Page 19 of Riot
“Yeah.I wouldn’t be here to protect you either.But there would at least be a chance I could be here.If I was still in prison, there’s no chance I’d be able to help you.”
“Will you tell me what happened?”
“Caleb, I’m not sure this is appropriate.Riot’s past is private.”I put my hands on Caleb’s shoulders.I needed to touch my son, to remind him how much I needed him.
“It’s all right, Violet.I rarely do anything I don’t want to.Not anymore.”He laced his fingers together and rested his hands on the table.“Will you give me until tomorrow?Your mother’s tired, and she won’t go to bed unless you do.”
I held my breath.Caleb had always been highly intelligent and very good at reading people.I thought what he perceived as a betrayal by his father had shaken him.Caleb had always looked up to his father.Though they never had a close relationship because Doug was away much of the time, Caleb loved his father.He’d believed Doug was a good man.To actually see him hitting me had to have messed with the kid something fierce.
Finally, Caleb nodded.“OK.I think that’s reasonable.”
“Thanks, kid.”Riot stuck out his hand to Caleb and my son took it.“Get some rest.We’ll talk tomorrow after breakfast.”
It was only eleven, but I felt like I’d been run over by a truck.I was tired and my insides were battered from the constant emotional trauma and fear.
“Will you do one thing?”Caleb kept hold of Riot’s hand, not letting go when Riot did.
“Name it.”
Caleb tightened his grip even more, his knuckles going white as he gripped Riot’s hand.“I want you to stay here with us tonight.”
Chapter Seven
Riot
I was fucked.I glanced at Violet, who looked as shocked as I did, and I knew I wastotallyfucked.Liketruly and totally fuckedbecause I knew I’d be staying with her tonight and she’d expressly said she didn’t want to stay in an apartment with me.I didn’t care if it meant I’d have to be flayed alive and die of gangrene.There was no way I was not staying with her and Caleb.Why?Because the kid put the idea in my head, and now I couldn’t let it go.The only reason I was trying to keep my distance was because Violet didn’t want me here.
The need to protect them had been riding me hard since the attack at the motel.I was also puzzled as fuck as to why there hadn’t been a better effort to kidnap Caleb and Violet.So yeah.I had questions I couldn’t answer, a woman I wanted to be mine with every breath in my body, and an angry preteen who was more adult than some of the guys here.So, yeah.Fucked.
“I’m not sure that’s the best thing, Caleb.”Violet was practically wringing her hands.Why was she so agitated?
“Mom, stop.”Caleb wasn’t disrespectful.In fact, he stood and wrapped his arms around his mother and hugged her.Violet clung to him the way I wanted her to cling to me.But she didn’t know me.She was trusting me now, probably because she had no other options, but eventually she was going to need to pull back to think about what she wanted and what she and Caleb needed.
I stayed in the background while her son spoke to her.I wanted to know his reasons too.I mean, beyond learning my story.I knew that was what he was pushing toward.The full story.My reasons.My fucking feelings about what I’d done.He was probably going to use my captivity in this apartment as an opportunity to grill me.
“We need him, Mom.”He glanced at me, a guarded expression on his face.“At least for now.You said he’d been better to you in a few hours than Dad had been since you’d married him.”
“Yes, but --”
“You either trust him or you don’t.”Caleb still hugged Violet.“I can’t say I like him yet, but he protected us.He did what he had to do to keep us safe.Just like he promised.I trust him, Mom.I don’t know the other guys here, but I’d rather have Riot close in case Dad manages to get to us.”
Violet stood there for a long moment.When she finally pushed away from Caleb, she gave him an affectionate smile, cupping the side of his face with her hand.“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing here, young man.”
“No clue what you’re talking about, Mom.”Yeah.Judging by the wide grin on his face, the little shit knew exactly what she meant and was enjoying the fact that he’d just won this battle.
“You’re managing me and cornering Riot at the same time.”She turned her head to catch my gaze.There was no amusement, only a silent plea for me to make my story as kid-appropriate as I could.If she knew what I’d done, she’d kick me out and keep me as far away from Caleb as she could.“I’ll leave this up to you, Riot.Caleb’s a kid, but he’s not a child.I know he can handle a lot.Just… I don’t know.Don’t give him nightmares or anything maybe?”
“It’s not that simple, Violet.Besides, Caleb is going to give me until tomorrow.Like he agreed to.”The imp just shrugged.“I know this isn’t what you wanted, but this place is fuckin’ huge.You’ll never know I’m here.”
Violet moved away from her son and toward me in slow, deliberate steps.She reminded me of a curious kitten who knew this was a bad idea but couldn’t seem to stop herself.
When she stood in front of me, she stared at the middle of my chest.I had on a black T-shirt and my cut, but I got the feeling she was trying to see beneath all the layers.Physically and metaphorically.She placed her hand lightly in the middle of my chest.I nearly closed my eyes and sighed in bliss.That simple, gentle touch was the final nail in my coffin.She might never accept me, but I was never leaving her side.If that meant I had to watch while she found someone more appropriate to marry and help raise her son, someone acceptable to society, then I’d do it.If that man hurt her like her husband had, I’d kill the motherfucker.I was going to be this woman’s shadow for the rest of her life or until she told me to go to hell.Even then, I’d probably stick around as long as I could.
“I’m scared, Riot.”Her voice was so soft I barely heard her.“Not of you.I’m scared of what Doug might do.I’m scared for Caleb.I’m scared of what happens next.”Her eyes lifted to mine, those pale blue orbs seeing more than I wanted her to see.“I’ve never been on my own.Not like this.I’ve never had to make decisions like this, and I find I’m ill-equipped because I know the right thing to do is to shove you out the door and stick with my original demand that we not share an apartment.”Her hand rubbed gently, up and down.I got the feeling she was comforting herself in some way.Like maybe the fabric under her hand soothed her.
When she met my gaze again, I knew she was going to let me stay.“But my instinct is telling me I need you here.You feel… I don’t know.Safe?Having you stay here with us might not be the smart thing to do, but I think it’s the right thing.”She cleared her throat and gave a subtle lift of her chin.“So I’d appreciate it if you’d be so kind as to stay with us and watch over both of us while we’re here.”
“You’re not alone now.”I covered her hand with my own.“Even if I’m not in this apartment, I’m never far away.I promise you that.”
