Page 74 of Secrets in the Deep

Melanie’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying.”

He took his phone from his pocket and pulled up the base’s surveillance footage before handing it over to Ward. “It’s timestamped.”

As Ward watched the footage, Emily shook her head, eyes only for her mother. “You’re unbelievable. You know that?”

“Emily—”

“Don’t ‘Emily’ me! You actually want to have him arrested just to keep us apart?Jesus. Were you even attacked, or was this all some stupid ploy to get him in trouble, turn me against him, and earn my sympathy?”

Melanie gasped. “You think I would lie about being attacked?”

“Yes. I think there’s very little youwouldn’tdo to keep Ryan and me apart.”

Ward handed the footage back. “It wasn’t him, Ms. Prior.”

“She knows that.” Emily took Ryan’s hand. “We’re leaving.”

“Emily—”

“No.” Emily cut off her mother. “We’re done. In every capacity, we aredone.”

Melanie’s face paled.

He followed Emily out of the room, not missing the furious glare from Melanie as they left.

17

“Are you okay?”

Emily laughed, but even to her ears the sound was bitter and angry. “No. I’m angry and frustrated and I kind of want to hit something.”

There was no “kind of” about it. She’d never hit anyone in her life, but right now, the urge was strong.

Ryan’s fingers tightened around hers as they walked. “You can hit me if you want.”

“You? The man who was just accused of attacking an elderly, clearly senile woman?”

“I’m not sure your mother would like being referred to as elderlyorsenile.”

“I don’t really care what she’d like. I don’t even think she was attacked.”

“Hey.” He tugged her to a stop and cupped her cheeks. “I’m fine. What your mother tried to do didn’t hurt me?—”

“But it could have.”

“It didn’t.”

She leaned into his hand. How he so easily made everything feel all right when moments ago, she felt like her head was about to explode, she had no idea.

“Hey, guys.”

Emily turned to see Connor and a blonde woman approaching.

Ryan slipped an arm around her waist. “Emi, have you met Raven?”

Emily shook her head. “Hi.”

“Hi.” The woman’s eyes glowed with warmth. “I’m a huge fan.”