Page 6 of Riot

I mouthed—Nig…

He said it out loud. Hard R and everything.

Before the second syllable even left his pink-ass lips, my fist connected with his throat.

CRACK.

He dropped like a sack of stolen money, gaspin’ and clawing at his neck, eyes wide like he’d just been jumped by karma.

The Virgin gasped—but stayed still. Smart girl. She ain’t flinch, just watched, like she’d seen worse and was curious about how farI’dgo.

Guns cocked all around me. Security moved fast, weapons drawn, bodies tense. Red dots found my chest, my forehead, my heart.

I didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Just lit another joint.

Then, like the dramatic bastard he is, Boaz reappeared—arms wide, voice booming.

“Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Lower your fuckin’ guns!”

Everyone froze.

He jogged over, real frantic, but still lookin’ polished.

“Jesus, Avi, you goddamn idiot,” he snapped, looking down at his son gagging on the ground. “What did you do?” He knew his son deserved whatever had happened to him.

Avi wheezed, nodded, eyes watery.

Boaz groaned. “JoJo help Avi! What happened?”

“He wanted to say nigger, so I showed him what the consequences were.”

Then he turned to me, hands up in apology. “Riot, my deepest regrets. I swear, I didn’t raise him like that.”

I deadpanned, blowing smoke out the side of my mouth. “Nah, but youlethim live this long, so…”

Boaz laughed too hard, like we were old friends. “Fair. Very fair.”

I looked at Avi, still gasping.

The guards finally lowered their guns.

The Virgin stepped forward, quietly collected my glass, her fingers brushing mine for just a second longer than needed.

I didn’t look at her.

But I felt her watching.

And I knew right then, I had to get her out.

Chapter 2

ALLURE

It’s been several hours since the man who brought the tiger cub left, and now, like always, I’m the one stuck taking care of it—on top of all of Boaz’s other pets.

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