Page 25 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

“I’ll get it sorted,” Pascal says resignedly.

“Thanks,” I bite out and hang up. Then I turn on my own car and follow her out onto the road, follow her to the entrance from the freeway, then follow her all the way to Brooks’s apartment.

It’s overkill likely, but only when she turns into the parking garage beneath his building do I head over to my place.

Years of being taught to be hyper-vigilant.

To grasp at any measure of control.

Clinging to the desperate illusion that if I watch enough angles and calculate enough outcomes, no one I care about will ever get hurt again.

The Lyon world trained that into me young.

Protect mine first.

Emotions can come later.

Otherwise weak spots are exploited and pain is dished out and violence is the only currency that they understand.

My phone buzzes, reminding me of a meeting.

Sighing, I tuck it away, hurry through taking a shower and getting dressed.

“Meow!” Violet protests when I head for the door.

Warmth spreads through my chest…quickly chased by guilt. “Sorry, cat,” I mutter, picking her up before she can claw the shit out of me. “I might not be home tonight either.”

If Briar can’t convince River to stay, I know exactly where I’ll be.

In that small but cozy apartment.

Hopefully eating some delicious food.

And then sitting on that couch, maybe inching closer to River instead of being pushed up against the opposite end, trying not to frighten her.

Maybe she’ll even let me pick the movie this time.

“Meow,” Violet says—or vocalizes—or whatever.

My phone buzzes again.

This time not to remind me of a meeting, but to warn me of another fucking cyber-attack.

“Christ,” I grit out, shoving it back into my pocket and scratching Violet beneath her chin before setting her on her feet and heading for the door.

I’ll take that meeting. I’ll do the work I need to.

Then every spare moment, every spare employee at my company is going to be used to figure out a way to end the Lyons.

Because this shit—the terror they cause, the pain, the suffering and rage, their power—has to be finished.

And it can’t end with River caught in the crosshairs.

I’m going to make certain of it.

Nine

River