Page 93 of Riot

The rest of her words are lost beneath shoulder-shaking sobs. “Babe, breathe. Just tell me slowly.”

She stitches her fear together, or tries to, swiping at her eyes. “It started with the teddy bear. Then the flowers.”

That fear in my belly turns molten. I fucking knew that prick did something.

“This is about that shithead kid?”

She shakes her head. “No. Yes. It wasn’t him.”

“Babe, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.”

“He didn’t send the flowers or the messages.”

What fuckin’ messages?

I don’t move, don’t breathe, just let her cling to me, Seren safe between us.

“He was in my bedroom.”

The world narrows to a pinpoint of red-hot anger. I don’t have a clue what she’s talking about, but someone was in her fucking bedroom? “Who?”

“Link.” The word scraped out of her throat, and my mouth goes dry.

The dread curling in my stomach is not because she’s in danger from him, but because the truth I wanted to shield her from is teetering on a ledge.

It can’t be him, but I need to know why she assumes it is.

“Babe, why do you think Link was in your bedroom?”

“He sent me a photograph of her cot.” I freeze, every muscle locked tight. “That stupid fucking bear was in the corner of it. He wasinmy room, Riot.” She sucks in breaths as if she’ll never get enough oxygen again.

“Show me.”

“I can’t. I dropped my phone and it smashed. I was so scared.” Her wet, damp lashes flick up. “You do believe me, right?”

I hold her face between my hands. “Yeah, babe, of course.”

She closes her eyes, relief flashing through them. “I thought it was Jackson sending those flowers. I assumed, but there was no name on the card. I just… assumed. I should’ve known better.” Her fingers curl deeper into my shirt. “He’s coming for us. This is his way of letting me know it’s not safe.”

My chest aches as spikes drive into my lungs.

It ain’t Link, but that doesn’t make me feel better. An enemy I don’t know is fucking dangerous.

“Please promise me you’ll take care of Seren no matter what happens to me.”

Is she fucking serious?I force her to look at me. “You’re gonna take care of our girl ‘cause nothin’ is gonna happen to you.”

“You don’t know what he’s like.”

The lie burns in my gut. I’m out of time, and options, but I’m scared to throw gas onto the already smouldering fire.

“Baby, you’re sure it’s not the fuckin’ kid?”

She shakes her head. “He got angry when I called him Jackson. It’s Link. I’m telling you, it’s him.”

She tries to pull out of my arms, but I tighten my grip.

Fuck.It’s now or never. I can’t let her believe this lie a moment longer. “It ain’t him, Vee.”

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