Page 93 of Riot

I sat back, arms folded, the ache in my chest growing sharper. “You think she’ll pull through?”

Creed shrugged. “She’s strong. Like you said, we’ll get her the best doctors. But I don’t know if she wants to.”

That was the part that scared me.

Because I could deal with decline. I could deal with memory loss and confusion. But watching someone give up? Watching the guilt eat them alive, day by day?

That was a different kind of grief.

And it hadn’t even finished killing her yet.

Footsteps creaked on the stairs, slow and uneven. Me and Creed went silent at the same time, like we were kids again, waiting for the hammer to drop. But it wasn’t our father’s heavy boots this time. It was our mother’s slippered steps. Still, the weight behind them felt just as sharp.

She stepped into the room like a shadow, wrapped in her silk robe, hair a wild, lips pressed together so tight they nearly disappeared. There was something frantic in her eyes, like her body had made it into the room, but her mind was still somewhere else, trapped in a moment none of us could reach.

The second her gaze landed on me, she pointed. “Where is that evil girl?”

My whole body stiffened. “What?”

“That girl,” she said louder, voice rising like a kettle ready to scream. “The one you brought in here. The one who doesn't belong here. She's not who you think she is, Riot. You’re being blind. Just like you were with Malia.”

Creed shifted beside me, uncomfortable as hell, but he didn’t speak. I did.

“Why are you calling her evil?”

“Because I know who she really is!” she snapped. “And she’s going to ruin you, just like the last one. You’re too stupid to see it. She’ll betray you, just like Malia did. And this time? It’ll destroy you.”

I stared at her, something inside me fracturing. Her words weren’t just crazy, they were cruel. And worse, they were dressed in conviction, like she believed every damn syllable.

“You wanna talk about stupid?” I said, my voice low but lethal. “You wanna talk about betrayal? Where were you when he was beating the shit out of us? You think my girl is evil but youknewmy father was! Where were you when he left us with bruises and broken ribs, acting like it was all for our own good? You knew he was sick. You had to know. But you stayed quiet. You let him walk around that house like a king when he was a fuckin’ monster.”

She opened her mouth, but I didn’t give her the chance.

“You let it happen, Ma. And now you got the nerve to stand there and come for Allure? That girl ain’t done nothin’ but try to rebuild her life. You don’t even know her. And stop bringing up that bitch, Malia. She had it coming!”

Her face twisted like I’d slapped her. Maybe I had. Not physically. But those words? They landed.

Creed stood, stepping between us, but it was too late. I was already turning away.

I stormed out the room, heart pounding, hands clenched into fists at my sides. I didn’t even register Abra coming through the front door until I nearly walked into her.

She stepped back. “Riot, hey. I was just coming to get those documents signed from Tessa.”

“Cool,” I muttered, brushing past her. “She’s in there actin’ a fuckin’ fool. Knock yourself out.”

I didn’t stop walking, didn’t give her the usual nod or fake smile. I was too wired. Too angry.

But Creed followed.

I heard his steps trailing me down the walk. “Yo, slow down.”

I didn’t.

“Riot.”

I stopped at the edge of the driveway, jaw clenched so tight it ached. “What?”

“You gotta let that shit go.”

---