Page 71 of Riot

Confusion wars inside me. “Riot’s not the guy who settles down, Dayna. And he only cares because he adores my sister and his brother.”

Even as I say those words, I know it’s a lie. There is so much more behind why he spends time with us.

Dayna reaches for a paper towel. “Please tell me you don’t actually believe that.”

“I don’t know what to believe.”

“You’re thinking about this way too deep. The man likes you. Lean into that. Have the best sex of your life and whatever fun comes with that.”

As enticing as that sounds, the situation is not that simple. “He doesn’t see me that way, and even if he did, I can’t start something with anyone right now.”

“Because…?”

I chew on my bottom lip as I consider my words. She is either going to think I’m completely insane and never want to speak to me again, or she’s going to brush it off like Maylie did. “There’s something I didn’t tell you before. When we got home from the hospital, there was a teddy in Seren’s bag.”

“Okay.”

“I think… I think Link put it there.”

Her eyes flare at me. “Wow. You really jumped to conclusions there.”

I rush to defend myself as she tosses the towel in the bin. “I know him and how his twisted mind works, Dayna. He loves fucking with me, and what better way than using my daughter? He’d get off on the thrill of putting it in her things for me to find later.”

“You think he did this while you were at the hospital?” I shrug. “You can’t just walk onto a ward, Ivy. There’s no way he just strolled on in and put it in her stuff.”

She doesn’t believe me. My stomach sinks. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

I turn, but she grabs my arm. “Hold on. I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but it’s a big leap.”

“You’re right. It’s probably nothing.”

“No one else put it there?”

I shake my head. “I asked everyone.”

“Okay. Well, we have to work through the evidence. The likeliest explanation is usually the one that’s right, but sometimes shit can surprise you.” She stares at me a beat. “If it is him, why would he send a teddy bear?”

I lean back against the wall behind me, my legs feeling weak. “To let me know that he can get to Seren whenever he chooses.”

My stomach churns violently.

“Why now?”

That’s the part I can’t answer. The Link I know would never have been content to disappear and bide his time before showing his hand. He didn’t have the patience for that. “I don’t know.”

“Anytime you decide you want to get rid of that prick, I’ll dig the hole.”

She laughs as she releases me and heads for the door. She may have been joking, but I’m starting to think killing my ex might be the only way to keep my daughter safe.

And that terrifies me.

FOURTEEN

RIOT

It’s fucking freezing.

I tuck my hands inside my kutte, shivering as my breath steams in front of my face. I’d give anything to be in my brother’s apartment, watching some shit movie with Ivy curled up next to me.

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