Page 76 of Riot’s Revenge

“Proof.”

“And?”

“And what?” I turned to look at him. Shadow and I had been friends for years but had never had a talk like that.

“Give her some.”

I looked at him. “That’s your advice?”

He grunted. “Everybody in this club knows how you lived before Maria.”

My jaw tightened. “So did she.”

“Yeah, maybe. Difference is, you acted like she was your woman and carried on acting like you weren’t her man.”

That shut me up, because he was right and I fucking hated that he was right.

“You want her to believe she’s different?”

“Yeah.”

“Then show her.”

“How?”

Shadow looked genuinely irritated. “Christ, Riot.” He knocked back his whiskey. “Woman wants to know you choose her? Fuckin’ choose her.”

My eyes shifted toward the hallway.

“And make sure everybody knows it.”

I slowly looked back at him. “You realize that might be the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Tell anyone and I’ll fuckin’ deny it.”

The hallway door opened, Maria walked out with Ghost behind her. His hand was wrapped in enough bandages to make it look twice its normal size.

“He needed stitches,” she said. “Keep it clean and dry.”

“Yes, Nurse.”

“And if you pull them out doing something stupid, don’t call me.”

Ghost looked offended. “What if I pull them out doing something clever?”

Maria stared at him.

Reaper snorted. “Don’t worry. Ain’t gonna happen.”

“Fuck you.”

Maria shook her head, but she was smiling. Then she moved toward the door. My stomach dropped. She was leaving, I couldn’t let her leave, I needed to do something. I was moving before I worked out what.

“Maria.”

She stopped and turned around. Her eyes darting around the room and back to me.

“Can we talk?”