Chapter Eighteen

Lana POV:

"Lana!" I heard from inside. It was Ryder.

"Out back!" I called out. Then I heard two sets of foot steps rushing toward Sarah and I.

I stood and looked at Ryder who had Kade on his tail.

Suddenly, Ryder pulled me into a tight hug.

"Whoa." I said, stumbling a bit.

"Are you okay?" Ryder asked me. "Ryder, I'm fine. What's going on?" I asked.

Ryder, then pulled out his phone and showed me the message. My eyes widened as I read it over and over.

"Someone is watching you." He explained.

"Wait, tell me what's going on." Sarah told the two men.

"Someone had been watching the two of you. Ryder got a message, that explained in detail what you were wearing." Kade said then looked at Sarah.

"I got the same message about you." He told her. "What do we do?" I asked, trying to stay calm. "Well, you're not staying here and you can't go home." Ryder told me.

"Then what?" Sarah asked.

"You're staying with me and Lana is staying with Ryder. At least until we figure all of this out, okay?" Kade asked, Sarah. "Okay." She said, without hesitation.

"What about dad?" I asked. "Is he here?" Ryder asked causing me to nod. "He should be in his office." I told him.

Ryder took my hand, Kade taking Sarah's.

Ryder barged in without knocking.

"Kids, I'm working. You can't just barge in here." Dad said.

"We have a problem." Kade said as he and Ryder showed dad their phones.

"When the fuck did you get these messages?" Dad asked, furiously. "Today." Ryder replied.

"We planned to have Sarah stay with me and Lana with Ryder. I mean they can't go home and they can't stay here. Whoever it is knew they're here." Kade told him.

"No, I have a safe house outside of town. Take the girls there." Dad replied.

"What about class?" Sarah asked.

"Dad we can't miss any of our classes. Finals are coming up." I told him.

Dad sighed heavily. "Guards are to be posted with the two of you and Lane stays with you at all times. Understood?" He asked. "Yes, sir." Sarah and I said in unison.

"With all do respect, Samuel, it could be Adam or Cole, or hell even both of them doing this." Kade told him.

"It's probable." I added.

"That's where Lane comes in." Samuel replied.

"You sure you girls are going to be okay at school?" Ryder asked, after leaving dad's office.

"We'll be fine, Ryder. I'll even call you during my lunch break if it will ease your mind." I replied. He gave me a small smile. "It would." "Okay, then." I said smiling back.

The safe house was actually really nice.

It was a log cabin with a fire place in the study and a hot tub on the back porch. I knew I was going to like it here.

"Whoa. Dude there are ceiling fans on the front porch!" Sarah said, excitedly. I shook my head and laughed as she roamed around the cabin like a little girl.

When I walked into the front porch, I saw Kade looking at Sarah with... Adoration, maybe?

I walked up and stood next to him.

"Stop being a wuss and ask her out already." I said making his head snap in my direction. "Oh, don't look at me like that Kade Wilson. Just do it." I said before roaming around the large front yard.

"You know, I could get used to this place." Ryder said, walking up behind me.

"Right? I love this house. Might even ask Dad not to make us leave." I said, laughing lightly. Ryder only smiled at me in response.

"Thank you, Ryder. You've done so much for my sister and I the last couple of months, and I'm not even sure why." I said.

Ryder slowly walked closer to me, making my breath hitch.

"No matter what happens between us, I will always care about you." He said softly.

We stared at each other for a moment before he placed his warm, rough hand on my cheek.

Leaning closer to my face, slowly, he placed a light kiss on my lips.

I closed my eyes, slowly and returned it.

We lingered for a short while before he pulled away.

"I'll see you soon." He whispered before heading toward the car with Kade.

What just happened?

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