Bound by Steel by Connie Lafortune Read Free Book Online

my one and only attempt at freedom was snatched away by the real monster. Ryker is an angel compared to Hawk. The moment I knew he was taking me back to the cabin, I tried to make a run for it. Hence, the reason I was gagged and tied. I’ve never been so completely consumed with fear as he carried me into the house and laid me down on the sofa. Cody went ballistic. Without hesitating, he pulled a syringe out of his pocket and entered the library. The minute she heard his voice she grew quiet. My heart sank when I realized she didn’t consider him a threat. Fear became my only friend when he stalked over, squatting down beside me. Reaching out, he wrapped his thick hand around my throat before whispering, “You are the mirror image of Bella. Now I know why he’s fighting so damn hard to keep you.”
    Closing my eyes, I try as hard as I can to erase those words from my memory. But it’s no use. They’re stuck in my head, along with the feeling of his hand against the base of my throat. I desperately want to ask Ryker what those words mean, but I don’t know if he would give me an honest answer. All I do know is that I look a lot like Bella, and maybe that’s the only reason I’m still alive.
    I’m awakened when I feel hands glide along my outer thighs. They persist over my ribcage and up my arms, then settle on the tender base of my throat. Immediately, my eyes snap open to see angry black ones locked on mine. My heart beats double time as his fingers skim across my neck. “I’m going to kill that bastard for hurting you, precious,” he whispers.
    “I-I’m fine. Really, I am.” Do I tell him I’m sorry? Although I’d risk doing it again in a heartbeat? No. I will never apologize for wanting my freedom! His eyes leave mine only long enough to examine my body before landing back on mine. 
    “He marked you, Lyra. For that he will surely pay.” What? When his gaze scrutinizes my body once again, I force myself to do the same. I can’t catch my breath when I see red welts covering the entire length of my body. My first thought is Hawk tied the ropes too tight and bruised my delicate skin. My second thought is: Oh, dear god why am I naked?
    “You fell asleep in your wet clothes, Lyra. Once again, I removed them just so you wouldn’t catch a chill. No more no less.” Grabbing the blankets, he hastily covers me before straightening up. Without hesitating, I reach out my hand to him. Darkness skitters across his handsome features before he slides his hand into mine.
    “Why do you keep saving me, Ryker? Clearly, it would be much easier on everyone if you just killed me.” There. I said it. It’s too late to take it back. I find myself holding my breath waiting for him to answer.
    His eyes close for the briefest of moments before their blackness swallows me whole. “Atonement, perhaps.” Unconsciously, his thumb swipes across my wrist. “I’ve done a lot of things in the past that I’m not proud of, but I would never kill someone just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, I’m going to give you my word that one day you will be reunited with your family. It could take months, maybe years, but as soon as I have closure, I promise you that you’ll go home.”
    Just the thought of seeing Gage and my family again has me so emotional, I burst into tears. I fling myself at Ryker and wrap my arms around him. He doesn’t reciprocate, but I didn’t think he would. “Thank you,” I whisper through tears.
    He pats my back sheepishly. “Precious, if you plan on climbing me like a damn monkey—I should warn you—I never got laid when I went into town.”
    Oh. Crap on a cracker.
     

Chapter Nine
    February
    Ryker
    Since the Hawk debacle a few weeks back, the dynamics between Lyra and I have changed. We’ve become ‘friends’ for lack of a better term. I still work in my office during the day, but at night we have dinner together. And we’ve connected on a whole new level since I’ve