Page 70 of Riot

“Get your foot out of my door, Ian!”

“What the fuck is goin’ on?” Relief, followed by terror, floods through me.

Riot. Oh, no. In all the commotion I’d forgotten he was on his way.

Ian turns at the same time I look up. Riot is walking menacingly toward us, steam practically coming out of his ears as he stares at Ian.

Ian steps back, straightening his tie. “Who are you?”

“The boyfriend,” Riot snarls. “Why did you have your foot stuck in my girl's door, asshole?”

I can see this going one of two ways; Riot punching Ian in the face, or Riot throwing Ian out of the nearest window.

I tug onto Riot’s cut, surprised at the weight I put behind my grasp as I pull. “Okay, be seeing you, Ian!” I yank Riot toward me but he is much stronger than me.

“I’m waitin’ for an answer.” Riot points in his face.

For a smart guy, Ian is acting pretty nuts. He eyes Riot from head to toe, then turns to look at me. “This is who you’re seeing? A damn biker?”

I straighten my back. “Mind your own damn business!” Cookie growls and tries to jump up. “No! No, baby, don’t do that, you'll hurt yourself.”

Riot shoves Ian backward and Ian puts up his fists. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry; he looks ridiculous. And I know that Riot can fight from some of the stories that I’ve heard from Star around the clubhouse.

Riot side-eyes me. “Is this guy serious?”

I nod. “I’m afraid so.”

“Get the fuck out of here!” Riot booms, pouncing as Ian yelps and jumps backward, narrowly missing Riot’s swinging fist. He scurries down the hall and I yank on Riot’s arm to stop him from chasing. Ian is the type of asshole to sue if he gets a scratch on his precious suit.

I manage to pull Riot back inside before he really does go after Ian. I bolt the door behind us, adrenaline coursing through me.

I bend down to pat Cookie who’s whining from the commotion. He definitely doesn't like surprises, loud noises or Ian. I think I’m falling in love with this dog.

Riot’s staring at me. “Is that the guy?”

“What guy?” Realizing he means my ex, I shake my head. “No. It’s the guy my parents were trying to set me up with.”

“How did he even get up here?”

“He just told me he’s bought an apartment on the top floor.”

He comes closer, his face ashen as he speaks quite deliberately. “If I find out he touched you in any way?—”

“He didn’t, I swear,” I say, wondering how much I should tell him. I know that Riot’s jealous by the way he acted at the clubhouse last night, and the way he’s protective over me. “We had a couple of dates and I didn’t like him. I called it off before our third date.”

He thumbs behind him. “Is he the dude your parents wanted you to marry?”

I nod, unable to speak.

“He’s part of the reason you left home?”

“Yes, well, my parents?—”

“Did. He. Touch. You?” His words are slow and deliberate.

I shake my head. “No. I told you he didn’t.”

He grips my chin. “If I find out he even had one fuckin’ vile thought about you, I’ll rip the cords from his voice box.”

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