34
Eloise
Roaring applause soundsin my ears, echoing in my chest and in the rapid thrum of my heart. The overhead stage lights blind my eyes and heat my skin. I turn my head, searching the audience for one singular individual—my reason for breath, for laughter, for hope.
My eyes find Riot through the masses, and it’s like a lightning bolt reaches down from the sky and strikes my heart. My knees go weak, and I stumble, catching my balance by gripping the edge of the piano.
When I look up, Riot has pushed to the front of the crowd and looks like he’s about to storm the stage. I hold up a hand, catching his attention, then gesture to the wings, hoping he’ll know to meet me there. He nods, once, eyes shining with a deep emotion. And then he’s gone—disappearing in the mass of cheering people. With one last look at the audience, I turn and race off the stage, moving as fast as my heels will allow me.
I burst through the door of my changing room, every muscle in my body clenching at the sight of Riot in his black suit. I hadn’t noticed it on stage, but he’s switched his septum jewelry for a simple hoop that matches the two in his bottom lip. His messy black hair has been pulled back, showcasing thesharp angles of his face and revealing more of the beautiful art covering his neck.
The dark kohl around his eyes brings out the gold in his irises, and they shine with a look that’s so much deeper than hunger. It makes my knees weak, and I’m powerless to do anything but stand there frozen as he prowls toward me.
“Eloise.” My name rolls off his tongue like something sinful, and a pleasant heat builds between my thighs. He stops when we’re a breath apart, curling his arms around my waist and pressing his forehead to mine. “You played beautifully, my muse. You were…” He blinks, gaze swirling with wonder. “It’s hard to put into words, because you are. You’re every beautiful sunset, the softest, most loving embrace. You’re breath, and fire, and starlight. You’re… truly indescribable.” He smiles, the motion crinkling the corners of his eyes and his mouth. “But since I don’t have the words, I’ll simply tell you that you were incredible.”
He presses his lips to mine, causing heated sparks to flow over my skin, making me dizzy. I want to take it deeper, to touch him like I’ve been dreaming of for the past two weeks. But then there’s a knock on the door, and the spell shatters.
I jerk in Riot’s grip, whipping my head over my shoulder as my heart takes off. “W-who is it?”
The door opens, and Forest steps inside, a rare smile brightening his stoic expression. “Hey, guys.” His strange eyes meet mine, and the corners wrinkle with emotion. “Eloise. You played wonderfully. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Forest,” I whisper, the pressure behind my eyes building. “And thank you for the note. I didn’t… I never would have stood up to Dave tonight if you hadn’t given it to me.”
He nods, meeting Riot’s gaze with a conspiratorial grin. “It was really no problem. I was just part of the plan.”
I gaze from Riot to Forest, hope blooming in my chest. When I received Riot’s note earlier, I was too scared to believe he had actually found a way to free me from my situation. But now, with the way he and Forest are smiling, the possibility is looking like a reality.
“What’s going on? Why do you both look so happy?”
Riot brushes his thumb over my cheek, his gaze so tender it makes my chest ache. “Maybe it’s because we’ve finally figured out how to help you.”
My breath catches in my throat. “H-how?”
Before Riot can explain, the door bursts open, dragging our attention to the intruder. Dave storms inside, his expression twisted with rage. His combover is askew, his large chest huffing with furious breath.
He raises a short, stubby finger and shoves it in my face. “You.I don’t know what that stunt was, but you’re coming with me, Eloise. You’re obviously not well.”
Dave lunges, attempting to grab my arm in his meaty hand—but Riot’s having none of it. He draws me to his chest, moving my body to the side and out of Dave’s reach.
“How dare you!” Dave hollers. “I’ll have you fucking arrested again?—”
“No, you fucking will not.” Riot straightens, towering over him with a heated glare, hands curling to fists at his sides. With a snarl, he steps in front of me, blocking me from the evil little gremlin’s view. “If you lay onefuckingfinger on her, I will end you. I don’t care what happens to me.”
Dave jerks back, his face whitening at the pure honesty in his tone. Unfortunately, he’s too stupid to listen. With a determined frown, Dave lunges toward me, the movement so sudden that he manages to clip my pinky with his fingernail.
I jerk back with a yelp, but it’s too late. Hetouchedme.
A bellowing roar explodes from Riot’s throat, a sound so powerful it echoes off the walls, shuddering beneath my skin with raw, angry fury. He’s on Dave in the blink of an eye, knocking him to the ground with an elbow to the jaw. Dave’s scream partially covers up the crack of his eye socket breaking, but not by much.
He lumps to the ground, but Riot doesn’t give him any time to recover. He straddles Dave’s chest, delivering a few powerful blows to his face, coming away with his fists bloodied and chest heaving with ragged, savage breaths.
His eyes gleam with pure malice as he reaches down, grabbing Dave’s wrist and hoisting his arm straight in the air. With a smirk, he grips Dave’s thumb, yanking it back at a painful-looking angle.
“This is for Eloise,” he says, snapping the thumb back against his wrist. A massive pop sounds, and Dave squeals, his face twisting in agony. But Riot’s already moved on to the next finger.
Riot goes through each one, systematically snapping the bones, his eyes unblinking. When he gets to the pinky, Dave screams, his eyes looking at Forest with desperation.
“Forest! Call the fucking police! Help me!”
