Page 22 of Riordan's Revenge

Almost. I was in a gang now. That revenge could’ve been mine.

Yet over all of this was a worse consideration. The true source of my twisted hate.

The mayor. For all Adam had done, he’d never wished me dead. Mayor Makepeace had happily thrown that in my face along with the jibe from his partner in crime, Piers, that he’d only ever wanted a son to be proud of. Implying that could never be me.

A chill crept in around me.

The mayor had been equally vicious to his daughter. Everly was a sweetheart. Gentle, helpful, and softly spoken. He’d given her over to a man who would’ve abused her.

Yet it was whatever he’d done to my mother that killed me. She was openness and truth, but he’d forced silence and fear. I wished I’d had time to ask for more details, but history spoke for itself.

Revenge was a cure for a bitter heart. Mine was broken. There was no chance of fixing it if I was to go head-to-head with the mayor, and I couldn’t live with the knowledge of what he’d done.

Someone needed to bring him down, and that person was me.

I didn’t know how, but a month ago, I hadn’t been in a gang with access to dangerous men and weapons. I only wished I’d had more time to learn.

The morning crept on. A storm rolled in and darkened the windows at the end of the hall. Rain spattered the panes.

I kept to my post. Read the updates from Tyler and the team. Watched the cameras which I’d now accepted access to. Nothing happened to make me worry. Or to distract me from my spiralling thoughts.

Eventually, I clambered up. I needed a quick bathroom break but wasn’t willing to open the door to Cassie again. The cameras showed me Tyler was in the entrance hall at the bottom of the staircase, so I tried the doors across the hall. The first two were locked, but the third gave me what I was looking for. I did my business, splashed my face with water, then stomped back to my post.

Cassie’s door was wide open.

My heart lurched. I flew forward and stuck my head in her living room. “Cassie?” I bellowed.

A click from behind had me spin around. Cassie was at the far end of the corridor. She’d changed. Spiked heels—the source of the click—and a floaty red dress with long sleeves but an ultrashort hem.

I stared at her, my heart racing. “How did you get out?”

“I have a spare key, obvs.”

Astonishment flashed along the path of my upset. The whole time, she’d let me believe I had the upper hand. Yet for all the long hours I’d spent out here, she’d been able to leave.

My chest rose and fell on a heavy breath. None of my mood had left me. Being outsmarted by Cassie yet again was the nail in my coffin of control.

“Back inside,” I growled.

“Nah, don’t think I will.” Holding my gaze, she stepped backwards.

I took a pace in her direction.

Cassie turned and fled.

For fuck’s sake. I bolted after her, my heavy biker boots thudding and echoing on the floor. At the grand staircase, she fled down in a rapid staccato beat of those damn high heels. I put on a burst of speed with an arm out to catch her. Her hair ghosted over my fingers, just beyond my grasp. There was no one else in sight in the entrance hall now, and Cassie reached themarble floor and spun around, still moving away and with the most infuriating smirk on her face.

“I worked out why they called it a rampant rabbit?—”

With a snarl, I grabbed her. Then I crowded her to a pillar. “Stop talking.”

She peeked up. “Why?”

“You’re driving me insane.”

Cassie hesitated for a beat then wound her arms around my taut neck. She jumped into my arms. I had no choice but to catch her.

And hold her.

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