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Kai moves behind me. “Okay, since you’ve never played this, I’m going to go underwater, and you’re going to get on my shoulders, same as Des. Once we’re standing straight up, you’ll try to push her off Anna’s shoulders, and she’ll do the same.” I nod my head, ready to get this shit on.

“And, GO!” Kai dips under the water. I part my legs for him to swim under, and he grips my thighs, placing me on his shoulders before standing up. I sway as he comes out of the water. I look to see Destiny and Anna trying to balance themselves, both of them bickering.

Once they balance, Kai walks towards them. “Okay, girls, fight!” Kai roars, and we both lean forward at the same time. Destiny and I lock hands, trying our hardest to push each other off. My thighs tighten slightly, trying to keep my balance, and he moves around to keep me on him.

It takes a few minutes before someone goes down. I see Des getting tired; her arms droop slightly. I give one last hard push, my own strength diminishing, and she falls off, taking Anna with her with a big splash.

I throw my hands in the air and squeal. Kai goes underwater again, and I swim off him. Once he comes back up, we high-five, water splashing everywhere.

We move inside shortly after, all huddled in my room like always. My room is our main hangout spot. It’s always clean, en-suite bathroom, and I have a mini fridge, so it’s given we spend all our time in here. Kai sits at my TV, playing some shooter game while we girls paint each other’s nails.

I’m so grateful for this group. They have given me a sense of life. A purpose to live. I think they saved me, because I don’t know how I would pick myself up after Dmitri’s declaration.

I miss him. I wish I could even text him. His number is still in my phone, but it sits there untouched. He hasn’t texted me, and I haven’t texted him. He doesn’t need me; I’ll show him I don’t need him. I can’t let my feelings take over everything. He moved on, so will I.

*This book is an advance reader copy and is to not be distributed anywhere. [email protected]*

23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Blow - KE$HA

Riot

One Month Later

I watch her through the manor cameras. I see everything she does. I have one installed at every corner and turn. I’m able to see every inch of the manor. Unknown to her, there is also one in her bedroom. Not in her bathroom, I’m not a monster. I have a little decency.

She and her friends hang out there a lot. I don’t like how she always has them in her space, but she and I are different concerning boundaries. I know she doesn’t sleep well. I see her toss and turn. I see the bags under her eyes, the droop of her body after a fairly bad night. Her friends seem to perk her right up, bring a light to her that I’ve never seen before.

I know she can drive her car now, cause the GPS in it is constantly on the move. The GPS on her bike is starting to move more, telling me she’s getting more confident in her riding.

I’ve heard through multiple people that she fully talks now. I’ve heard her voice through the cameras. It echoes down the halls, her laugh ringing in my ears, haunting my dreams. I hate that I left, but I didn’t have a choice.

That night, Marcus threatened her. He said that she is my weakness, which is true, but I couldn’t let him believe that. His words were laced with venom, trying his best to poison me.

Rushing out to the foyer, I see Viktor pointing a gun at a random man. Three men stand behind him with guns pointed at Viktor, and now me.

“Riot, meet Marcus. Marcus, meet Riot,” Viktor growls. Marcus looks over at me and smiles.

“Nice to meet you!” He grins.

“I wish I could say the same,” I rasp, pulling out my gun and pointing it at him.

“I hear you have yourself a little girlfriend now,” he grins. Every muscle in my body tenses. I need to protect Penelope. Nothing can happen to her. I won’t fucking allow it.

“I’d like to have a formal meeting to discuss what you would like. In Russia. I have some business there.”

“This could’ve been an email,” I growl.

“Well, here I am. Too bad your girlfriend wasn’t here. I would’ve loved to meet her,” he chuckles. “I bet her pussy would be as pretty as that face. I saw her at the mall one time with your mother.” His words ring out in my head, the rage still bubbling.

She is my biggest weakness. I can’t stop thinking about her, wanting to talk to her, fuck her, be with her. I just want her. I want to wake up next to her with her hair all over my, our, bed.

I moved to Russia to get away from her, to really show Marcus she isn’t mine, but she is. She’ll always be mine. It’s been hell here, being back in this house, this room. My father’s office is now my office.

I can hear the whip slashing my back, the fists beating my face, the fists beating Mama. I can hear Viktor’s little cries when he walks in the room from having a bad nightmare, for them to come to life in front of him. Me, bent over the desk, the whip slashing my skin, his knife digging in the back of my thighs.