Page 132 of Riordan's Revenge

Throughout the evening, I’d carried out my revenge, my acts of protest with cool execution. But knowing Cassie was here and about to go face to face with a violent man chilled me.

I found my own phone and tracked her. They were a street away, probably going slowly so they could claim their prize.

Still no text from her, despite mine being received, but I couldn’t think of that now.

The rattling of keys followed, presumably as Piers dropped them to the hall table, but the rev of an engine chased it, and the bark of a radio.

My blood chilled.

We’d slipped into the house after watching the security team that patrolled the street head out on a break. The mayor still hadn’t retained his own private security, which made no sense considering my recent break-in.

Carefully, I edged around the heavy curtain and gazed down. On the street, two security guards climbed from a vehicle, a second car with the same insignia pulling up behind. Fuck.

Either Piers had summoned them, or there was another reason they’d closed in.

Regardless, it meant Cassie was walking straight into a trap.

I stepped away and whispered what I’d seen to Struan. On my screen, Cassie’s tracker pinged in the back garden.

“We need to help them.”

In the dark, her brother’s eyes gleamed. “State the outcome.”

“Cassie and Shade capture Roache and get out of here unseen.”

He nodded once, the noises of Piers moving through the house punctuated with a snarl of anger. He’d discovered the trashed Council Chamber. Seconds more, and the security guards could be in the building.

“Which makes us the distraction. We need to lead the boys out front away from Roache. Just realise that if we’re caught, we’re walking away from a pile of destruction. No matter if we persuade the police to let us go, the mayor will know exactly who did this.” He cocked his head. “Daddy dearest might get to meet his boy a day early.”

I didn’t care. I only needed Cassie to be safe.

I sent her a final, fast text.

Riordan: We’re taking care of visitors at the front.

The clock ticked over to midnight. I sucked in a breath and said what I needed to say.

Riordan: I love you, wild girl. Happy birthday. Don’t get caught.

There was nothing more to do but tug up our skeleton bandannas and exit the bedroom.

The light from downstairs flooded the hall. Neither of us hesitated, drumming down the stairs, heading right to the front door exactly as a door crashed open to our left, two figures startling the already wide-eyed city boy who stood dumbfounded with his phone in his hand.

Cassie’s gaze met mine.

I wanted to stay. I wanted to help her, even if she and Shade had it covered.

It took until long after we’d led the security guys away that I realised how deep her silence cut me.

I’d told her I loved her.

This time, she hadn’t said it back.

Chapter 40

Cassie

Subduing Piers was disappointingly easy. He squealed like a piggie, barely shaking Shade who gripped his throat while I knocked the rapist the fuck out with a needle and a fast-acting drug.

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