Page 16

RIOT

Sleep didn’t come to me last night.

I stayed up with her on my mind. Work on my mind. But mostly her.

After Allure went to bed, I sat in the leather chair by the window in my office, watching the moon shift across the sky. My body was still, but my mind wouldn’t shut the fuck up.

I’d hit my boy Von right after we got in last night. “Yo, has Boaz Haim’s compound been hit?”

It was a while before he responded but I knew he would get to me eventually.

Von was one of the few people in law enforcement I actually trusted.

We’d grown up in the same streets, ran different corners of the same city, but ended up on opposite sides of the badge.

Still, loyalty was deeper than occupation, and he’d proven himself enough times for me to call him when shit got real.

Besides, I kept him on payroll and he was paid generously.

At 6:07 a.m., his name lit up my phone. I answered before the second ring.

“Sup. Man, they hit that place around 2:00am,” he said, voice rough like he hadn’t slept either. “Full force with a swat team. Kicked in every door and swept every inch.”

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, heart beating slow but heavy. “And?”

“It’s bad. Seven girls, locked up.”

I closed my eyes.

Von wasn’t done.

“They found a stash of weapons—some imported, some untraceable. Fully automatic shit. Scopes. Silencers. Grenades. And a vault of narcotics. Cocaine. Fentanyl. Designer pills. Like a cartel bunker. They also had cages of rare animals in the back—some endangered. Like it was a damn zoo for psychopaths.”

I exhaled through my nose and rubbed the back of my neck.

“And the girls?” I asked.

“They’re safe. Got them transported to a trauma recovery center. They’ve contacted a few families already. Others’ll take time.”

“What about Boaz?”

“Still in the hospital. Cuffed to the bed. Under armed guard. His entire crew’s been detained. Not one of them made it out clean.”

Good.

“You snitched?” he asked.

“Fuck no. Boaz was good for business,” I laughed.

“How’d you know about call we got?”

“He was keeping a girl there, she got out and she called it in. She asked for my help. Is there anyway you can thwart them finding out who made the call?” I asked, hoping my number didn’t come up.

“Yeah, I’ll work on it.”

“Aight, bet. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Peace.”

I ended the call with a clipped thanks and shoved the phone onto the counter.

There was a knock on the door.

Three short taps, I could tell it was

“Come in,” I called.

Madeira stepped inside, dressed in her soft linen robe.

“You look troubled,” she said, eyeing me with a raised brow.

I leaned back in the chair, letting out a slow exhale. “Rough night.”

Her eyes drifted toward the direction of my bedroom.

“She still asleep?”

“I haven’t checked on her yet.”

“Give her a couple more hours,” Madeira said. “She needs rest. So do you.”

“She’s been through a lot.”

“And so have you,” she replied. “But you ain’t never brought a woman here before. What makes her so special?”

I didn’t answer right away. Allure was the first woman I’ve ever allowed in my space and that was saying a lot. I was super protective over who I allowed in my sanctuary.

This wasn’t a space for women. Not the ones I slept with. Not the ones who begged to get close. After what happened with Malia, I made a promise to myself—I wouldn’t let another woman bring chaos to my door, ever again. This place was supposed to be untouched. Clean. Sacred.

But Allure?

I welcomed her chaos. There was something about her that I couldn’t turn away from. I needed to save her. I needed to look after her.

There was something about her presence from the ==moment I laid my eyes on her. She brought the kind of peace I didn’t know I needed until I saw her curled up in that bed wearing my t-shirt, looking like a secret I wanted to keep forever.

“She needed safety,” I said finally. “And I knew she’d have it here.”

Madeira didn’t press. She just nodded once, like she already understood.

“I’ll get started on breakfast around 9.” she said. “You should go check on her.”

When the door clicked shut behind her, I sat there for a minute longer, staring at the closed laptop on my desk, at the untouched glass of water at my side.

I stood, stretched the tightness from my shoulders, and headed to the bathroom, where I took a hot shower to wash the night off. I knew shit was about to rev up—and it was gonna get crazy real soon.

