Page 39 of Riot's Thorn
“You know we all love you, man. We’ve been around long enough to know you’re not a danger, at least not to us, but it took some time.” He must notice the shade of red my face is turning because he’s quick to backtrack. “I just mean, you’re guarded. You don’t open up the way the rest of us do. And with women especially, they like to take deep dives into their feelings, and shit, it can be a hard nut to crack.”
“I’m not a nut.”
“For fuck’s sake. Just try and get her to the courthouse sooner than later. Word has a way of getting out, and it would be best for her to belong to the club before that happens. That’s it.” He walks away, shaking his head.
Just another failed attempt at a conversation.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PARKER
“I’m sorry to drag you away, but once I heard who you were and why you were here, I knew I had to talk to you,” Jenson says. “I doubt Riot told you, but my name is Jenson Poole, and I’m the CEO of Poole Industries. I ran in the same circles as your dad.”
Judging by looks alone, he comes from a similar background. He’s an insanely good-looking man with dirty blond hair styled in a way meant to be messy but probably took some time to accomplish. His outfit, a dark sage colored pair of slacks, a white button-down, a lighter sage cable knit sweater, and a pair of Hermès sneakers, is clearly tailored just for him.
“I’ve heard of your company,” I say.
“I can’t say I know what you’re going through, but I thought you might want to know I’m around if you need to talk. Going from our world to the biker world is quite the culture shock.”
“It is.” I chew the inside of my mouth, debating what to say. “You said you know why I’m here, but do you really?”
“Riot killed your dad and abducted you. Honestly, that tracks for him. He didn’t stand a chance of meeting someone a normal way. I mean, can you imagine him being on a dating app?” He chuckles, and my stomach sinks. The casual way he’s talkingtells me all I need to know; he won’t help me escape either. How can no one see how wrong this is?
“I don’t know him well enough to imagine him doing anything.” I fold my arms.
His smile falls. “It must be hard to come to terms with all this, but if Riot hadn’t brought you here, I guarantee you wouldn’t be alive. I don’t know Riot well—I don’t think anyone does—but I’ve heard stories of how ruthless he is. If I were in danger, he’s exactly the kind of guy I’d want in my corner.”
“But my dad. . .”
“I’m gonna hold your hands when I say this: I made some delicate inquiries after I heard about your situation. There are people in our circles who are nervous about their association with what your dad was doing and, at the same time, scrambling to find someone else to take over.”
“The parties?” I ask. Coming from someone with direct knowledge, it sinks in that I didn’t know Dad and Grandpa at all.
“Yeah. Honestly, I hear whispers of it sometimes, but thankfully, I don’t give off the vibe of someone they’d invite. I never had proof, or I would’ve figured out a way to report them.”
“So it’s true.” It’s not a question. I drop his hands to clutch my stomach. “I can’t believe I didn’t know.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself. People only show the parts of themselves they want others to see.”
“But he was my dad,” I whisper, my knees going weak.
Riot is at my side, catching me before I fall. “What’s wrong, Little Thorn?”
“How did I not see it?” My vision blurs and my head swims.
“What the fuck did you say to her?” Riot’s vicious words are directed at Jenson.
“I’m sorry, Parker. I thought you already knew.”
“Knew what?” Riot grits out, holding me to his side, a pillar of fucked up strength I cling to because I have no one and nothing else.
“About her dad. Rigger said you told her, and since I knew her dad, I thought I could make her feel better.” Jenson sinks back into his own pillar when Mustang appears behind him.
“You should learn to mind your own fuckin’ business.” Riot isn’t being fair, and I want to tell him that, but I can’t get my mouth to work.
“Watch your tone. This isn’t his fault,” Mustang defends but has the sense to drag Jenson away.
Riot tips my chin up. “Ready to go home?”
