Typhon

Chapter 33

Stone~

I was standing in front of Rylee's motel room again, and it was a testament to how much power this girl had over me. Never in my life had I ever backed down from a challenge, but here I was, choosing to work things out with her, instead of unleashing hell on her family and friends.

After Alexander had left my condo, I'd taken a shower and had thought about his parting words. They'd sounded like a warning more than a piece of advice, and I wondered if he'd always known about August's fixation on Rylee, and he was hoping that, by marrying her, it would put August in check.

Whatever Alexander's reasons were for that low-key warning, I found myself back at Rylee's motel room to work things out because the alternative wasn't going to help anybody.

It wouldn't give me Rylee.

After all, at the end of all this, that's what I wanted. I wanted Rylee, and I wanted her for my wife, my partner, my love.

I knocked on the door, and if I had to break it down to get inside, then I would. I also knew that she was here because her white KIA was parked right in front of the door, and it was already past ten at night. Granted, she could be with someone, but I doubted it. Rylee wouldn't be out partying her problems away. In fact, she was the type to be sitting on the other side of this door, plotting her strategy and revenge.

When the door swung open, Rylee was standing before me, dressed in a simple white t-shirt, a pair of lavender pajama pants, and socks on her feet, proving my theory right. Partying was the last thing on her mind, and the girl had probably spent her evening sewing together a voodoo doll of my liking.

"Let me in." I didn't ask because I knew what her answer would be.

She eyed me for a brief second before stepping back to let me inside. I was surprised that she'd given in so easily, but I didn't count that as a good thing. Whatever Rylee's reasons were for letting me inside the room, I knew that they weren't good.

Still, I wasn't afraid of a good fight.

I walked past her, then into the middle of the room, much like I'd had last time. When I turned around to face her, she remained by the front door. Déjà vu sucked in this instance because the only thing missing from this scene was the robe.

"What do you want, Stone?" she asked, her voice frosty.

"Now there's a question."

Rylee crossed her arms over her chest. "Shouldn't you be in an underground basement somewhere, planning my family's demise?"

In three strides, I was standing in front of her, her back against the door, unsuccessfully trying to gain some space from my imposing frame. I had one hand wrapped around the side of her neck, my thumb running back and forth over her jaw.

Fuck, she really was stunning.

"Tell me I don't have to fuck up your entire world and everyone in it, Rylee," I told her. "Don't turn this into a bloodbath if it doesn't have to be."

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Even your apologies are threats, Stone," she replied. "You do realize that, right?"

My other hand came up until both hands were cradling her face. "Tell me I don't have to ruin you," I repeated. "Tell me that you're going to let me love you, even if you can't find it in yourself to forgive me."

She didn't push me away, but she didn't give in, either. "I'd have to be an idiot to forgive you," she said. "Besides, you've done nothing to earn it."

"I told you that I was sorry-"