Page 197 of SINS & Riley

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Mila’s face drains. “What do I do? Do I call an ambulance?”

I can’t answer. The pain is too sharp, splitting me in half. Sweat blinds my eyes, slick on my skin.

Dominic’s voice cuts through, firm. “You can’t call an ambulance.”

When the pain finally ebbs, I force my gaze up. “See?” I let out a long breath. “Dominic’s right. No need for an ambulance. But… why haven’t you left?”

“I—” He shifts, uneasy. “I can’t leave you.”

Oh, God. “Dominic, it’s just paparazzi. You and the kids can go.”

His face drains white. My stomach plummets.

“It’s not just paparazzi… is it?”

He gives the smallest shake of his head. “It’ll be fine,” he assures me. “I tried to send for backup, but my phone cut out.”

I can tell by his face he doesn’t mean cut out. He means blocked.

Then—bang.

The back door slams. Is it the Keenans? Heavy footsteps thunder closer.

Fuck.

We’re trapped.

68

RILEY

The back door slams open, and my instincts take over.

I don’t care who it is. Andre. The Keenans. God help them if they come near these kids.

Misha’s on one side of the room, Katya on the other.

I shove Dominic toward Misha, then lunge for Katya, hauling her under me as we huddle in the corner. The room scatters. Somehow, everyone here knows the drill and hides.

The curtain stirs. A man steps through.

Dante.

My breath comes ragged, panic misfiring in every direction. The words tear out, raw and misplaced. “You followed me?”

He doesn’t even blink.

Two strides and I’m airborne, scooped into his arms, cradled like I weigh nothing. His chest is iron against me, his voice rumbling in my ear.

“I’m always following you.”

He presses a hard kiss to my temple, and my heart stutters. For once, I’m grateful.

He jerks his chin at Dominic. “I’ve got the van out back. We’re all going. Now.”

By the time we reach the hospital, my nerves are shredded raw.

Everything blurs.

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