Page 137 of Riot

We shake hands. “It’s so good to meet you, though I’m sorry it had to be like this.”

He holds up a hand. “Don’t be sorry. The way Myles talks about you, it would’ve happened soon enough.”

“Is he… okay?”

His eyes flick to Manny’s then back to mine. “He’s gonna be fine. He’s got a broken collar bone, fractured cheek and fractured ribs. He’s also got a nasty gash on the back of his head and a concussion. Gonna be a while before he’s back on his feet.”

Tears well again. “I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”

“You and me both.”

“Did they catch who did this?”

Charles shakes his head. “I don’t know, but that’s not important now.”

I vow right then and there, that there is no way on God’s earth this person is going to live and breathe the same air as us. I’ll find them, whoever they are, and they will pay for doing this to us.

“Hey, didn’t you say you’ve got a dog?” Manny looks around as if Cookie might just appear.

I wipe my eyes. “Yes, but he’s not allowed in.”

Manny just smiles. “Leave that up to me.” He waggles his eyebrows and then adds, “Yo, Bandit? Wanna steal a meal cart?”

Bandit frowns. “What the fuck for?”

He taps his nose. “Let’s just say it’ll make Riot a happy boy.”

A few moments later, the door opens again and the doctor comes out. I don’t even wait. I push my way through and barge into Riot’s room. I stop in my tracks. He’s sitting up, wires and drips hooked up to him.Holy mother of God.

When Manny said brace, I wasn’t prepared for this.

Cash stands next to his bed, his eyes fall on me before he palms the back of his neck.

I rush to the bed as Riot smiles. His face is almost unrecognizable. One eye completely closed shut with a giant bruise forming. He has cuts and scrapes all over him. His arm is in a cast and a bandage around his head.

I don’t know where I can touch him, but I lean down and fold into his good arm that isn’t wrapped up like a mummy. “Oh, Riot.” I cry openly into his neck as he soothes me. Telling him it’s okay and everything will be better now.

I hear movement at the door, then Cash gives me a sympathetic smile and leaves. I glance behind me. Everyone has left to give us privacy.

“Baby,” he murmurs. “I was so worried about you. I heard about the explosion.”

“I wasn’t there, I was at Mom and Dad’s,” I tell him. “Riot, when I found the flashlight and saw the blood…” I can’t evenfinish. I hug him again, sobs wracking through my body as he holds me.

“It’s worse than it looks,Kitten.I promise. No internal damage. All of this will heal.”

“Who did this to you?”

“Woman named Shade.”

“A woman?”

“She’s the ringleader. She was my ex-handlers ol’ lady, and I had no idea. When he died, she blamed all of the people involved. He wanted out and she believes he was taken out. I was one of the ones that she says should’ve helped him.”

I pull back and stare at him. “Please tell me she’s dead.”

“She got away, but it won’t be long before we find her.”

“How did she plan all of this?”

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