Chapter 11

Ryan’s POV

I didn’t even let myself speak. I just scooped her into my arms like my life depended on it, holding her so tight I was scared I’d crush her. But I couldn’t let go. My chest hurt. My throat was tight. Everything inside me felt like it was burning with this sick kind of guilt I couldn’t breathe past.

“Put me down! Ryan, put me down!” she screamed, her fists hitting my shoulder, struggling to get free, but her voice cracked halfway, and that sound cut through me worse than anything else.

I didn’t say a damn word. I just carried her, tight against my chest, straight into the parking lot where my car was parked. I could feel her heart pounding through her chest, and maybe she could feel mine too, because it was slamming hard, fueled with so much rage and helplessness I didn’t even know how I hadn’t passed out yet.

The moment we reached the car, I dropped her on her feet and slammed her right against the side of it, pinning her there with one arm