Page 3 of Burn it Down

Without a word, I stepped toward him, arms open. He fell to his knees in front of me and pressed his face into my stomach. I wrapped my arms around him and slid my fingers through his hair, whispering that it was okay, that he was safe, even if I wasn’t sure he believed me.

"Did someone do something to you?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

"I’d do anything for you," he said, ignoring my question completely.

I held him for what felt like hours until the screen door banged open and our father stepped out onto the porch.

His eyes narrowed at the sight of us like we were doing something egregious.

"Lakynn. Inside. Now."

Riven didn’t move. His arms stayed wrapped around my waist like letting go would kill him. I kissed the top of his head,promised I’d be right back, and followed our father into the house.

He closed the study door behind us and crossed his arms and I remember my stomach felt flipped upside down.

"You don’t understand what Riven is. He’s capable of killing, Lakynn. You keep treating him like he’s fragile, but that boy has darkness in him. You need to stop babying him before you get hurt."

I stared at him, heart pounding. "Whatever you’re trying to do, it won't work. I’ll never deny him."

My father’s glare was cold. Calculated even. Then he just turned and walked away.

That was the first time I understood that our adoption wasn’t about love.

It was about control.

The loud bang of the barn door brings me out of my memory.

"Riven!" The sharp, commanding voice cuts through the quiet we were enjoying and we both look up.

Our father stands outside the barn, arms crossed, expression grim. He looks serious and maybe even concerned. His eyes lock on us beneath the dogwood tree, and I swear the muscle in his jaw tics.

Riven goes still before his arm tightens around me for half a second and then he slowly pulls away.

"Stay here," he says, voice low.

"I don’t want to be away from you," I whisper, clutching his hand.

He lifts my fingers to his mouth, brushing his lips across my knuckles. "Just stay. Remember what I said. I’ve got you, Lakynn. Always."

I swallow hard, eyes stinging. "I believe you."

He gives me one last look before standing and walking across the field toward the barn.

I stay beneath the tree, and it feels like my heart is hammering against my ribcage as he approaches the barn. Our father steps aside to let him in and then the door closes behind them.

That was the last time I saw Riven Kozlov.

The next morning, he was gone.

No note. No explanation. Just… gone.

RIVEN

The locker room reeks of sweat and blood and old tape. We’re at an away game, and even though I loathe every fucking minute I’ve been away from Lakynn, at least Castlebook doesn’t smell like literal garbage.

I keep my head down as I lace my skates, ignoring the chatter around me. The sound of laughter grates on me. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting some more for news on when they’re sending Lakynn to be with me. That was the deal. The alternative was that they were going to marry Lakynn off to someone in a merger that would benefit them. I never thought they adopted us for sincere reasons, but when I realized that selling Lakynn off to the fucking highest bidder was an option, I knew that I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe. I’m about ready to blow everything up if my father and uncle don’t make good on their side of things. Six months is too long when I didn’t go a fucking night since the day I met her without checking on her.

The sloppy, aimless noise that doesn’t belong anywhere near me is making it worse. I’m on edge, and none of these fuckers even realize what they could be dealing with if they piss me off. These guys joke like they have nothing to lose. Like none of thismatters. I’m a killer, the coldest kind, too. I don’t give a fuck about any of my hits. I don’t care why or how. I only care about one fucking thing, and that’s my adopted sister. I completed every task my father had for me, and now I’m a student at Castlebrook, which was the cover we agreed on when I left The Falls. The gossip mill is out of control, so saying I wanted to leave to play hockey seemed like the most believable thing. Except to Lakynn. I know she had to be so confused and worried. The last few months have been painful, and it’s felt like my fucking chest is cracked open and my heart ripped out. I know I’m going to have a lot of making up to do when Lakynn and I are reunited, but this was the only way that we could be together. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her.

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