"Adrian is incredible," Riley breathed, settling into the chair at the press conference table. "He's so much more than just strong and attractive, Mom. He's supportive and caring and everything a real man should be."
Cameron beamed as he took his position to the side of the room. "I have to say, Riley, I'm not surprised you chose someone who looks like he could be a fitness model and fights like a champion. You've always had excellent taste."
Riley laughed, adjusting the microphone in front of her as reporters filled the chairs. "He's perfect for me in every way."
As the questions began flying—about her injury, about Darius's role in orchestrating the attack, about her relationship with Adrian—Riley handled each one with the grace and directness that had made her the media favorite throughout her career. But when they asked if moving so fast with Adrian wasn't risky, her answer came from the heart.
"The connection we have doesn't follow logic or timelines," she said firmly. "It's something I hope everyone gets to experience at least once in their lives."
Twenty minutes later, as she finally escaped the barrage of questions, Riley felt lighter than she had in days. The truth was out there now—about Darius's cowardly attack, about her love for Adrian, about the future they were building together.
"Ready to go celebrate?" her mother asked, gathering her purse.
Riley nodded, her heart already racing at the thought of seeing Adrian again. "Let's go to the gym. I have a feeling this is going to be a night to remember."
The fluorescent lights of the parking garage cast harsh shadows across the concrete as Riley navigated carefully on her crutches, each step sending a dull ache through her injured knee. The celebratory high from Adrian's victory was still coursing through her veins, but the practical reality of her injury was becoming increasingly frustrating. She'd never been good at accepting limitations, and these damn crutches felt like a constant reminder of her vulnerability.
"Slow down, sweetheart," her mother said gently, adjusting her purse strap as she kept pace beside Riley. "There's no rush."
Riley exhaled sharply, pausing to rest her weight against the concrete pillar. "I hate this. I hate being so damn helpless."
"You're not helpless. You're just injured," her mother corrected, her voice carrying that maternal tone that somehow managed to be both soothing and firm. "Adrian looked like he wanted to carry you the whole time."
Despite her frustration, Riley couldn't help but smile at that. Through their completed bond, she could still feel the echoes of Adrian's protective instincts, and his desire to shield her from every inconvenience. The intensity of his love still took her breath away sometimes.
"He probably would have if I'd let him," she admitted, adjusting her grip on the crutches. "But I need to be able to do this myself."
They were halfway to her mother's sedan when the screech of tires echoed through the parking garage. Riley looked up to see a black SUV with tinted windows barreling toward them at a speed that sent alarm bells ringing in her head. Her fighter's instincts kicked in immediately, but the crutches made her movements clumsy and slow.
"Mom, get behind me," she ordered, but it was already too late.
The SUV skidded to a stop mere feet away, and two massive men erupted from the vehicle like predators who had been waiting for exactly this moment. Riley recognized them immediately as shifters—their movements too fluid, their presence too commanding to be entirely human. In any normal circumstances, she could have taken both men down without breaking a sweat. But balanced precariously on crutches with her mother to protect, she was at a devastating disadvantage.
"Riley Vaughn," the larger of the two men said, his voice carrying a satisfied edge. "You're coming with us."
"Like hell I am," Riley snarled, shifting her weight to swing one of her crutches like a weapon. But the second man moved faster than humanly possible, grabbing her mother's arm and yanking her forward.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said coldly, his grip on her mother's arm making her wince. "Not unless you want mommy here to get hurt."
Riley's blood turned to ice. Her mother's frightened gasp cut through her like a blade, and she felt her defenses crumble. These men knew exactly how to neutralize her—attack the one person she couldn't bear to see harmed.
"Let her go," Riley demanded, but her voice lacked its usual commanding edge. "This is between you and me."
The first man laughed, a sound devoid of any warmth. "Actually, this involves both of you now. Get in the car. Now."
Riley's mind raced, calculating angles and escape routes, but with her injury and her mother's safety at stake, every option led to disaster. The men moved with efficiency, clearly having planned this abduction down to the last detail. Within seconds, both women were being shoved into the back seat of the SUV, Riley's crutches clattering to the concrete floor of the parking garage.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Riley found herself face-to-face with the passenger in the front seat. Even with his face swollen and bruised from Adrian's brutal assault, Darius Vonn's green eyes burned with malicious satisfaction.
"Well, hello there," Darius said, his words slightly slurred through his split lips and swollen jaw. "Look who decided to join our party."
"You son of a bitch," Riley spat, fury overriding her fear. "You won't get away with this."
Darius turned in his seat to face her fully, his battered features twisted into a grotesque smile. "Oh, I will get away with this. And soon, you and your precious mother won't be alive to worry about the aftermath."
The casual way he spoke about their deaths sent ice water through Riley's veins. This wasn't just about revenge anymore—Darius had crossed a line into complete madness.
Riley immediately reached out through their mate bond, projecting every ounce of her terror and panic toward Adrian. The connection blazed to life between them, and she felt his instant response—a surge of protective fury so intense it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs.