When I stepped out of the shower, I checked my phone. There it was. The revving up. Rollo had called me three times, So, I called him back.

“Yo!” he answered.

“Nigga, it’s too early for you to be blowin’ up my phone,” I said, trying to play it cool. But I already knew why he was calling.

“My girl is freaking the fuck out. She’s been losin’ it all night. That thick chick she came with? She’s missing. And I know I saw you talkin’ to her at the party. You were the last one seen with her. You know where she is?”

“Yep.”

“Where is she? I need to come get her and bring her back to Irina.”

“She’s with me—and she’s stayin’ with me,” I said, sharp.

“Why? What are you talkin’ about?”

“She ain’t goin’ back to Boaz, aight? Besides, that nigga is under arrest,” I said, rubbing my chin.

“Did you have somethin’ to do with that? You ain’t no snitchin’-ass nigga,” he barked.

“Nah. That wasn’t me. But he is under arrest. So is his crew.”

“Yeah, but you know he’s gonna get outta that shit sooner or later. Irina’s gonna be in trouble if she don’t get her back.”

“Irina’s gon’ be aight. Because I’m gonna kill Boaz, take out his crew—and you’re gonna help me.”

“Nigga... you tryna start a war.”

“Nah. I’m tryna end one.”

He let out a low laugh, but I could hear the wheels turnin’.

“The King family’s always had a complicated relationship with the Israelis. I was surprised when you started sellin’ animals to that man,” he said.

“Yeah, that was a lil side hobby. Shit’s been chill between us the last few years. But I gotta protect Allure and those other girls. So it is what it is,” I shrugged.

“Aight, man. I’ll keep you posted on Irina and what she hears from her family. We’ll link soon and put a plan together.”

“Bet.”

We ended the call, and a smirk spread across my face. Rollo was loyal—and I appreciated that. When it was time to ride, he was gonna be there.

After that call, I got some work done and decided to check on her. I grabbed a towel and a few things for her to freshen up. The door was still cracked, soft morning light spilling in across the floorboards. When I stepped inside, the sight of her made me pause.

She was on her side, arm curled beneath her head, lips parted slightly as she slept. My t-shirt was twisted around her hips, baring just enough skin to undo me. There was something about her in this light—unguarded, vulnerable, real.

And mine. Even if she didn’t know it yet.

I stepped closer, my voice low. “Morning.”

Her eyes fluttered open slowly. She blinked, disoriented for half a second, then rubbed her face and pushed herself up, gathering the blanket around her.

“You sleep okay?” I asked.

She gave a tired smile. “Not really.”

“Why not?”

“I just…” She trailed off, then shook her head. “Never mind.”

“Here,” I said, handing her a towel, a toothbrush still in the case, and a washcloth. “I figured you might want to freshen up.”

She took the items carefully, eyes lifting to mine. “Thank you.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her face closely. “You don’t have to worry about the girls right now. They’ve been freed and they’re okay.”

Her brow furrowed. “Really?”

“Yeah. Boaz and his crew have been arrested. It probably won’t stick but you’re safe for now. I ain’t gon let shit else happen to you.”

The tears came fast. Her shoulders shook, but she didn’t sob. She just pressed her lips together and let her eyes spill. It was like watching a dam crack—quiet but powerful.

“Thank you. I’m so relieved.”

“Yeah, you can chill out today. I have everything here at the compound. If you want, I can take you to the mall later. I know you don’t want to be living in my sweatpants and shirts.”

She looked down at her self and laughed.

“It’s been years since I’ve been in a mall. I don’t think I’m ready to go out in that crowd yet.”

“Cool, no rush. Whatever you need, holla at me and I’ll help you.”

“I need to shower,” she announced.

I grinned. “I’ll join you.”

She shot me a look.

I laughed, holding my hands up. “Relax. Not today. But soon. For now, just go wash up. Madeira’s cooking, and she doesn’t like reheating shit.”

She stood slowly, then walked toward the bathroom, her bare feet silent against the floor.

I watched her go, something tight in my chest unwinding just a little.

She was safe.

But I knew this was only the beginning.