Four

1657 Words
Dani: The sunlight filtering through the bedroom window felt like a warning—its warmth deceptive, its brightness too sharp. Something was off. The air felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. I shook the feeling off as I headed to the kitchen, hoping for the solace of coffee and the steady presence of Ryan. He was there, of course, sitting at the table like he belonged, his coffee steaming in the morning light. For a moment, I let the sight of him ease the tension I couldn't explain. "Morning," he said, his voice soft but grounding. "Morning," I replied, pouring myself a cup. The warmth of the mug in my hands was comforting, but it didn't chase away the unease creeping up my spine. Ryan leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking toward the pile of papers on the counter—the same ones that had been haunting me for days. Before he could say anything, the sound of tires crunching on gravel cut through the quiet, then came the knock—loud, deliberate, and far too familiar. My stomach dropped. Ryan's gaze sharpened. "Expecting someone?" I shook my head, my grip tightening on the mug. "No." But I knew who it was. I didn't need to see him to know. Will. I set the mug down and walked to the door, my steps heavy. When I opened it, he stood on the porch with that infuriatingly perfect smile. "Dani," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with faux warmth. "You look well." "What do you want, Will?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. He stepped forward, uninvited, his eyes scanning the room like he was sizing up an opponent. "Just checking in. Thought we could talk about your... situation." His gaze landed on the living room, the mess of papers, the signs of a life in disarray. "I see things haven't changed much." I crossed my arms, blocking his view. "I told you before—I'm not selling." His smile faltered for a split second before returning, but there was steel behind it now. "Come on, Dani. Be reasonable. You can't keep holding onto this place. It's not worth it. Let me take it off your hands, and you can walk away without the stress." Before I could respond, Ryan's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Is there a problem?" I turned to see him standing in the doorway, his posture casual but his presence anything but. His eyes locked onto Will with a calm intensity that made the air crackle. Will's gaze flicked to Ryan, sizing him up. "And you are?" "Just someone who doesn't like seeing people pushed around," Ryan said, his tone light but carrying an edge that made my breath catch. Will chuckled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Pushed around? I'm offering her a way out. A generous one, at that." Ryan stepped closer, his movements deliberate. "Funny. It doesn't sound like she asked for your help." Will's jaw tightened, his charming facade slipping. "Look, I don't know who you think you are, but this is between Dani and me." Ryan didn't flinch. "I think I'm someone who's not going to stand by while you try to bully her into something she doesn't want." The air between them was electric, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Will's smile was gone now, replaced by a cold glare. "You don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice low and dangerous. Ryan took another step forward, closing the distance between them. "Maybe not. But I know a predator when I see one." Will's hand clenched at his side, and for a moment, I thought he might actually swing at Ryan. But Ryan didn't back down. His calm, steady gaze was unshakable and only seemed to infuriate Will more. "You think you're some kind of hero?" Will sneered. "This isn't your fight." Ryan's voice dropped, quiet but lethal. "It is now." I stepped between them, my heart pounding. "Enough," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "Will, you need to leave. Now." Will's eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I saw something raw and ugly in his expression—something that made my skin crawl. But then he smoothed it over, plastering on a smile that didn't fool anyone. "Fine," he said, stepping back. "But don't say I didn't warn you, Dani. You're making a mistake." He turned and walked to his car, but not before throwing one last venomous glance over his shoulder at Ryan. As the door shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling. Ryan turned to me, his expression softer now but still intense. "You okay?" I nodded, though I wasn't sure if it was true. "Yeah. Just... tired of dealing with him." Ryan's jaw tightened, his eyes dark with something I couldn't quite name. "He won't bother you again," he said, his voice low and confident. I looked at him, trying to read the emotions flickering across his face. "Why do you care so much?" His steady and warm gaze met mine. "Because someone needs to, and I can be." For a moment, neither of us spoke, the weight of the moment settling over us like a storm cloud. And in that silence, I realized something: Ryan wasn't just here to rent a room for a week. He looked ready to fight. Ryan: The door slammed shut behind Will, but the air still buzzed with his presence like the aftershock of a storm. How Dani trembled after he left made my blood boil. No one should have that kind of power over her—or anyone. Dani tried to shake it off, retreating to the kitchen to busy herself with her coffee. I watched her, my chest tight with frustration. Whoever this Will was, he thrived on control, and it made me want to throw something—or someone—through the nearest wall. "Ryan," she said, her voice softer now, a little frayed at the edges. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to drag you into my mess." I crossed the room and leaned against the counter, studying her. She looked up at me, her eyes clouded with exhaustion and something else—something fragile, something that made me want to step out of my comfort zone and hold her. "You didn't drag me into anything," I said. "I walked in willingly." Her lips twitched like she wanted to smile but couldn't quite manage it. She turned away, focusing on her coffee again, but I could see the weight she carried, the strain etched into her posture, and how you could read how tired she was by the sag of her shoulders. I grabbed my phone and stepped outside, needing to clear my head. The gravel crunched under my boots as I paced, the cool morning air doing little to calm the storm inside me. I scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I was looking for and hit call. Jullian picked up on the second ring. His voice was groggy but amused. "Ryan, to what do I owe the honor of a call at..." I heard him fumbling with something. "...8:30 in the morning? This better be good." "It is," I said, pacing faster. "I've got someone you need to check out. An artist." "An artist?" Jullian's voice perked up, curiosity replacing his sleep-laced tone. "Who?" "I don't know much about her yet," I admitted. "Her name's Dani. She's... complicated." "Complicated how?" I hesitated, glancing back at the house. "Let's just say she's not exactly willing to be in the spotlight. But she's got a presence, a way of commanding attention. There's something about her—it's hard to explain." Jullian laughed softly. "You've always had a nose for drama, Ryan. But okay, I'll bite. Do you have anything I can look at?" "Not yet," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But I'll get it. Trust me, you'll want to see what this girl is about." There was a pause on the line before Jullian spoke again, his tone more serious now. "You sound... invested. What's going on, Ryan?" I stopped pacing and stared out at the horizon. I couldn't answer, and I was grateful when Jullian picked up on that. Jullian sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. But don't do anything reckless, okay? You're good at walking into fires but not great at walking out of them." I chuckled despite myself. "No promises." We hung up, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket, my mind returning to Will. Will wasn't just a problem for Dani—he was a puzzle, and I wasn't one to leave pieces scattered on the floor. I flipped through my contacts, making another call. "Hello?" I smiled when Silas picked up on the first ring. "Si, I need you to look into someone for me. William Fletcher." I never took my eyes off Dani. I could see her washing dishes through the kitchen window, and the morning sun made her look angelic. "No problem, Ryan. Are we looking for anything in particular?" I could hear Silas's pencil moving. "Let's just say he's crossed paths with someone who doesn't deserve the kind of trouble he brings. I need to figure out who he really is. I want to know everything you can find out." "I'll get back to you," He said quickly before hanging up, letting me briefly hear his fingers tapping away at the computer. Turning back to the house, I felt the weight of what I'd just promised myself. Protect Dani. Figure out everything I can about Will Fletcher, then do something about my father and the company I had spent my life preparing to take over. I wasn't here to be a hero, but I'd be damned if I let someone like Will think he could run the show.
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