Page 23 of Riot

“Any time.”

A woman passes by and stumbles, her eyes locked on Riot. She hurries off, red-faced but still eyeing him.

I stare at the patches on his kutte, my brows drawing together.

“What made you join the club?” I don’t know why I ask, but I’m curious about the answer.

There’s so many layers to Riot that I haven’t unwrapped yet, and I want to see them all.

He stiffens.Shit. I shouldn’t have asked.

“Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

“Babe, you can ask me whatever you want.” He leans forwards, his hands clasped between his knees. “It’s just… it ain’t an easy answer.” He exhales slowly. “I guess the simple truth is that I was lookin’ for something and the club provided it.”

My stomach sinks. I didn’t expect him to spill his soul to me, but I did expect more than that.

“And the hard answer?”

He glances sideways. “Let’s play a game. I’ll answer one of your questions if you answer one of mine.”

Panic surges, and my blood turns to ice in my veins. This is a trap. I have too much to hide, too much to lose too. “If you don’t want to tell me?—”

“I do, and I will, but just… humour me, okay?”

I nod, even as my instincts scream at me, but I want to know more about him, so I take the dangling carrot.

“I was lookin’ for somewhere to belong. My sister spent years pushing me, tryin’ to mould me into who she wanted me to be, not who I am.” His eyes scan the horizon, like he can see the memories that built the pain that’s threaded through his words. “I was chokin’ on that leash, so when the chance came to prospect, I took it.” He sniffles, staring down at his hands. “Julie never forgave me, or our mother.”

My heart squeezes as if a fist is crushing it. The anguish beneath his anger is sharp.

“I’m sorry.”

I reach for his hand without thinking, and he tenses.

Shit. Abort.Pull back.

But then his fingers close around mine, and my heart leaps.

“Don’t be. I’m good, Vee.” His voice is rough, the muscles in his jaw taut.He’s not fine.“I can’t control what other people do. Julie’s anger ain’t at me. She hates herself, and there’s no fightin’ that.”

His eyes lock on mine, and I forget how to breathe. I can no longer feel the breeze or the chill. My skin is blazing.

“Are you happy?”

He blindsides me so completely, I forget how use words. “What?”

“It’s a simple question, Vee.”

But it’s not. Not when I’m held together with duct tape, glue, and the hope of a better tomorrow. “Of course, I’m happy.”

“Really?” He sees the lie, and I want to escape his scrutiny.

“I mean, I have bad days like everyone does, but I also have Seren and my family. And… and I have you.”

I avert my gaze, too scared to look at him. I can’t handle his rejection.

“If you ever want to tell me about those bad days, I’ll listen.”

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