Forever My Protector (The Ryder Brothers): The Ryder Brothers, #1

By Dani Ryan

What's a little forced proximity between enemies? It wasn't like they were going to do something so stupid as fall for each other.

 

Scarlet Kincaid gets on my very last nerve. She's infuriating, stubborn, and hot-headed. She's a brat. One I never thought I'd see again, but months later here she is back in Miami. I can't seem to get her out of my head after our little run-in, the way she rolls her eyes at every word I say and acts like a know-it-all. But when I find out she's in danger and needs my help, I come to her rescue because, as much as she hates to admit it, she needs me and I'm not going anywhere. The more time we spend together, lines blur and it's hard to remember why we hate each other. She may be a brat, but she's my brat and I'll do anything to protect her.

 

 

Note: Every book in The Ryder Brothers series stands completely on its own and there are no cliffhangers! Start reading today!

 

 

*The Ryder Brothers series in order (if you so choose to read them that way)*

Forever My Protector

Forever My Ranger

Forever My Soldier

Forever My Guardian

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dani Ryan
• Release date: Jan 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223732389

Book preview

Prologue

10 years ago

The thunder sounded the exact moment the bat connected with the ball and I bolted. First base. Second base. Third base. Home run. Out! Deacon shouted, bent down, his arms resting on his knees as he put up a hand to me.

What? I raised my voice and furrowed my brows. That’s bullshit!

He chuckled. Chill, man, it’s just a game.

I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated, and let out a sigh. Fuck. Whatever.

He eyed me suspiciously and cocked a brow, then asked, Colt, you’re wound tighter than a two dollar watch tonight. What’s the matter with you?

Just because he was my older brother didn’t mean I wanted to talk about my feelings with him, far fucking from it actually. If he really wanted to know, though, I’d tell him what was on my mind, consuming my thoughts for too damn long. I take the ASVAB test tomorrow, remember? That’s going to make or break my future. Even the acronym for the test—Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery—was tedious.

He sighed and shook his head, raking a hand through his dark mane. Let’s not be so dramatic. Dad will be proud of you whatever happens.

See, that was the problem, always had been, really. Dad didn’t care what happened, only that I enlisted and followed in his footsteps, made him proud as he always put it, as the rest of my brothers had.

Not everyone’s as lucky as you, Deke. You scored high and got exactly what you wanted.

Before Deacon could respond, it started to rain, I guessed it was only a matter of time after the thunder earlier. Let’s just get the hell out of here, I pleaded, releasing a deep sigh. I wanted to change the subject anyway and stop harping on this stormy cloud that was over my head. Had been for a while now.

I picked up my bat as he grabbed the ball and then we both ran to the car as the rain started pelting us. Frankly, the rain actually felt good, it was the refresher I didn’t even know I needed. If I could afford to get sick, I would just stand in the middle of the damn ball field and let the rain fall down on me.

I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could shirk my obligations and it was an unspoken understanding that each of us Ryder boys would enlist in the Army, that we would serve our country. And I knew this was my chance to make my dad happy, proud of me even.

The Army comes first, son. My dad’s words play on repeat in my head. Everything else falls in line after that. He had been out of the Army for over two decades now and still lived by that rule of thumb. It was engrained in him.

The car ride home felt like a lifetime and with the rain it took longer than usual to get home. It seemed like just because it was raining everyone had an excuse to drive at a fucking snail’s pace.

Deacon broke the silence, looking at me out of the corner of his eye as he said, Whatever you do, hide your nerves from Mom, because you know she doesn’t do well with this. It’s a lot harder on her than it is on us.

He didn’t need to remind me. Perhaps he forgot, but I was always there with her when my brothers left. It was torture for her. Even though she tried to hide her emotions, you could always tell she was torn apart.

I didn’t want to be the reason for all that pain. However, I tried my best to hide the incredible amount of disdain I had for this Ryder obligation, never saying a word to my mom, brothers, and certainly never my dad. He wouldn’t understand anyway.

Can I ask you something? I peered at him and waited until he nodded to continue, You’ve been out for a while, but you still haven’t really moved on. Why is that? I didn’t need to say more than that because we both knew what I was talking about. Deacon suffered from PTSD and while he was better now, when he got back he was a mess.

Look, you’ve got a visitor. Deacon tilted his head for me to look outside my window.

I looked out the car window at the front door of my house and there she was. Christina—my high school sweetheart.

Deacon clearly wasn’t going to answer my earlier question, which I wasn’t too surprised about because he hated talking about his feelings even more than I did. He cleared his throat before asking, How’s she handling all of this?

Like him, I knew how to dodge a question, too. And this was definitely a question I didn’t feel like answering. Dude, let me take the damn test first, okay? Damn. And why don’t you worry about your love life instead, brother, or rather the lack thereof?

He rolled his eyes. You’re going to have to deal with what this means for the two of you eventually.

I didn’t even acknowledge his statement, just got out of the car, walked right up to Christina and picked her up. She giggled as I swung her around before putting her back down. Is it just me or do you look more beautiful tonight than ever before?

A smile danced on the corner of her lips, her blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. I cupped either side of her face and went in for a kiss when she backed away and cleared her throat. Colt, your brother is trying to get inside, she told me.

I cursed under my breath and moved us out of his way, my hands resting on Christina’s hips now. Deacon whistled as he passed by and then chuckled. Man, get a room, you two.

I rolled my eyes so Christina knew not to take him too seriously.

When he was inside the house, I brought my hands behind her, cupping her ass and pulling her closer to me. We’re finally alone, I said.

She sighed cutely and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before saying, Baby, I’ve been here for almost three hours. Your mom invited me to stay for dinner, your dad showed me the boat he’s been fixing up in the garage. It’s been quite an evening. Where were you?

