Page 74 of Riot's Thorn
“Did you take her to the Honey Pot?” he asks.
“Yeah. She wanted a tour.”
“Well, someone recognized her from all the media coverage of her disappearance. Now, rumors are circulating that we’re holding her here against her will.” Cy picks up his fat cigar and takes a puff, filling the room with smoke.
“Employees were the only ones around.”
“Which means it was one of the courtesans.”
I go from rational to murderous in a heartbeat. “Why are they blabbing about club business? Do they need a reminder about what happens when they don’t respect the hand that feeds them?”
“Navy and Mary already spoke to them about discretion,” Rigger says. Of course, he’d step in to defend the Honey Pot; it’s his baby, and his ol’ lady helps run it.
“Clearly,talkingisn’t working. Maybe they need a visual reminder.” I rest my forearms on the table, leaning in to match Rigger’s position in front of me.
“You’re not gonna hurt one of our girls just to set an example. Besides, it’s your fault. You’re the one who took her out in public.” Rigger leans even closer.
“That’s enough,” Cy interrupts our standoff. He points his cigar at me. “Leave our employees alone; it’s not their fault. We only protect our own, and as far as I know, she hasn’t been claimed, so she’s not protected. Besides, that’s not the part we’re here to talk about.”
“Why did you bring it up then?” I ignore the part about Parker not being claimed. Truth is, her mom’s ring has been on the nightstand since the day I proposed. It’s an annoying reminder of her rejection, and I haven’t been brave enough to ask again.
“What’s your end game here, Riot?” Cy asks.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what are you doing with her? She can’t hide forever, and the longer she’s gone, the more suspicious it looks.”
“She’s not going back to that life. She’s mine.”
“Riot.” Cy sounds exasperated. “Bart Banks contacted us. He heard the rumors and asked if we’re hiding her.”
“What did you say?” I ask.
“I told him that what the club does is none of his business, and he said the girl is his business. He thinks her father fucked over the wrong client who hired someone to take him out, so at least we don’t have to worry about that, but he knows the girl was there and needs to talk to her. Offered me five hundred Gs for her whereabouts.”
Fuck. If he has a price out on her, she’s not safe anywhere. “I swear to Christ, if you sold her out because you think she hasn’t been claimed?—"
“Then what?” He dares me to make a threat.
“I’m keeping her safe, and if she has to stay here for the rest of her life, that’s what’ll have to happen.”
Cy’s cigar stops halfway to his mouth. “You’re not thinking clearly. Her only chance at safety is if you claim her, and even then, Bart could decide she’s worth a war. Are you ready to put your brothers’ lives on the line for some chick you’ve known for a couple of weeks?”
I rock side to side in my chair, emotions I can’t control building inside me. How dare he question her place in my life? If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t push like this. He just doesn’t think I’m capable of knowing what I feel.
“She’s mine,” I say simply.
“Goddamn it, Riot. The club has rules. I’m sorry we can’t protect her without an official claiming, but we have to draw a line somewhere. Otherwise, we’d be at war all the damn time.” He points a finger at me. “Kill her, claim her, or cut her loose. That’s a fuckin’ order.”
“And if you cut her loose, make it damn clear if she ever speaks a word about your involvement in her disappearance or her father’s death, I’ll take her out myself,” Rigger warns.
I glare at him, holding my breath as they move on to the final matters, giving myself something to focus on. If I allow myself to breathe right now, I’ll take Cy’s cigar and stamp it out on his forehead before shoving it up Rigger’s ass.
All the blood in my body heads south, making my ears burn and my face heat. The seconds tick by, and I count each one, not trusting myself with the gift of air so I don’t do something stupid.
My lungs scream, and my leg bounces uncontrollably, but I’d rather pass out than reach behind my back and grab my Glock like I want to. Clearly, there’s something in me that fights to do the right thing; I just tend to ignore it most time. I can’t this time, though. The repercussions would be catastrophic.
Cy bangs the gavel, and my brothers disperse. I follow, not breathing until I’m outside the room. Everyone’s too busy with their own shit to notice me gulping air off to the side. My mindspins, trying to land on an option that doesn’t involve Parker leaving me.
