Page 7 of Lunar Desires
Rhianna winked at me. “I love having you by the balls. Although I only got to see them once.”
“Once is more than enough,” a man on her left said.
More laughter followed.
Rhianna nodded, pleased with herself. “Now, this doesn’t have to be difficult.” She sniffed. “Hand over The Moon, and all will be peachy. Then I’m sure The Sun will follow soon after.” She laughed yet again. “There was me thinking this would go to the wire. Ah. Nothing like a piece-of-cake moment. Am I right?”
Her cronies agreed.
I take that cake and slam it in your face!
House Kingwood had given us an ultimatum. Hand over Riley and Isaac within five days, or Coldharbour would suffer.
“Why don’t you let these people go?” Riley said. “They don’t have to?—”
“Oh, shut your face!” Rhianna snapped, showing off her short fuse. “This ain’t a situation where you get to sweet-talk me into a deal. I’m calling the shots. Anyway, don’t you get how much magic we’re using here to lock this shithole station down?” She wrinkled her nose. “I hate London.”
I saw Riley glance at me from the corner of my eye, making my lungs constrict.
Come on, trash. Figure this out!
“Tell you what, I’ll make it easy for you,” Rhianna added. “I’ll give The Moon another ten seconds to come with me, or you see that kid over there?” She gestured at a little boy in his mother’s arms. “He loses his head. Slowly. Your choice.”
Bile threatened to surge up my throat. “You wouldn’t hurt a child.”
Rhianna’s mouth curled into a deadly grin. “I’ll do anything to get what I want. Ten, nine, eight, seven…”
Riley stepped forward. “Fine. Take me. Don’t hurt anyone.”
I grabbed his arm. “Don’t do this.”
He glanced at me with an unreadable expression. “It’s okay.”
I shook my head, my throat closing.
“Let me go,” he said so gently my knees almost buckled. “It’ll be okay.”
“Good on you, Moon,” Rhianna said. “He gets it. There’s no need for unnecessary bloodshed. At least today.” More laughter.
I wouldn’t let him go. No fucking way. He stayed with me. Safe. Living. Breathing. Radiant. The most beautiful man to ever grace my life. The one I’d tried walking away from.
Man, I’d been so stupid, my head submerged in a murky soup, blinding my reason. And I wanted him, no matter if he wanted me. I couldn’t live in a world without his smile, his touch, his sparkle.
I’m sorry I walked away…
Riley tried breaking free of my grip. “Drake, please.”
I tightened my hold on him, terrified of losing him. “You’re not going with her.”
Rhianna’s forehead creased. “Anyone got a sickbag?”
Riley tugged for freedom, imploring me with his eyes.
Did he have a plan? How? If he tried using his magic, he’d give himself away before he managed to get anything done, condemning the little boy and everyone else.
“You were never this keen to stick by my side,” Rhianna threw at me.
“We had six months together,” I replied.