Deke and I were just fucking around. We were playing baseball. I didn’t know you were stopping by or I never would’ve gone.

She searched my eyes and then raised a brow. What are you stressed about? she asked.

I tried to act as cool as possible, so she didn’t see right through me. I removed my hands from her and rubbed the back of my neck. No stress here.

She jutted her hip out now and placed a hand on it. Don’t you dare pull that with me. I know you, Colton Ryder, and I know something is going on, so you might as well tell me.

I exhaled, admitting, Just thinking about the test, that’s all.

To get into the Army?

Yeah, that one. No big deal, though, really.

She scrunched her nose and sighed, her eyes glistening with tears as she leaned her forehead on mine. You’re going to do fine. But I don’t think you’re as nervous about taking the test as you are about passing with flying colors.

She closed her eyes and I did the same as she said, You’re one of the smartest people I know.

I took a play from Deacon’s book and tried to divert her attention. What do you say we go inside and watch a movie?

She backed away and sucked in, wiping her cheeks as she did. I brought a hand to her cheek to help wipe away her tears, but stopped when I noticed how she was looking into my eyes, with such care and compassion it made my heart clench.

I took her hand in mine and kissed the top of it before bringing it to my heart. Do you feel that?

She nodded.

It beats for you. I love you, Christina, and we’re going to get through this, okay?

She didn’t respond, only nodded.

What do you say we go inside and watch that move now? We can both use the distraction. Come on, I insisted.

I can’t. She shook her head. It’s already passed my curfew and my mom isn’t going to be too pleased.

She brushed past me and started to walk down the driveway. There was really nothing I could say to make this better. I knew it was hard on her and I also knew what I was going to have to do.

I didn’t really have a choice.

But, for now, I didn’t need to deal with that. I wanted to live in the now and be with her while I still could. Was that so wrong of me?

Before she got in her car and left, she turned around and raised her voice so I could hear her. Just so you know, Colt, you may be able to avoid a question you don’t like, but you’re going to have to stop avoiding the situation. It’s happening, whether either of us like it or not.

I felt like I owed her an explanation, especially because it wasn’t just me who knew what this meant. She was no fool and knew quite well what was going to happen. We may have had a future, but now—

I cut my thoughts off to respond to her. I can’t let him down, Christina, I shouted.

I saw her frown and couldn’t tell if she was crying again, but something told me she was. I wanted to go over there and make everything better, but I couldn’t. Instead, I stayed put and heard her shout back, I know.

Chapter One

Scarlet

Present Day

Excuse me.

Pardon me.

I didn’t even know my legs could move this fast. I pushed past a young couple with their children, Excuse me, I said not for the first time.

Sorry. Sorry, I called in between breaths as I continued to run manically, unable to stop to fully appreciate the romantic notion of the elderly couple holding hands, acting as if they had all the time in the world.

I didn’t, unfortunately.

I didn’t know how much time I had. And I couldn’t stop. Not now. I was too afraid he’d catch up with me.

Eyes more fixated over my shoulder than in front of me, I nearly knocked over so many people and couldn’t help it. I was a New Yorker, so I was always on the run, but this was on a whole new level. I was running for my life and once I stopped I was as good as dead.

I always imagined when I did leave the city, I would be able to slow down and enjoy a life that wasn’t so fast-paced, but it turned out that wasn’t in the cards for me. Not anymore.

Right now I just couldn’t miss my flight. It was more important now than ever that I made it on that damn airplane.

I was on my way home, back to Miami, a place I hadn’t been back to in months, not since I buried my older brother, Brandon. But it was the only home I knew. It was the only place in this whole world I had friends, real friends, and I needed them now more than ever.

There it is! I shouted to myself, eyeing my gate number, running without abandon as the final call announcement was made.

I jumped over a pile of backpacks and practically slid into the short line of passengers heading to Miami with me.

Sorry, sorry, I said, looking around frantically before finally coming up for air.

Boarding pass? the flight attendant asked when I stepped up.

I nodded and handed over the practically crumpled up paper I held so tightly in my sweaty palm.

Looks like you’re the last one, she said, scanning the crowd. You just made it. You better go find your seat quickly.

Yeah, thanks, lady. Look at her, all poised, polished and put-together, I thought. I used to be like that, too, but right now I was none of those things.

I was never late, either, and yet here I was. Or scared, I thought, but I was more than a little scared for my life right now.

I hadn’t even been this scared when my parents died when I was a young girl. Sure, I lost both my parents in a freak accident, but I had my brother, who I could lean on, who I knew would always take care of me, and he had. He left college and came back to raise me so I didn’t have to stay with family we never saw or even knew.

Brandon was always my savior, my guardian angel. No more, though. Now, he was only a memory and couldn’t help me anymore.

I could only count on myself now. For a brief moment, I looked up toward the sky and thought, I need you, Brandon, so badly right now.

I was only talking to myself, I knew. I had done it so many times before and knew I wasn’t going to get a response. Brandon couldn’t answer my pleas. And he couldn’t help me as I was chased through the airport by Nick, my boyfriend, if you could even call him that anymore. He certainly couldn’t help me not hear what I’d heard before I left for the airport, either, the whole reason I was being chased in the first place.

Stupid me, I mused, I just had to go see Nick at his independent bookstore before driving to the airport. I couldn’t leave it at our goodbyes back at our apartment. No, I had to see him, make sure he knew I loved him and would miss him terribly. I’m so stupid.

When I first planned my visit to Miami, I begged Nick to come with me, but he insisted he had too much work and couldn’t leave the store. It seemed like a poor excuse to me. I mean, he did own the store, after all, and how popular were antique books anyway? But being the good little girlfriend I was, I didn’t challenge him, didn’t question any of it. Ever. Little did I know the reason he couldn’t come with me had nothing to do with the store and everything to do with