“Let’s get out of here. Yeah?” He looks deep into my eyes, rubbing his thumb gently over my cheek. Keeping the panic at bay.
“Okay,” I whisper, letting him carry me through the crowded bar to the exit. As soon as we’re outside, Riot places me back onto the ground, though he keeps one hand on the small of my back in case my shaking legs give out on me again. I stand there for some time, concentrating on the feel of Riot’s touch and sucking in huge lungfuls of salted air.
“Feeling a little better?” His heated stare bores into my profile, but I still can’t face him—too embarrassed by my outburst.
“I think so. Sorry about… whatever that was in there.” The pressure behind my eyes is mounting, and I’m afraid that if I meet his sympathetic gaze, I’ll lose it. “I guess that put a damper on the night…”
Riot doesn’t respond. Instead, he grabs my hand and leads me down the wooden steps toward a large black-and-silver motorcycle parked to the side of the bar. Riot releases me long enough to mount the bike, then holds out his palm, eyes glinting molten gold as he waits for me to take it.
“Do you trust me, Eloise?”
I don’t know what to say.Do I?I haven’t known Riot for long, yet he’s treated me with more kindness and respect than peopleI’ve known for years. Hecares—and not in the way most people do. It’s not a performance, not just pretty words. It’s real.
More than anything, Iwantto trust Riot. And the only way I can do that is if I take this leap. Without thinking, I step forward and grab his hand, interlocking my fingers with his. I don’t say a word—I don’t need to. Riot understands. He always has.
Riot places his helmet on my head, adjusting it so it fits comfortably. Still gripping my hand, he helps me onto his bike, wrapping my arms around his waist once I’m comfortably seated at his back.
“Ready, sweet girl?”
I nod, tightening my grip around his waist, my fingers digging into the muscles rippling his abdomen. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Riot’s laughter is the last thing I hear before we speed off into the night.And what a wonderful song it is.
14
Riot
Eloise’s moodhas improved greatly since we left the bar, but I can tell she’s still shaken up. It’s in the way her eyes shift, never certain, always searching. For something or someone, I don’t know—but I’m sure she doesn’t feel safe right now.
I’ve seen plenty of panic attacks in my years, and I’m certain that’s what Eloise was experiencing at the bar. The fact she felt she needed to apologize for it is… absolutely heartbreaking. I want to find the person who’s made her feel this way and make them pay, to put them somewhere they can never, ever hurt her again.
But before that happens, I need her to open up and tell mewho.
Eloise’s fingers dig into my abdomen as I make a sharp left, the small touch causing fire to spread through my veins. The ocean grows stronger the nearer we get to the forest of seagrapes at the end of the street—and though you can’t see it, there’s a thin strip of beach just beyond the thick green brush.
I park at the end of the pavement and dismount before helping Eloise off the bike, leaving my hand along her waist for a second longer than necessary. Carefully, I lift the helmet off, and I’m rewarded with the most dazzling of smiles.
“That was so much fun!” Her eyes sparkle, hair whipping around her face as it's caught up in the coastal breeze. “I wish you went faster, though.”
“You’re a mad woman.” I reach out to tuck a stray strand behind her ear. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
I grab her hand, leading her through the dense underbrush toward the small stretch of sand on the other side. As soon as we step into the clearing, Eloise gasps, her head moving on a swivel as she takes in the beautiful private beach.
“I had no idea this was here…”
“Most people don’t,” I say. “It belongs to the Pink Conch Hotel, but it’s too far away from the building for their guests to venture out here. They were supposed to develop the land at some point, but it just never happened.”
“It’s beautiful,” Eloise says, her voice carried away by the crashing of the waves upon the shore. “How did you find it?”
“I didn’t. My brother did—years and years ago—back when we were living in Saltbloom with our aunt. He was always restless, often exploring places he shouldn’t. One day, he found this.” I spread my arm wide, gesturing to the shore. “We used to come out here at night and listen to the waves when we couldn’t sleep. Sometimes we’d play or write, but most of the time, we’d just sit here in silence together. It was nice.”
Eloise reaches out, wrapping her small palm around mine. Her touch sends sparks flying across my skin, and for a moment, I forget to breathe.
“Thank you for showing this to me, Riot,” she says. “Thank you for… everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” I say. “You haven’t seen what I have planned.”
“What do you mean?—”
