Page 108 of Ride or Die

So fucked.

The air dropped twenty degrees where she stood. “How—? I deleted everything.”

“He can recover it easily. Nothing on your work account is private.” Kristi spoke quickly.

Nico watched them with a slight smile on his face. He sat alone.

“We have to go—”

“We’ll say hi, stay calm, say there are people waiting for us. Then we can go.”

“I haven’t been back to work since Gio—” Riley hissed, fingers digging into Kristi’s arm. “I’ve been ‘sick.’”

Kristi flashed her teeth as her lips tipped up. “We’ll make it quick. Professional.”

“This isn’t one of your fucking spy movies.”

Kristi’s smile was dangerous. “I’m going to destroy him. I just want to look at his face before I do.”

“Kristi—no.”

“We’re okay, Riley. It’s a public establishment. Nothing is going to happen.” Kristi leaned closer to her and caught her chin, pulling her away from Nico’s gaze. “It’s going to be fine. We’re together, and we’ll stay together. No matter what.”

Riley sucked in a breath and inhaled Kristi’s perfume. The shimmer of panic darkened the edges of her vision. Or maybe that was just the low lighting. She folded her arms and gripped her elbows.

She could handle this. There wasn’t another option.

Kristi had locked eyes with Nico, a faint smile flickering around her mouth.

Riley took a deep breath and forced herself not to hold it. This was residual fear from the stairwell. Nothing bad was happening at this moment. Gio wasn’t here.

Riley was strong and capable.

“Let’s go say hi, this is getting weird now.” Kristi stepped forward, smooth and confident. Riley’s nails bit into her skin. Walking towards the fear was—categorically—a terrible decision. Saint wasn’t here. No one knew where they were. This was dumb.

Riley reached forward to grab Kristi’s elbow. “K, wait—”

Kristi was already too far ahead.

Fuckfuckfuck.

Riley tipped the rest of her drink into her mouth and threw her shoulders back. She could pretend she was fine. She was good at that.

She had to be.

Her legs didn’t wobble as she stepped away from the bar, and she forced out a breath.

The sultry beat seeped into her pores, toxic and sweet, and even though she knew everything about this was wrong, she could see it. Striding across the VIP lounge, designer dress flashing, catching the eye of everyone they passed.

It wasn’t her.

We’re here now.

She forced herself to relax and followed Kristi.

Nico flowed to his feet, and his dark suit and darker gaze surrounded them like the cologne he wore.

“Bella, I didn’t expect you,” he murmured before he kissed the air next to her cheek. “What a surprise. Will you both join me for a drink?”