Page 6 of Riot

THREE

I’m finally back.

I’ve been training and touring, but now I’m back, and she won’t get away from me this time. Fallon is the love of my life; she just doesn’t know it yet. It isn’t just desire. It’s a need to peel back the layers to the woman underneath. I bet she had no idea when I sat next to her that night a year ago that it changed my life forever. I’ve fought tooth and nail to get where I am just to be near her. I’ve been obsessed and in love with her for years.

I’ve sent her a flower every single day we have been apart—one flower for the number of times we have met—or so she thinks.

She doesn’t have a clue how I have built my life to be her equal so I can give her everything she deserves and be her partner.

I have watched everything about her. I’ve seen the men she has paraded through her life—models, actors, singers, doctors, and a prince—but never more than once. I watched her ex-husband blow up his own life, and I protected her from it, not that she will ever know.

When he tried to sell stories about her to make a quick buck since he’s broke, I blocked them. I also… spoke to him, and he disappeared from her world, leaving her without the constant reminder of betrayal.

I don’t know if Fallon ever loved him or if she’s ever truly loved anyone.

It doesn’t matter.

I love her enough for both of us.

“Kage?” Alice, my PR manager, queries. I spare her a look and a polite smile. I am the sweet, kind pop star to most people. They don’t have a clue about what hides underneath—what I hid just for her.

“Yes, agree to the events,” I respond as I stand. Her eyes sweep down my body, and my smile dips in annoyance. I have made careful choices to build my team so none of them look at me that way so Fallon has nothing to be jealous about.

I know they call me the playboy king, but that was all a carefully crafted image to make me desirable so I could catch her attention, and it worked.

“See Elijah on your way out,” I comment as she stands, teetering on too high heels. Her smile warms, her iPad clutched in her grip as she saunters out of the suite I am currently staying in. I’m planning to secure the house right next to Fallon’s. The present inhabitants just need a little helping hand in vacating . . . and selling.

I hear Elijah enter, and I command, “Get rid of her,” without looking at him, my eyes scanning the city beyond. I wonder where she is and what she’s doing right now.

“Alice? Damn it, Kage, she was the best?—”

“Now,” I snap.

He knows better than to argue. He might not understand why I’m so strict with my staff, but he doesn’t have to. We might be friends, but no one comes before Fallon and the future I’m building for us.

“I’ll find another one.” He sighs as he starts to leave.

“Elijah.” I turn to face him. “Pull the car around, I have somewhere to be.”

“We have that interview?—”

I raise my eyebrow, and he groans.

“It’s only the most important thing in your career, but what do I know?”

“Good boy.” I grin as I turn back to the view.

I’m coming, Fallon. You better be ready.

I knock on the ornate door and wait. The house is nice and big, but it isn’t what I care about. My eyes go to the house next door, separated only by a wall. If I’m lucky, I will be able to see into her windows. I might even knock the wall down.

It took me a whole year to earn enough to afford this life, to afford her and give her whatever she needs, and I’m not wasting another second. The door opens, and a butler blinks at me. “Sir?”

“I have a meeting with the Culets.” I slip past him with a sweet smile.

“Oh, uh, please follow me. They are in the sitting room right now.” He spares me a confused glance but leads the way, and once I’m in the sitting room, I wait for him to leave before turning to face them.

They are an older couple who come from money, but it’s drying up. I know since I had a guy look into it. I might have also had their advisor invest in some bad investments and lose their money all to get them right where I want them. They blink at me in unison, looking exactly as I imagined they would.

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