The Secrets We Keep (Formally WAIT)

Chapter 50

"Oh," he turns his body to face me, "Well, I got your call, and I couldn't really hear you, but I did hear the 911 part, so I raced out of the lot calling 911. I was actually on the phone with them when you didn't answer my calls and then he, um, Darren, almost hit me. Thank god I saw you when I did. I read his license plate to the operator and they got in touch with the police. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep up with him. I did try to follow despite the operator telling me not to, but I lost you guys at the light.

"So, I waited on the line with the operator and they said if I knew what your parents' names were," he paused to sigh in frustration, "I tried to explain that he was supposed to be your parent, but they insisted that they had to contact them first. I told them you had a brother but I didn't know his name. I couldn't really do anything so I called Craig. He's a social worker and I explained what was going on. He made some calls and helped your brother keep updated.

"Since you weren't missing for 48 hours, and I couldn't prove that Darren had done anything. Finally, once the 48 hrs were up, they managed to get some CCTV from the traffic lights around your house and found the video of Darren driving the car but you weren't in it. They brought him in for questioning because the car wasn't registered to him. He kept spinning lies and refused to really talk. I went back to where he was driving with you and ended up searching all the buildings on that road.

"I called the cops when I found the one with the car and your cell phone smashed. The finally got a warrant for Darren's cell phone and traced the number to a phone of some guy named Tucker. Well, that lead us to Tucker who easily gave up the whole story in exchange for a shorter sentence.

"We showed up at Gino's house—"

"Wait," I said urgently. "Gino? That's his name? Isn't that the name of the guy you were working for?"

"Yeah, it's so f*cked because the whole time you were at his house! I've been there before. If only I had known. Sh*t," he took a few deep breathes with his eyes shut tightly before continuing.

"Anyways the police raided the place to find you. Who then called Ash, who I was with, and we got driven to you."

I sat in silence digesting it all.

"You know," I said in thought, "I recognized that guy, Tucker, but I couldn't place him until now. I had seen him arguing at the fight club that night I met you there."

"Yeah, well I guess everything worked out because Gino and all his men got arrested, so I don't have to worry about money. I'm out."

"That's really good Ryder," I said nodding my head.

"Yeah," he said solemnly, running a hand through his thick hair, "I'm just so stupid. I can't believe what he was doing. F*cking selling women. I can't believe I almost got mixed up in that sh*t."

"At least you're out now. And besides, you weren't actually working for him."

I met his green eyes and he smiled in thanks.

"Thanks, Ryder," I say sincerely. "You seriously saved me from, well from god only knows but I'm glad I didn't have to find out."

He reached for my hands and after tensing reflexively, he looked into my eyes in approval as he leaned forward on the sofa and wrapped his arms around me. It was a stiff and one-sided hug until I let out a deep breath and molded to his chest. He scooped my body up and placed me on his lap and leaned back into the arm of the sofa. We stayed like that for a while, and I breathed in his smell.

His gentle strokes my hair back from my face and leans his head down pressing his lips against my temple. His lips sent sparks through my body and I couldn't help but smile. It felt good.

"Ryder," I said softly, relaxed, "I'm really glad I met you."

"I'm glad I met you too Lys."