Page 141 of Ride or Die

She blinked. Never mind what?

Saint’s face was carefully blank while his hand tightened on her shoulder. Riley didn’t think he knew he was doing it.

He always knew what he was doing.

Something like resignation flashed in Wheeler’s eyes, and Aaron swirled the ice cube around his glass, looking down but clearly aware of whatever they were talking about.

Riley was missing something. Something important. Critical.

Riley knew the four of them were plenty dangerous.

She just didn’t think they were to her.

Saint met her eyes, and guilt flashed in the depths as he brushed over the healing bruise on her upper arm.

I didn’t, but I would have.

I called him. I needed help with something.

The hollow feeling tugged at Riley’s spine.

“And… she’s got it.” Dante’s words were mocking, and he put his hands together in a slow clap. A smile pulled at his lips, like the one he’d probably had when the docks exploded. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re welcome.”

Riley lurched to her feet, and Saint caught the chair before it toppled to the floor.

Jesus. Christ. Dante killed Gio and then blew up the docks—why?

“You’re a piece of shit,” Wheeler said to Dante with an uncharacteristic bite in his voice.

Dante put his hand over his chest. “You wound me.”

Aaron watched Riley with his midnight eyes, calm and wary.

“Why?” Riley asked, turning to face Dante. “Why should I be thanking you?” She needed to hear him say it.

Saint watched her, sitting perfectly still while his pulse pounded in his throat. It looked like it was going the same rate as hers.

Cookie barked, and gravel crunched outside.

“For fuck’s sake,” Saint muttered and shoved to his feet. He glanced at the alert on his phone and then the open entry above the stairs.

“I’ll go see who it is.” Wheeler was up and down the stairs in seconds. Saint opened his mouth, then closed it.

Riley’s stomach clenched as Saint slowly sat back down and returned his gaze to hers. “It’s all you, Ri,” he murmured.

Just like he had in the shower after Gio. Just like every other time he’d comforted her or made her laugh or held her through a nightmare. Her chest was on fire.

It was her choice how she handled this. It always was.

She could feel Dante’s black eyes on her.

“Breathe, sweet girl. It’s going to be okay.” Saint’s voice was barely audible.

Saint’d had Gio killed, for her. I’ll always keep you safe.

Dante smirked, a grim satisfaction baring his teeth.

Saint had solved this. For her.