Page 157 of Riordan's Revenge

I liked this. I liked where I was living, and the fact my family was here. I loved Riordan and needed him to stay, right here in the centre of where his family was.

When we were finished, and everyone now knew what I’d done downstairs to the traitor, I pulled Riordan aside.

In our bedroom, I closed the door.

Backing him to the bed, I sat him down and stood between his knees, a reversal of our too-brief reunion in the kitchen. “I know I’ve put ye through hell, I know I’m impulsive and probably shouldn’t be allowed out unsupervised, but I swear I’m all in with this. With you. Today is still my birthday?—”

His green eyes crinkled at the edges. His cheeks flushed warm.

I put my finger on his lips so I could finish my words. “All I want as a gift is ye. It scared the shite out of me this evening when I thought our relationship was over. I want this, always. I don’t want ye to leave ever again.”

I gestured to the door and our collection of people outside of it, then drew a line from his heart to mine.

Riordan enfolded me in his arms and kissed me. “Wouldn’t leave you for anything, wild girl. I’m in love. Nothing could drag me away.”

That beautiful swell of happiness rushed in me again. I prayed to the gods that was true.

Riordan drew his thumb down my cheek then set me out of the way so he could stand. He rifled through his rucksack and extracted a wrapped gift. He handed it over.

I grinned. Rattled it. The long slender box was heavy. “What is it?”

“Open it and you’ll find out.”

I tore off the paper and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful carved dagger with a stone in the hilt.

“Opal for your birth month.”

I extracted it. Tested the edge. “It’s the most beautiful present anyone’s ever given me.”

I threw my arms around him in a hard hug. Riordan hugged me back then carefully teased the weapon from my hand. He set it on the side table then picked me up and rolled back on the bed so I was sprawled across his body. Our kiss followed naturally, a hunger gripping me with power I could barely contain.

This, always. Me and him.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Sorry,” I called, tearing my mouth from my boyfriend’s. “The couple you’re trying to contact are currently unavailable. Please try again in ten minutes.”

“Twenty,” Riordan countered.

Genevieve spoke through the wood. “Sorry, but people are leaving. I just want to make sure you’re in the loop.”

Reluctantly, we disentangled and returned to the living room.

Arran, Shade, and two of my brothers were at the door.

“We’re heading out,” Arran told us. “Riot, Cassie, you’re staying here. Don’t argue with me. Jamieson is, too, and Manny has the building security covered from downstairs.”

They spoke in quiet voices, checking weapons and assigning their hits.

Genevieve regarded us. “While they’re rounding up the suspects, we have work to do. Someone on the inside still placed those notes. Do you have both so we can compare them?”

I retrieved mine, and Riordan handed over his.

“Same handwriting. Where did you get yours?” Everly asked.

Riordan frowned. “From the bartender with glitter strands in her hair. She came out of the club and told me Cassie had left it for me.”

“Lara?” Genevieve described her.

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