Page 24 of Riot

“So, jealousy.”

I chuckled softly.“Beyond belief.Caleb didn’t know what was going on, and Doug was careful to keep it from him.He knew Caleb would always take my side.Caleb had proven it over and over whenever Doug would say anything out of the way to me.Even if I was in the wrong, Caleb would stand up to his father.For whatever reason, instead of turning his anger on Caleb, Doug did his best to win him over.The past couple of months, they’d spent a lot of time together.To hear Caleb talk, they had a great time doing all kinds of different father-and-son type things.”

“You think Doug convinced himself Caleb’s loyalties had changed?”

I nodded.“Yeah.When he drank, no one could convince him he was wrong, and he assumed everyone thought he was right.So when he told Caleb to get his baseball bat and punish me, he fully expected Caleb to obey him with gusto.”

“Christ, Violet.”It was the first emotional response I’d seen from Riot since the nightmare had woken me.

“Well?Now you know my story.Will you tell me yours?”

Chapter Nine

Riot

I’d been dreading this conversation.Sixteen years in prison, and I was practically quaking in my boots because I had to tell a little slip of a woman what I’d done to go to prison.Not only that, but I also had to find a balance between telling Caleb the raw, gritty truth, and shielding him from the harsher aspects of my reality.Not to protect myself, though.To protect Caleb.

“You’re a hell of a woman, Violet.”Strange way to start this conversation, but that’s what popped out.I also didn’t miss the slight flush blossoming on her cheeks.“I’m going to give you all the information.Then you’re gonna tell me what you want me to tell Caleb.”

“All right.”She stood from the bed and crossed to the loveseat next to my chair, tucking one leg under her.“You said you were incarcerated for sixteen years.”She looked away and took in a shuddering breath.“I had a thirteen-year sentence.”

“We’re both out now,” I said immediately.“And neither of us are goin’ back.Get me?”I tried to keep my voice calm, but the way she looked at her marriage as a prison sentence was the final nail in my coffin.And I wasn’t altogether certain I could make good on my statement.I had a feeling I might well be going back to prison before this was over.

She gave me a small smile, adjusted her position, and cleared her throat.“I hope that’s true.I can’t…” She closed her eyes and gave a little shake of her head.“I can’t go back to him.I’ll do what I have to, to protect Caleb, but I can’t take him back to Doug.”

“You won’t have to.”I made my voice as firm as I could to get her attention.“If you believe nothing else, if there is nothing else I can ever do for you or that boy in this world, I promise, you’ll never have go to back to him.”

She shook her head emphatically.“No.Don’t worry about me.Concentrate on Caleb.That’s why you’re here.”She tried to put a little bite in her voice, but it was wobbly, like she was trying not to cry.I had to focus on keeping myself calm.Meditation was one of the useful things I learned in prison.They recommended I learn discipline to control my temper.Never thought I’d be grateful for learning how to meditate, but I was now.

“He’s a little shit who needs someone to keep a close eye on him,” I muttered.Then I realized what I said and I met her angry gaze with mine.“That came out wrong!I know that sounds bad,” I said, holding my hand out in front of me and moving to the edge of my seat in case I had to get out of her reach.“But that kid is sneaky.And he’s manipulating you.Problem is, I can’t say a Goddamned thing to him because I’m kind of in awe of him.”I rubbed the back of my neck which was flaming hot with embarrassment.

When I glanced up at her there was shock on her face, then irritation.“What do you mean he’s manipulating me?”

“Honey, that kid talked you and Lana into bringing in someone to protect him because he was scared of his father.Right?”

“Yeah.So?”

I let out a breath and sat back in my chair.“So, he was scared, but not of his father.At least not for his own sake.Caleb knew that, once he spoke out against his dad in court and you left Harrington for good, that bastard would come after you.He knew you’d have a huge target on your back, and he wanted someone physically capable and willing to protect you through this.”

“Little shit,” she muttered before realizing what she’d said.Then she froze and found my gaze.I really doubt I kept the amusement from my face, but in my defense, I tried.I knew I’d failed when she gave me an exasperated look.“Not a word.”

“Wouldn’t think of it.”

“For the record, your first priority is Caleb.”She gave me a stern look.

I grinned.“You look cute when you make that face.”That startled her.“How about I look out for both of you?”

“You can’t!You can only be in one place at a time!”She pointed a finger at me.“You will protect Caleb.”

“Yep.‘Cause he’ll be protecting you.”

She seemed to deflate.“That little shit.”

“Sometimes it’s pointless to resist,” I offered helpfully.

“Don’t be that person, Riot.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.She really was too cute.And, oh my God, I was so completely under her spell.When she found out how deeply infatuated I was with her, Violet would likely run the other way as hard as she could and I wouldn’t blame her.“I’m not that person.You know I’m right.”

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