He flinches like I physically struck him.
“Yeah,” he rasps.“That happened.”
“And we stopped seeing each other?”I whisper.
“No,” he says.“We stopped pretending.”
A tear slips down my cheek.
He wipes it instantly, thumb trembling as he does.
“It was the worst timing in the world,” he murmurs.“Hours later you were on that road.And I—” His voice breaks.He leans forward, forehead brushing mine, shaking.“You woke up and didn’t know me,” he whispers.“And I deserved it.”
My heart fractures.
I grip his shirt, pulling him closer without thinking.“No.No, you didn’t.”
He exhales shakily, hands sliding down my arms.
There is a noise, a grinding of sorts.One that takes us away from our thoughts.
Riot’s entire body goes lethal.
“Stay here,” he growls, grabbing his gun.
“No!”I lunge for him.“Don’t run out there again!What if,”
He grabs my shoulders not harshly, but firmly, steadying me.“Kelly,” he murmurs, eyes burning into mine, “I have to check the perimeter.It is probably just my brothers closing in to back me up.”
“You can’t go alone,” I choke out.“Don’t leave me.”
His thumb brushes my jaw.“I’m not leavin’ you.”
“You are,” I whisper.
“No,” he counters.“I’m not.”
And then— I realize what he means.
He reaches into the drawer beside the door and pulls out a second weapon.Not big.Not intimidating.Just a compact gun meant for emergency use.He hands it to me butt-first.
My eyes widen.“Ledger, I don’t know what to do.”
“You won’t have to use it,” he says softly.“I won’t let it come to that.”
“But if something happens.”
“It won’t,” he repeats.“Because you’re stayin’ right here by this door until I say otherwise.You hear me?”
I nod, hands trembling.
He steps back.“If anyone but me opens this door you shoot.”
“Riot.”
“Only if they come through,” he says.“But don’t hesitate.”
I swallow hard.“Okay.”
