Free Warriors of Ryon: Bayden by S.K. Yule Page B

gritted teeth before he picked his shirt up and yanked it over his head with agitated jerks of his fingers. He turned and started for the door.
    Instantly, she knew she’d made a mistake. She’d hurt the one man who’d been responsible for rescuing her and Molly, the man who’d made sure Molly had been saved. The man who’d shown her kindness. The man who made her burn. He’d probably never forgive her for it, and she wouldn’t blame him.
    “Bayden.” She scrambled after him. When he plucked his hand back from the key pad and straightened, she held her breath.
    He kept his back to her but turned his head. A small muscle ticced in his jaw. “Forget it.”
    “But—”
    “Don’t!” He turned on her so quickly she nearly fell backward. “I thought you were different. My entire life, everyone’s judged me because of who my parents were, or who I was working for, or how I looked at them. No one’s ever once looked at me and seen me . I’m tired, and I was right. You’re too good for me.”
    He walked out the door before she could say another word to him, and tears streaked her cheeks in hot rivulets of sorrow. He’d opened up to her, tried to show her his true self, and she’d thrown it in his face. How could I have hurt him like that? The hollow resolve on his face as he’d spoken made her realize he’d just shut her out. He might still want her, but he’d never open himself up again. Unless she could find a way to prove to him that she could be trusted with his feelings…with him.
    I’ll find a way to make you trust me, Bayden.
    If she couldn’t? Then she’d give him the kindness and trust he deserved and craved.
    * * * *
    He kicked the punching bag until his legs ached. You’re such a fucked-up bastard . Against his instincts, he’d opened his heart to Ellie, and she’d trampled it. How could she think that he’d done the things that damn computer accused him of? Hadn’t he taken care of her and Molly as he’d promised? Hadn’t he given them a safe place to live? Was that the act of a rapist? A murderer? He punched the bag several times.
    It didn’t matter what he did. He could save a whole family. They’d act kind, humble, grateful, but if one word was whispered about him being a Reaper, the tides would change in an instant. First, he’d been a bastard not good enough to have a loving family, not good enough to deserve basic, decent treatment. He’d been beaten simply for being born. He wondered if Ellie had noticed any of the scars that lay under the tattoo on his back.
    Probably not. She’d been too focused on labeling him someone he wasn’t. When he’d run away at fifteen to become an Enforcer, he’d thought his life couldn’t get any worse. He’d been wrong about that too.
    When he and Conlan finally fled Koryan, they’d barely escaped with their lives. Shortly after, they met Stryder and formed the Reapers. All of them had vowed to restore peace among the planets. Every mission they carried out aided those in need or helped strengthen their forces against Koryan.
    Mykal had eventually found out about the Reapers and what they were doing. He’d used his network of loyal followers to spread poisonous rumors about the Reapers. Fortunately, the king didn’t know who the members of their group were or the location of their compound. Even as brazen as Mykal was, not many would risk pissing off Ryonians.
    His muscles ached, and sweat poured down his chest and dripped from his hair. He’d shut himself off from everyone so he’d never be hurt again…until Ellie. He’d been an idiot.
    See, boy. I told you you were going to get screwed again . When she’d accused him of being a murderer, a rapist, his heart had shattered. He’d never be stupid enough to allow someone to hurt him like that again. But her hands had been magical on him. Even now, while his anger burned, the mere thought of her fingers running along his skin, her mouth on his…
    Stop it! She’s just like the