Page 36 of Riot

His voice is soft and sends a tingle down my spine. “Of course she is. Who wouldn’t want to be around you?”

Our eyes meet. “Thank you for being here. I don’t know what I would’ve done…”

“You’d call me.” He holds my chin in place as he leans down to my ear. “You can always call me at any time of the day or night if you need anythin’ or you get scared. Got me,Kitten?There is nothing that I won’t do for you.”

“Why?” I whisper. “Why are you saying those things?”

“Because it’s true. I’m gonna be that guy; the one you can rely on. No matter what happens between us. I can be your person.”

I stare back at him, confusion crossing my brow. “My person?” My mouth opens, unable to release any more words as my heart gallops away in my chest.

Did he just offer to be my second?

Who is this freaking man?

8

RIOT

I stare backat the woman who has me pinned into place. Not just by her softness and the way she cares, but how she has no fuckin’ clue just how amazing she is.

How she loves and cares for things… I’ve never known that. That softness. The femininity that she oozes without even trying. I love it. I fuckin’ love it.

“Yes, your person. Someone you can rely on, other than Star. You can call me anytime, anywhere, and I’ll come runnin’, babe. No matter how big or small the problem might be. Got me?”

I don’t know why she looks so confused. Then I remember she has no idea about my little obsession with her. Well, I don’t know if I’d call it anobsessionper say, but I’m only speaking the truth.

There is nothing that I won’t do for her.

Her bottom lip trembles.

Shit. I don’t ever want to make her sad, much less make her cry.

She really does feel terrible for this poor dog. I mean, it was no picnic finding him like that. Some humans are pieces of shit, and I will make it my mission in life to try and track themotherfucker down who’s responsible. Maybe I’ll test out my marksmanship, reprising the role of being a sniper that I never thought I’d miss until this very moment.

“Okay, Riot.” Her voice is soft. Delicate. I know she’s a strong woman, she’s had to be in the past, and coming from a strict upbringing and parents who had her life mapped out for her, I know that would’ve taken its toll. But she’s also vulnerable. Soft in ways that makes me want to protect her and keep her safe, making sure nobody can hurt her ever again. The world is a cruel place. That’s all I know.

“We’ll have to leave him here tonight. Nina needs to monitor him and he needs to rest.”

She blinks. I don’t know what she was expecting, but this seems to make her upset all over again.

“But we can come by tomorrow and see him,” I tell her. Well, it’s past midnight now so it’s really today, but who’s counting?

“He’d like that. I think he really likes us.”

I brighten at her small smile. “You need to rest, too.”

“Do you want to come back to my place and sleep?”

Just sleep?

I’d like to take up where we left off before any of this happened, but I also know that moment has passed.

I feel the tightening of my chest. The telltale signs that I might fuckin’ lose it myself when I think about having a night terror in front of her. I’d never hurt her on purpose, but I don’t know if I can be trusted. I thrash around a lot.

Then again, I don’t have to sleep… I could just watch her sleep…

My pausing seems to cause alarm; her eyes going a little wide. “I mean, it’s okay, I get you probably want to get back?—”

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