Page 79 of Riot’s Revenge

That one nearly put me back on my knees.

“Don’t.”

I stopped immediately. “Okay.”

Her eyes snapped to mine, almost like she hadn’t expected me to listen. “I need to go.”

“I know.” I shoved my hands into my pockets.

She turned.

I wanted to stop her, to beg, to ask if any of it made a fucking difference.

“Ria?” She looked back.

“I’m not gonna ask again. I said I’d prove it.” I swallowed past the fucking lump in my throat. “So that’s what I’m gonna do.”

Maria stared at me for a few seconds, then she walked out.

The door closed and nobody spoke.

I stood staring at the empty space where she’d been.

“Fuck,” Ghost finally muttered.

I dragged both hands over my face. “Yeah.”

“No.” He sounded almost impressed. “You got on both knees.”

I slowly turned my head.

Ghost grinned. “Didn’t know you could bend that far, old man.”

“Didn’t you just get stitches? You want more?”

His grin disappeared. “I’m injured. You can’t hit me.”

“Wanna test that theory?”

Reaper started laughing as Ghost backed away slowly.

I settled back at the bar next to Shadow.

Shadow lifted his whiskey toward me. “Told you.”

Two days later, I was sitting at the bar trying very fucking hard not to look at the door.

“She’s coming.” I looked at Ghost.

“Didn’t ask.”

“You’ve checked the door fourteen times.”

“Fuck off.”

“Fifteen.”

I flipped him off. It was Maria’s birthday. I hadn’t organized anything. Hadn’t even known the club was doing something until Shadow told me that morning.