn't ask you to remove me from the wedding. You won't be here right now. Unsure of your outcome."

"I don't give a shit about jail. The thing that's going through my head is that he can easily find you now. He can easily take you away again. But you need to know. I'll fight for this until the day I die. Love." He kisses my lips. And I'm so thankful that he's going to fight and not going to back down. Not knowing his true argument about this to Quinton.

"It's not your fault, love. Bevause if I walk down the street and see a man beat up anything living. I'll fight him making sure he knows what's wrong." I try to laugh but the situation he's in. I don't know what to do.

I hugged him tight. Knowing he's in my arms. But I don't know how long for. Hopefully forever.

~~~

I'm curled up into bed with Ryke still in my arms, he's fast asleep not knowing what I'm going to do. I kissed the top of his forehead. "I'm sorry Ryke. But this is the only way." I stood up out of bed. Making sure not to wake him up. I gave him another kiss on the head before heading to the door. I was still in my work outfit and I let out a long sigh.

Tears starts to swell in my eyes as I'm leaving the ranch behind. I won't bring Rex as he's loving this place and he's fast asleep in the main cabin with Nico for the night. I drove up to the Main Street and headed straight towards the house.

Tears fall down my cheek uncontrollably. Am I doing the right thing for me and Ryke. Yes I am. He won't go to jail if I do this. He doesn't deserve that. I gripped the wheel harder.

I parked up straight at the house and knocked on the door. Loud footsteps bang straight towards the door on the other side before the door swings open. Quinton stands there. Towering over me. I gulped.

"What do you want me to do?! What do you want me to do if you don't press charges on him?!" I begged wanting to know what I can do. To make sure he would live the happy life deserves. Quinton smirks as he realising what I'm saying.

"Marry me this time. Don't go running away with love boy." I want to smack his face like Evie did. For calling him a boy. He's more man than he ever was. I let out a sigh. "Yes." I tilt my head down.

"I won't press charges now. Now come on." He grabbed my wrist and pulls me inside. He raises his hand and slaps me across the face. "Don't ever! Ever! Do that again! Do you know how embarrassing it is to get slapped by a woman and then beaten up by his fiancés ex boyfriend." Tears already fell from leaving Ryke in that position.

I sat down on the floor as he walks away. "I'm so sorry Ryke."