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“Good.” I hold back my smile as I jerk my chin toward the hall to our left. “It’s down there.”
I’m impressed with how quickly she’s adapting to her circumstances. Learning the ropes of this situation she’s put herself in and accepting the parts she’s got no hope of changing. She’s scrappy as hell, I can tell that much, and now that I know a little more about her backstory, I’m starting to get an idea of just how resilient she really is.
She gives me a questioning look before she gets out of the booth, as if she’s waiting to see if I really trust her out of my sight.
I do. I also enjoy watching her ass as she walks away.
This bullshit with West Point becoming more aggressive lately is starting to get to all of us, but even if Maddoc and Logan can’t see it yet, one way or another I’m convinced that having Riley in the mix is gonna be a win for us.
Hell, it already is, since I’m enjoying the fuck out of having her around.
Not just breakfast or even the sex the other night. Just her.
She really is the perfect distraction.
17
RILEY
“Get it fucking together, Riley,”I murmur under my breath, staring into my own eyes in the diner’s chipped bathroom mirror. I’m taking too long in here, and I know it, but I need to get my head on straight before I go back out to Dante.
The light catches my nose ring, making the black faux-diamonds that make up the tiny skull glitter for a second. My gaze drops to the tiny piece of jewelry, a reminder of my sister, and I square my shoulders.
I was getting way too comfortable out there, talking to Dante easily as I went to town on the spread of food he ordered as if eating was going out of style. I actually started to let my guard down, telling him shit that probably would’ve been smarter to keep to myself, so I had to fake a pee emergency just to give myself a moment alone to focus the hell up.
I run my hands under the tap and then dry them off, shooting myself one more narrow-eyed look in the mirror before I leave the bathroom.
Be smart, I remind myself.This whole thing is a dangerous fucking game, and if you don’t keep your head on straight and your guard up, you’ll lose the game before you even learn all the rules.
I’m so busy giving myself a mental pep talk that I don’t watch where I’m going, and as I start to make my way back down the hall toward the main part of the diner, I slam into a large male body.
The man I ran into grunts, catching me by the arms as we’re both knocked off balance.
“Sorry, I—” My words break off as I look up and realize who it is.
Rob.
My ex leers down at me, surprise and amusement flashing across his features as he gives me a full once over.
“Hey, Riley. I haven’t seen you around the club lately. Where’ve you been?” He makes a face almost like a pout. “I hope you haven’t been avoiding me.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter. I haven’t been in the mood for his bullshit ever since we broke up, but that’s especially true today. I move to walk around him as I speak, but he steps to the side, blocking my way again.
“Don’t be that way, baby,” he drawls. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s really not.”
He laughs like I’m joking, then reaches for me again. “I went to Club M last night, but you weren’t on stage. I really wanted to see you. I’ve been missing you.”
I bat his hand away, my temper flaring. “Move, Rob. You’re in my way.”
He holds his hands up apologetically but makes no move to step aside. “Sorry, sorry. But I’m glad I ran into you,” he says, then gives a smarmy grin. “Even ifyou’rethe one who actually ran intome.”
He chuckles like he thinks we’re both in on a joke, and I glower at him. Maybe he can see how completely unamused I am, because he goes on quickly. “Okay, okay, but look. I just wanted to apologize for the other night.”
I give him a blank stare, my mind already moving past this conversation. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t be pissy, Riley.” Rob shakes his head, looking remorseful. “I know I fucked up. I hurt you. I never meant for you to see me and Kiki like that.”
