Page 18

RIOT

And that shit was dangerous. I was not in a place to be falling for someone.

Besides, I barely knew the girl. She could end up being on some fake shit like Malia.

But there was something in her eyes that let me know that wasn’t going to be the case.

And I was more mature now. I’d been around the block and seen enough shit.

I can sniff out when someone is on some bullshit, easily.

There wasn’t too much that got past me these days. Aside from all of that. I was just happy that I had gotten her out. And that those other girls were out without me having to run up on that crazy ass compound Boaz has.

But the problems weren’t over. I still had to kill him but I knew that once he got out of jail, he would be laying low in a more humble home. That one would be easier to infiltrate.

After our almost-kiss , my dick got hard, thinking about the things I wanted to do to her thick chocolate body.

But I was going to be respectful. She was a virgin and I wanted her to choose me willingly.

In fact, I wanted her to beg for it. I was not gonna put the pressure on her. I couldn’t live with that on my head.

What am I doing? We just fuckin’ met. I needed to give that woman space. I was so conflicted about it. I wanted her the moment I saw her.

I stepped out of the garden to answer the phone. Madeira had popped up like the fairy godmother of bad timing, and now I was walking through my own damn house trying to cool off like a teenager who just got caught dry humping on the couch.

She handed me my phone and mouthed sorry.

“Thanks,” I said to her.

“Yo,” I spoke to my brother.

“Took your sweet ass time,” Creed’s voice hit my ear.

“You know my house bigger than yours,” I laughed.

“Oh you got jokes. You callin’ me broke?” He laughed.

“Nah, but what’s up?” I asked.

“What happened last night? Rollo hit me up and said that you kidnapped some girl.”

“Nah, that is not what happened at all. So, at the party last night…” I told him the story of Boaz, Allure and how I got her out of there.

I leaned against the marble counter in the hallway as I explained everything to him.

“So Boaz and his son are under arrest right now…” I continued.

“You snitched?”

I scoffed. “C’mon, nigga. You know me better than that.”

“Just had to ask. I know I told you to grow up but I ain’t know how you were gonna take it.”

“She actually made the call before I could stop her,” I said. “But I had Von cover her trail. Ain’t nobody know where she is or that it was her.”

Creed sighed on the other end. “Boaz will make bail. Probably by the end of the week. You know how these muhfuckas move. He got enough money to grease a thousand palms.”

“I know,” I muttered. “That’s why we gotta get to him before he gets to her. ‘Cause if he finds her first? He ain’t takin’ her back. He’s killin’ her.”

There was a heavy pause. Then Creed said, “We’ll handle it. We’ll be ready. And Riot—real talk? I’m proud of you. You’re steppin’ up. You growin’ the fuck up, finally.”

I smirked. “About damn time, huh?”

“Yeah. Just don’t let your dick get you killed.”

“Never that.”

“I’ll be in touch. Talk to you later.”

“Aight.”

I lowered the phone, still half-smiling, then looked up to find Madeira standing at the end of the hallway. Arms crossed. Head tilted.

“What?” I asked.

She didn’t say anything at first. Just stared me down with that same squinted look she always gave me when I was doing some shit she didn’t expect.

“What?” I repeated.

“I haven’t seen you do something for a woman since Malia,” she said, voice soft but pointed.

My chest went still.

“She needed help,” I replied.

“Plenty of people need help. You don’t usually stick your hand out unless it’s for family.”

I walked past her, heading back toward the garden while shrugging my shoulders.

Madeira followed, slow and steady. “So what makes her different?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“But I’m willing to see,” I said.

Her face shifted. A little surprised. Maybe a little proud. She nodded and didn’t say anything else.

She just picked up her purse and headed toward the back door.

“I’ll be running errands today and I’m going to check on your mother,” she said. “Try not to burn the house down while I’m gone.”

I watched her go, then headed back outside to the garden, to get Allure but she was walking back in.

I watched Madeira disappear out the back door, the sound of it clicking shut echoing louder than it should’ve.

I turned, ready to head back to the garden to find Allure—my nerves still buzzing from that almost-kiss. But just as I reached the hallway, there she was. Stepping back inside, her eyes catching mine like she’d been looking for me too.

“Hey,” she said softly. I could see that she felt it too. I didn’t say anything at first.

I just stood there, letting myself feel that flicker of something I wasn’t ready to name.

And then I motioned for her to follow me.

“Come on,” I said. “Wanna show you something.”

Because yeah—I was willing to see.

And maybe… just maybe… I was ready for what came next.

She didn’t ask where we were going. Just fell in step beside me like she belonged there.

I led her down the left wing of the house, past the library, past the second sitting room, until we reached a thick steel door with a keypad.

I punched in the code and opened it, revealing a room lined with tech—monitors, servers, MacBooks, encrypted routers, shit that only a few people in the world could understand or had access to.

“This is my tech room” I said, stepping aside so she could enter. “Don’t let the nerd setup fool you—this room controls most of the security feeds for the property. It’s where I keep eyes on everything.”

Her lips parted as she stepped in slowly, eyes darting across the screens and gear. “It looks like the CIA in here.”

I chuckled. “Something like that.”

I walked over to the corner desk and slid one of the MacBooks her way.

“You can use this while I’m gone. It’s clean.

Secure. But don’t log into anything with your real name.

Keep it light. Don’t tell anyone where you are, not even your family.

Boaz has money and muscle. His people may try to reach out to your family to get at you. ”

She turned to me, serious now. “I understand. I won’t.”

“I’m not trying to scare you,” I said. “But we’re not in the clear yet. You’re safe as long as nobody knows you’re here. And I intend to keep it that way.”

She nodded, gripping the laptop with both hands. “Thank you, Riot. For all of this.”

I didn’t say nothin’. Just looked at her. Really looked.

Her face was calm but I saw the storm under it—the fear, the hope, the confusion. She’d been through hell and was still standing. That alone made her dangerous in the best way.

“There’s more,” I said, leading her out of the office and down the next hall. I hit a hidden switch and a dark panel slid open to reveal a theater room—full screen, plush seating, sound system that’d rattle your chest.

Her eyes lit up. “Wow.”

I smirked. “Yeah. If you get bored while I’m out, you can chill in here. Popcorn’s in the cabinet.”

She grinned. “You’re really spoiling me.”

“Just a lil hospitality.”

She tilted her head. “Is this what you do for all the girls you rescue?”

I stepped closer, just enough to make her breath catch. “Nah. Just you.”

Her smile faded into something softer, heavier. And that tension? That shit was back. Pressing against the moment like it wanted to be kissed.

But I stepped back before it could go further.

“I gotta run some errands,” I said, breaking the spell. “Shouldn’t be gone too long.”

She nodded, eyes still locked on mine. “Okay.”

“I’ll bring you back something,” I added. “Anything you want?”

She hesitated. “Surprise me.”

I nodded, then turned to leave.

But before I reached the door, I paused and looked back.

“Allure?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t open that front gate for nobody. You hear me?”

Her expression turned serious again. “I hear you.”

And that was enough for now.

I left her standing in the glow of that theater room, surrounded by the kind of peace she was just starting to trust—and maybe… starting to believe she deserved.