Page 29 of Riot

Standing over me, giving me a death stare, was Caleb.Instinctively, I tightened my arms around Violet fractionally.She sighed and snuggled deeper into my embrace, burying her face in my chest before she settled once more.

Caleb didn’t speak, but he stared at me for a long time.I could see a mixture of anger, surprise, and relief on the young man’s face.He nodded at me once, then took a step away from the bed.

“Caleb,” I murmured.“I swear I won’t hurt your mother.Not in any way.”

“You’ll be faithful to her?”

“Always.”

“You’ll stand between her and danger?Especially my dad?”

“I’ll protect both of you.No matter who or what the danger is.”

“I’m never letting anyone hurt my mom again, Riot.I will always be watching you.”

I lifted my chin in acknowledgment.“I consider myself warned, then.”

Caleb’s gaze shifted from me to his mother.Violet chose that moment to sigh, a soft smile tugging her lips for a brief moment.Like she was in the middle of a happy dream.“You keep that look on her face, and you and I won’t have any problems.”

“Caleb, nothing would make me happier than being able to keep that look on your mother’s face for the rest of her life.She deserves better than me, but she’s letting me claim her.I have no intention of making her ever want to leave me.”

“But if she does want to leave you,” Caleb pressed, “would you let her go?”

“No.”I didn’t hesitate with my answer.

“You’d keep her against her will?”Now his gaze was narrowed on me.If looks could kill, Caleb and I wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“I didn’t say that.”Violet mumbled something and lifted her face so that she nestled between my neck and shoulder before she settled once again.“If she ever wants to leave, I’ll find out what I fucked up and fix it.Understand me, Caleb, I would do anything to keep you and your mom in my life.”

“Me?”he asked incredulously.“You actually want me?Not just my mom?”

“I do.You’re going to be a great man, Caleb.You’re going to be a man other men want to follow because you admit when you’re wrong.You’re willing to do anything you have to for the people you care about.I don’t know many men brave enough to go outside their comfort zone the way you did with me.You made hard decisions based on information you trusted, and you did what was best for your mom.I want to watch you grow into that man, and be your friend.That way you know I’ll always have your back.”

Again, Caleb studied me closely before nodding his head.“If all that’s bullshit, it’s really good bullshit.”He tilted his head.“But I don’t think it is.I think you mean every word you’re saying.”

“I do, Caleb.With everything I am.”

“Good.”He put his shoulders back.“She’s always looking out for everyone else and forgets to take care of herself.”

“You can count on me.I swear it.”

He gave me a curt nod and turned to go.“Caleb?”When I called, he stopped, turning his head in my direction.“First thing in the morning.Unless you want to talk now.”

“About your past?Why you went to prison?”

“Yeah.I had to tell your mom first.”

“So she could censor you?”The kid was a master at interrogation.At least, interrogating someone who cared about the information he was spilling and the people involved.

I winced.“Well, I wouldn’t put it quite like that…”

“But you wanted her to approve of how you worded what you told me.”

Again, I winced.Christ, this kid!“Look.I promised I wouldn’t lie to you, and I won’t.But I will always defer to your mom on shit like this.I hope you and I can be the best of friends, but mother trumps friend in this case.”

“I hear you.But don’t worry about it.”He actually smirked at me.“I heard you talking to Mom before you guys went to bed.I know all of it.And I do meanallof it.”

“Christ, Caleb.”I wanted to be horrified and part of me was.What came out was a clipped laugh.

---