Page 16 of Riding the Edge

“Eric,” Riggs and Lauren hiss simultaneously.

“Mom, before you—”

“Where is he?” I interrupt, setting Eric on his feet.

“I’m right here,” my son grunts.

At the sound of his voice, I turn and take in his appearance. I stare at the multitude of bruises covering his handsome face and the cut above his eye that will likely scar. It’s not the first time I’ve seen my son look like a prize fighter and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I’m also sure he didn’t get those purple splotches on his face in the ring.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I mutter, shaking my head. “No wonder you didn’t answer my calls.”

“Eric why don’t you take your brother into the playroom and grab the pictures you made for grandma,” Lauren suggests as I walk further into the room and meet my son’s gaze.

“This have anything to do with your wife’s cousin getting shot?”

Wincing, he crosses his arms and remains silent. Victor Pastore not only snatched my son right under my nose but he taught him not to disclose anything to anyone, not even his mother.

“Adrianna thinks I’m off the grid trying to franchise the gym and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“You keep lying to that girl you’re going to ruin your marriage,” I warn before slicing my gaze back to Riggs. “Is this why you weren’t at the hospital with Wolf?”

I don’t agree with it, but I can understand why Riggs wasn’t with Wolf. As far as I’m concerned, the rest of them have no excuse unless of course, they’re lying in a ditch somewhere.

“What do you know about Wolf being in the hospital?” he counters.

“I know he was alone,” I reply. “The man’s son was shot as a result of this gang shit you people do and no one, not any of you leather wearing hoodlums were at his side.”

“It’s complicated,” Riggs replies.

“How do you know any of this, anyway?” Anthony interjects.

“I was with him.”

“Come again?” Riggs says, widening his eyes as he leans closer. “You were with Wolf??”

“For the love of God, you make it sound like I was in bed with him,” I hiss.

“Oh God, Mom, stop!” Lauren says, causing me to roll my eyes at her.

“I’m your mother, Lauren, that doesn’t mean I’m dead.”

“Alright, I think we’re veering off track because suddenly I’m getting visuals of you pulling on his beard—”

“Riggs!”

“What?” he feigns innocently. “You’re thinking it too,” he accuses Lauren.

“That’s enough!” Anthony grunts, fixing me with a look. I swear this kid forgets I changed his diapers. “Why don’t you start with telling us why you were at the hospital?”

Telling either one of my children I was there for a routine mammogram would only send them spiraling with an onslaught of questions I had no patience to answer. Lauren would blow things out of proportion and my son the king, would demand to know why I didn’t ask him to come hold my hand while my tits got squished in a machine.

“I was picking up my birth control,” I retorted sarcastically. “Now, cut the crap,” I add, slicing my eyes back to Riggs. “I don’t know what the hell you people are up to, but that man was good to you and to me when Lauren and Eric were fighting to survive. He deserves the same respect.”

“When did you become Wolf’s cheerleader?” Anthony shouts behind me.

“I’m not a cheerleader, I’m a mother… your mother, something you seem to have forgotten,” I say poking a finger at him. “Watch the tone of your voice.”

“I got respect for Wolf, Maria,” Riggs replies.

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