Page 20 of Obsession

How screwed up was it that I felt safer with Riot than without him? Maybe I really was fucked up in the head. Who fell in love with a psychopath?

Oh shit. My body tensed. Love? Why had I even thought that? I didn’t love him. Nope. No one could ever love a man like that. Right?

Lyla shifted, and shut the door, drawing my attention to her once more.

“You’ve been working with them this whole time?” I asked, not thinking of another possible way she’d be standing here right now. Only Crash and Kane could have made this happen. Riot certainly wouldn’t have. If he’d allowed her to visit, he’d have dragged her here and tossed her on the floor, then demanded to be repaid for his kindness of letting me have a visitor.

“No!” She stumbled forward, grasping my arms. “Hollis, you have to believe me. I came here and bargained with them to protect you. To get you out of here!”

I shoved her away. Yeah, right. How gullible did she think I was? If she was going to save me, she’d have done it before now. No, something else was going on, even if I couldn’t figure out what just yet. I knew Crash and Kane hated me, but did they want me out of here enough to work with Lyla? Wouldn’t it only make Riot angry when he found out what happened?

“Protect me? By conspiring with those psychotic bastards? What could you possibly offer that they’d want?” If I kept her talking, maybe something would slip out unintentionally. As much as I wanted to trust her and our friendship, I couldn’t. There had been times I’d seen a flash of something in her eyes over the years, and now I wondered if it hadn’t been my imagination after all. Had Lyla truly been a friend to me? Or had I merely grabbed hold so I wouldn’t be so lonely?

“I’m trying to gain their trust so I can get you out of Riot’s grip!” Desperation etched lines in her pale face as she edged toward me again. I had to admit, she sounded convincing. Except, I knew Lyla could lie her ass off when needed. I’d witnessed it before. This could all be an act.

“How stupid do you think I am? The only thing you’re trying to escape is facing the same fate as me. What? If you get in good with Crash and Kane, you think your life will be spared? Is that it?” Come on, Lyla. Give me something. Tell me the damn truth!

Lyla’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks. Damn. She really was a good actress. “Hollis, please. I never meant to hurt you.”

I lunged forward, fisting her hair and yanking her close. “If you’d wanted to save me, you wouldn’t have stood by and stared as the mayor dragged me off to be sacrificed. The fact Riot wanted me for something else is the only reason I’m still alive. So spare me the tears. The fact you’re here at all is suspicious.”

The floorboards behind us creaked again. Heavy footsteps were approaching down the hall. Riot? Or perhaps one of the others? Either way, I didn’t think it would be good if I were caught in here with Lyla.

We both froze. Oh God, no. If it was Riot and he found her in here, I wasn’t sure what he’d do. Crash and Kane would likely use this as an excuse to turn Riot against me, claiming I was trying to escape. But if it was Riot… I never knew what to expect from him.

The door opened and Riot stepped inside, his gaze raking over us. A slow, sadistic smile crept across his face. “Well, isn’t this cozy?”

Shit! Why the hell had Lyla bothered to come if she was only going to cause me more problems? Unless that was her end game all along. Had Crash and Kane promised to protect her? I released her and faced him, pulse pounding.

“Riot, I can explain.” Except, I really couldn’t.

“No need.” He prowled farther into the room, cracking his knuckles. “I think I’ve figured it out.”

Lyla shrank behind me. I squared my shoulders, swallowing hard. “There’s nothing to figure out. Lyla was just leaving. I’m not sure why she even came here, or how. It’s what I was asking her.”

“Is that so?” His tone was deceptively light, at odds with the threat in his eyes. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like the two of you were conspiring against me. Did you decide to run away? You wouldn’t get very far, Hollis. I told you. You belong to me now.”

Lyla stepped from behind me. “I came to warn Hollis. Crash and Kane, they’re planning to…”

Riot’s hand snaked out, clamping around her throat. She gasped, clawing at his wrist.

“Don’t. Lie. To. Me.”

Lyla whimpered and her feet kicked as he lifted her up off the floor. My nails bit into my palms. As much as I didn’t trust her right now, I also didn’t want to watch him kill her. “Riot, stop! I’ll tell you the truth.”

His gaze flicked to me, brows lifting in mocking invitation. My heart pounded against my ribs. But if I didn’t say something, he might kill her.

I took a deep breath. It was time to put my life in Riot’s hands.

“Lyla didn’t come to warn me,” I said steadily. “She came to help me escape.”

Riot’s eyes narrowed. “Is that so?”

I swallowed hard, glancing at Lyla. Her face had gone pale, eyes pleading. But I couldn’t back down now.

“Yes,” I said. “Crash and Kane want me dead. You know it as well as I do. Lyla was going to help me sneak out of the mansion so I could get away.”

“And you believed her?” Riot scoffed.

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