Obsessed (The Protectors #13) - Sloane Kennedy Page 0,63
together.
"Sam—" I began, but when I stepped forward, he threw up his hand and shook his head almost violently.
"You think he's coming after me," he breathed. He shook his head again and then he was on the move. I stepped into his path and grabbed his upper arms.
"Ryan! Elliot! I have to get to my children!" He frantically fought the hold I had on him.
"Sam," I tried again.
Sam lashed out at me, pulling free of me in the process. He took several steps back and then he was digging out his phone. His hands were shaking violently. Even as he tried to dial, he was attempting to move past me.
Once again, I grabbed his arms, but this time I was more prepared for his reaction.
"Let me go, Matias! Ryan! I need to get to Ryan!" he yelled.
The door behind me flew open, but I ignored the man that I knew would be standing there and focused only on Sam. "Ryan is safe!" I said firmly. "And Elliot is with Cruz. They’re all being watched."
Sam shook his head, clearly not satisfied with my response. Despite the hold I had on him, he continued to fumble with his phone. I covered his hand with mine. When he jerked it away, something inside of me broke. The idea that he no longer welcomed my touch was abhorrent to me. I didn't know how to react, so when I did, it was all wrong. I knew that. But I did it anyway.
I snatched the phone out of Sam's hands and threw it against the wall.
Sam took several steps back. His expression said it all. He was afraid of me.
I felt sick. It was all I could do not to throw up then and there.
"Mr. Wittier, my name is Ronan Grisham. Matias and Cruz work for me. As do all the men who are currently watching both of your sons to make sure nothing happens to them." I hated that Sam turned his attention to Ronan… that he actually listened to him. It felt like a betrayal, but I knew it was one I had earned with my behavior. I managed to keep silent as Ronan continued to explain to Sam what was happening in a way I couldn't.
"Cruz and Elliot don't yet know about these extra precautions we've taken. It would be better for them if they heard it upon their return to Seattle."
"Ryan?" was all Sam managed to get out. I could see that he was on the verge of completely losing it. I wanted to go to him, but I couldn't move. And I knew he wouldn't welcome the contact anyway.
"Ryan is safe. I have four men surrounding the home he’s at. When you're ready, we’ll escort you to him and then make sure to get you back home. All of this is just a precaution, Mr. Wittier. Chances are, nothing will happen, but we’re just being overly cautious."
"I want to see my son," Sam said softly. His eyes darted back and forth between me and Ronan. He was clearly on edge and I couldn't blame him. It was a lot to take in and he hadn't even heard the worst of it yet.
"Of course," Ronan said. I saw him hold out his arm invitingly, and that had me seeing red. Despite knowing that Ronan had no interest in Sam, I still found myself moving between them.
"He's coming with me."
Ronan wasn't the kind of guy you wanted to fuck with, but the idea of Sam leaving with him, of Sam trusting him over me, threatened to have my rage going to a whole new level. Whether he liked it or not, Sam was mine. Even if I’d destroyed the fragile relationship he and I had managed to establish, his safety was still my only concern. He could hate me all he wanted. As long as he was alive to do it, that was all that mattered to me at the moment.
I ignored Ronan and focused on Sam, daring him to defy me. I was expecting it. Despite some of the insecurities Sam had about himself, he’d stood up to me more than once already and I wasn't expecting that to change. Sam's gaze shifted back and forth between me and Ronan and then he shook his head. "I'm leaving," he murmured and then he was moving past the both of us.
I turned and headed for the door myself, stopping only long enough to say to Ronan, "He stays with me."