Page 123 of Ride or Die

Not now, don’t leave.

“I’m sorry. I have to deal with this. Stay here.” Saint pushed off the wall, and Riley reached for him, grabbing his shirt in her hands.

“Please don’t go.” The fabric stretched between them. He looked down, caught her hands, and pulled them open.

“Saint, please…” She was crying in earnest now. He looked at her, face impassive, and pulled away.

He moved to the bedside drawer.

“I’ll be right back,” he said, even as he slid a handgun into the back of his jeans. The black metal looked cold against his skin. He pulled his t-shirt out to cover it. “You’re going to be fine.”

Not we.

You.

The room blurred, and she couldn’t breathe.

For the first time since she’d met him, he was lying to her.

The bedroom door closed, and she crumpled to the floor, her sobs like razor wire.

Dust twirled in the sun, and the bed was rumpled. The computer screen absorbed the light, just like his eyes.

She forced a deep breath into her lungs. Salt dripped into her mouth, and she scrubbed her face on the bottom of her t-shirt. She had to be smart about this.

Meltdown later.

Her phone was in the kitchen, and she needed it. Maybe someone could help. They could call the police. Something. Anything.

Riley missed her dad.

Her breath rasped in the room as she pulled everything together, winding the feelings back into her chest.

She pressed her back against the brick wall, knees pulled up, and fought for every breath she got.

Chapter 38

Riley

“Sorry, doll.”

The bedroom door opened, and Wheeler ushered Kristi inside, pushing her gently. Cookie trotted in behind them.

“No, I want to see—Wheeler!”

Riley tuned Kristi out.

He shouldn’t have left.

Through Wheeler’s legs, the loft was empty. The rumble of engines was just barely audible.

“Babe…” Kristi’s voice sounded far away.

“I’m fine.”

Kristi crossed her arms and paced as Wheeler closed the door behind him, standing in front of it.

Riley’s heart thudded in time with her footsteps.