Free The Girl He Left Behind by Shilpa Suraj Page B

everything else and just wrapped her hands around him from behind. Praying she could get through to him, she hugged him and whispered. ‘Please, Ryan. For me? Please.’
    She felt him go completely still and held her breath, waiting. Shaking his head in disgust, he let go and stepped to one side and out of Sia’s embrace.
    She watched as his mother fussed and hovered over her husband without looking in her son’s direction. Stepping closer to Ryan, she put a hand on his arm in a silent show of support. His face impassive now, he leaned in even as his stepfather flinched away from him. ‘Listen to me carefully. If you ever talk to Sia like that again or even look at her wrong, I swear I won’t let go until I’m done choking the life out of you. I was a childthe last time you knew me. I’m not anymore. You want to take me on? I’ll decimate you without even breathing heavy.’
    When his only response was an angry glare and a few gasping breaths, he continued ‘You’ll get the money in a week. I don’t ever want to see either of you again after today.’
    When they only continued to stare, he waved a hand impatiently towards the door. ‘Get out.’
    He watched as they scrambled out of the door without a backward glance. Acutely conscious of Sia standing next to him, he took a few steps away from her before facing her.
    With her hair loose and dishevelled and her breasts spilling out of her top even more thanks to the scuffle, she looked like his personal fantasy come true. Until you took in her dazed and shell shocked expression. Self-loathing coating his throat, he turned from her and went to stare out of the window while he waited for her to speak. He’d walked away from her and any chance at happiness, hoping to keep the dirt from his life from smearing all over hers. Maybe he should pat himself on the back. Six years and endless nights of second guessing his decision later, here he was, trying to wipe the grime from both their faces.
    Sia took a deep breath trying to still the tremors coursing through her body now that everything was over. Talk about a bad start to the day. Stifling a hysterical giggle, she collapsed into the nearest chair. She stared blankly at her hands as they continued to shake.
    ‘I’m sorry.’ Ryan’s hoarse whisper had her looking up. All she could see was his stiff back. ‘I didn’t know it would be that bad or I wouldn’t have asked you to stay.’
    ‘It’s okay.’ She forced herself to say through numb lips.
    Looking over his shoulder, he took in the situation in one sweeping glance. The shock he could understand. The fearshe was going to have to explain to him. Cursing, he knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. Rubbing them briskly, he tried to think of something to say that would make this hideous situation better. There was something more at work here than just a reaction to what had happened. When the trembling didn’t stop, he swore and picked her up and sat down on the couch with her on his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he murmured soothing nonsense until slowly the tremors faded. They sat in silence for a while in their little cocoon while the world went about its business outside.

Chapter 8
    Sia rummaged through her desk drawer desperately. She couldn’t find her stash of painkillers and she still had half the day to get through. She’d gotten into office so late after the drama of the morning that she was running way behind her schedule for the day. Wincing at another stab of pain in her temple, she abandoned her medicine hunt and was about to go in search of the office’s first aid kit when the office door opened.
    ‘Hi. I was wondering….’ Trailing off when she took in the lines of pain on Sia’s face, Minty shoved her hand into her laptop bag to fish out the tablets she kept for an emergency.
    ‘You’re a lifesaver.’ Grabbing the proffered strip, Sia quickly swallowed two.
    ‘What brought it on?’
    ‘Ryan.’
    ‘Really? What did he