Vigilante

3. Ryder Armstrong

Three

Ryder Armstrong had done a number of stupid things in his life. But the dumbest one was watching Patty walk away that day, after several, long years of waiting to get her back.

As he stood there watching her car pull out of the drive, he remembered that awful day that changed everything.

"Don't make me go in there," he'd groaned, as he sat in the front seat of his car with Patty next to him.

She ran a hand through his dark hair. "You've got to."

"He's so pissed at me, baby," said Ryder, "I think the only reason he didn't kill me on the spot is because we're engaged. My Dad likes you more than he likes me."

She smiled. "Well, I'll remember to use that to our advantage when we're planning our honeymoon. But right now, you've got to go talk to him. It's the least you could do considering you crashed his Maserati into a tree."

Ryder groaned again. "Cruel woman."

"Practical woman," said Patty, "I need my men happy, after all."

He laughed, and caught sight of the sparkling engagement ring on her finger. "That's the best thing I've seen all day."

"My ring?" she said.

"No, the ring I gave you, on your finger," he said, "we're going to start a life together. We're going to be so happy, Patty. I swear we will."

"We won't be if your father kills you before the wedding," she kissed him on the lips, brushing his cheek with her hand, "now go be a big boy and make amends, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed. "I'll go. But if this kills me, it's on you."

"Not funny. Besides, you're the only heir to a multi-million dollar company. I don't think he's going to kill you."

He kissed her hand, and got out of the car, running across the street to the very official, important looking building. His father, predictably, was in the lobby waiting for him. He was a tall man with blond hair who looked nothing like him.

"Ryder, you're late."

"Sorry, I was talking with Patty."

His father, much to his surprise, flashed him a smile. "You know how happy I am for you two?"

"I do know," said Ryder, "and I'm glad. Now about the car---"

"Don't worry about it," his father put a hand on his shoulder, "consider it your last joy ride though. You're going to be a married man. You're going to need to be responsible, to take care of the family. And I think you should start doing that now. This city is going to need someone to be its leader son. We've been here since the beginning, and we'll be here at the end."

"Dad, I'm just getting married," he said, "besides I.... I proposed because I could tell that she was going to leave me."

His father furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"

"Her and Logan are getting closer," said Ryder, "they're both taking the same classes, getting to know each other better.... I could feel her pulling away. But Patty's mine, Dad. Always has been, always will be. I couldn't let her get taken from me."

Richard Armstrong frowned. "Son, Patty's not an object. You can't lock her away. If she's going to leave you, she'll leave, and all of the rings in the world won't stop that."

"No, but I can try," he said.

"Ryder, Patty deserves her freedom if that's what she wants. I know you love her, but you can't just—"