I frown at the slight look of panic in her eyes.
“Is he forcing you to meet? Because if he is?—”
“What? No! Why would you think that?”
“This sudden urge to reconnect… It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“That’s because it’s Oscar, and you don’t trust him.”
“You’re right, Idon’ttrust him.”
“But you promised you would give him a chance.”
I swallow a groan of annoyance. I did promise that, and I need to honor it, but at this moment, I’m rethinking why the hell I would make such a stupid promise.
“Please, Kieran.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Fine. You can go. But the guards go with you too, and I won’t hear otherwise.”
Relief washes over Riley’s face before she throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. “Thank you.”
I hold her tight, breathing in the fruity smell of her shampoo.
Somehow, she manages to calm me and ignite a fire in my chest all at once.
If she didn’t look so tired, I would insist on carrying her up to bed. But from the huge yawn she lets out, I don’t think she would make it up the stairs before falling asleep.
“Let’s get you to bed,” I suggest, but Riley shakes her head.
“I’m not tired.”
“Liar.” I pinch her waist. “But fine. Do you want to watch a film or something?”
“I want to stay right here like this.” She snuggles against me, and I chuckle.
“Whatever you want, little dove.”
The quiet settles around us, and my body slowly starts to relax as I focus on the soft sound of Riley breathing.
I never thought another person would have the ability to quiet the noise in my head, but she does just that.
“How was the rest of your day?” I ask, but when Riley doesn’t answer, I glance down to find she’s already fallen back asleep.
A quiet sigh escapes me as I stare down at her.
She looks so peaceful in my arms, and I want to keep it that way.
Carefully, I scoop her up into my arms, cradling her like she’s the most precious thing in the world. Because she is.
I tiptoe upstairs to our room and lay her down gently on the bed, tucking the blankets around her. I brush a hand over her hair before tracing my thumb along the curve of her jaw.
She shouldn’t have to live like this, waiting around for her world to fall apart. She deserves true safety, not this fragile peace that I keep trying to offer her.
So, I’ll make sure to give Riley that future, even if there’s nothing left of me by the time it’s done.
Chapter Twenty-Three
RILEY
