Page 74 of Bound By Blood and Lies

Fuck.

How did it get to this? None of it lines up with the man I thought I knew. The fact Riggs called it weeks ago sits bitter on my tongue. I was so focused on pointing the blame anywhere but him that I didn’t even look properly at what was right in front of me. How does a man go from wiping your tears when you graze a knee to becoming the reason the people you love are in danger?

I lean over the table, bracing my hands against the wood as Atlas works. The glow from his screens reflects across his face whilst lines of data shift faster than most people could follow. We’ve been at it for hours. I’ve managed to narrow it down to three safe houses he could be at. Money is bouncing between so many different places and countries it’s impossible to track cleanly. He’s deliberately muddying the trail.

“That was my guy. The safe house in Kent is empty,” Victor says with a sigh.

“Fuck’s sake,” Riggs mutters from the sofa, flicking his lighter open and closed.

I straighten slowly, dragging a hand across my mouth as I look at the screen again. “Keep eyes on it.”

Victor makes a humming noise in the back of his throat that I’m going to take asyes sir.

“You good, Roman?” Riggs asks and I raise an eyebrow. Out of all the stupid shit Riggs has ever said, this has to be by far the worst.

“I’m peachy,” I deadpan and Riggs flicks the lighter again before glancing up at me.

“You look like shit,” he says with a shrug. “You’re a bit pale. Slightly murdery. It’s not your best look honestly.” I frown at him. “I’m surprised it hasn’t scared Fae off.”

“Careful,” Victor mutters.

“What? It’s just an observation,” Riggs replies. “If he kills me, at least it’ll break the tension in here. Honestly, the stress is making me fucking itch.”

Atlas snorts under his breath, still typing as I exhale slowly. Riggs continues to watch me before he leans back into the sofa.

“Also, if we’re all going to sit here silently spiralling, I’d like to formally opt out. It’s not my vibe.”

“Not your vibe?” I repeat. “You always spiral.”

“No I fucking don’t,” Riggs tuts. “I distract people, Roro. It’s a very different skill set.”

“You distract people because you spiral,” Felix mutters as he walks in, setting a tray of drinks down on the table.

“Exactly,” I say, nodding toward him.

“That is not true,” Riggs snaps, sitting forward like he’s been personally attacked.

“It’s so true that it should be written into The Company’s laws,” Atlas says.

“Could you imagine?” Felix picks up a drink. “Law 3046: when Riggs spirals, let him distract people.”

“Everyone would end up naming their children Riggs,” I cross my arms over my chest.

“I can see it now. Imagine little girls all running around whilst their mum shouts ‘Riggs, don’t cut your sister’s hair!’” Atlas chuckles.

Riggs’ nostrils flare as his eyes bounce between us. The wild mess of his blonde hair and the look in his eyes sends an inappropriate smile to my lips, and before I can stop it, a laugh breaks out of me. It catches the others too. Riggs flushes, going almost red before snapping the lighter shut and gripping it in his hand.

“Carry on, fuckers,” he mutters.

“Definitely spiralling,” Atlas adds.

I bark out another laugh as the tension finally shifts, loosening its grip just enough that the headache behind my eyes eases. The sound of footsteps pulls my attention, and I turn as my mum walks into the lounge with Fae and Robyn beside her.

My eyes find Fae immediately.

They move over every mark and bruise still visible against her skin. My jaw hardens at the memory of us last night. My beautiful Tink’s back has been destroyed. It is a patchwork of welts, scars and cuts. As if the internal damage isn’t enough, she now has something she’s going to carry externally long after this is over.

I hate it.