Page 3 of Ballad of Rioting Hearts

“Make room,” he orders the others. Carefully he lifts me in his arms and cradles me close to his chest as he straightens to his full height.

Pain. Instant and complete pain takes over. I start to tremble. The shakes quickly turn violent. Everything hurts.

“I’m going to take you to Sam.” His steady steps rock me. The others flank us, Golden in front, Rook and Bronx taking each side.

Rook peers at me. From what I can see through my good eye, he’s both concerned and angry. “What were you thinking coming down here alone?”

“Way to blame the victim,” I mumble through my fattening lip. What can I say? Sarcasm is my best defense. But honestly, if he wants to blame anyone he can take it up with Riot.

“I don’t think that’s what he was going for,” Bronx says.

“It wasn’t. My apologies.” Rook winces. “Why wasn’t Jasper with you? He should have been.”

Bronx and Kodiak narrow their focus to me.

“That’s a good question,” Golden says, stopping at the elevator and calling it to us.

There’s no point in keeping it to myself. They were going to notice I was gone. They’re going to have to understand why I’m not staying. “I was leaving.”

“No,” Bronx says. “You’re not.”

“You can’t go, Scary Girl.” Kodiak shakes his head.

“You weren’t going to say goodbye?” Golden says the thing that has them all glowering at me.

“I have to.” My teeth chatter. I crane my neck to look at Rook. “It’s not Jasper’s fault. He’s not responsible for me if I leave.”

“I don’t care if you thought you were leaving,” Rook says. “You’re not going anywhere until we deal with this threat.”

“You don’t understand... Riot is engaged to Sonatina.” The immediate danger is over and my heart is broken. Riot has apparently moved on, and I need to too.

The guys exchange looks that all say ‘what the fuck?’.

“It’s probably bullshit,” Bronx says.

“No doubt,” Golden says as the metal doors behind him open.

“I saw the photos. He was down on one knee.” I wanted to hate Riot so much. Why couldn’t I have stuck to my convictions? Why did I let him suck me in again? “He put the ring on her finger himself. It doesn’t matter why.”

Publicity or other. It only matters that it’s true. Those pictures are the reality. He chose to put that ring on her finger; he chose that tramp. And L.A. Riot and Savant Records. How could he say he’s going to fight for us and then turn around and do the one thing he has to be aware would totally destroy me?

How could I ever be okay with that?

We enter the elevator. The doors close.

As much as Riot getting engaged is devastating me, it should be the least of my problems. I can lick my wounds later. Marco won’t lay low for long. He’s coming for me and he’s made it clear he’ll kill my guys. I have to leave. I have to draw Marco away from them. “I can’t stay here when he’s with her.”

“It’s been a long, overwhelming night,” Kodiak says as we ride the elevator up to the suite. “We can talk about it after Sam has seen to your injuries and you’ve gotten some rest.”

I don’t have the energy to argue, and it hurts every time I speak so I gingerly rest my cheek against his chest. The steady thrum of his heartbeat lulls me. Remaining here is tempting, but I can’t see how I can possibly stay.

It’s time to put Riot where he belongs.

In my past.

2

Riot