Page 26

RIOT

It had been a few days since that night in the pool.

Since her soft kiss turned something on in me I hadn’t felt in years—maybe ever. Since she let me hold her under the stars like I was more than a weapon, like I was something worthy. And since then, I’d been walking a tightrope.

Because I couldn’t afford to lose my focus. Not now.

Not when the Haim family’s bail hearing was around the corner.

Not when Boaz, Avi, and the rest of that sick-ass crew were about to face a system designed to protect men like them.

I’ve seen men like them win many time before.

Their lawyers were high-powered and shameless.

The kind of men who could get a serial killer off on a technicality and then toast about it over steak.

Boaz was going to be out on bail soon.

I felt it in my gut. The court was just a formality.

And I couldn’t let my guard down. I had to protect Allure like my life depended on it. There was something about her that invoked my inner protector. She was worthy of being cared for and kept safe.

But I was keeping my pace with her. As bad as I wanted her body, I respected the fact that she was still a virgin and didn’t want to use her. I wanted her to be absolutely sure when she gave her self to me.

The last few days we’ve been getting to know each other more. She told me all about her dreams of being a fashion designer and wanting to create a legacy out of that.

I was determined to help her with that and whatever else she needed. I really liked her. I was claiming her. I ain’t give a fuck if we had just met. From the moment I laid eyes on her at Boaz’s compound I had been taken by her.

She was in the kitchen when I came down, wearing a pair of pink joggers I had bought her.

They were tight, holding her curves, like I wished I could do all day.

But I had work to get too. Her dark hair was up, lips slick with gloss, looking like sin served on a silver spoon.

She didn’t see me at first, too focused on peeling a blood orange at the counter, her eyes narrowed in concentration, tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek.

I watched her a second longer than I meant to.

Goddamn.

She looked so good even in joggers.

“Hey,” I said, voice low as I stepped closer.

She looked up, smiling soft. “Hey.”

I walked up behind her, leaned over her shoulder, and kissed her temple. My hand grazed her hip as I reached around her for a glass, and she didn’t move—just leaned into me like she liked the weight of me there.

“I gotta meet Abra in a bit,” I told her. “She’s helping coordinate the open house at the vineyard. We need to iron out some details.”

She turned in my arms, orange slice still between her fingers. “I’d love to see it one day”

“You will. You’ll be there for the open house,” I said.

She nodded. “You think… Boaz is gonna get out soon?”

“Yeah,” I said simply. “Definitely this week.”

The softness in her face shifted for just a second, but she caught herself. I could see the fear under her calm. She hated the idea of that man breathing the same air as her, let alone being free.

I brushed a thumb across her jaw. “You ain’t gotta worry about him. I meant what I said—I’m not lettin’ shit happen to you. Not while I’m breathing.”

She looked up at me then, slow and deep, like she was trying to memorize my face. “You always this protective of girls you just met?”

“Nope.”

Her smile widened, but her voice dropped. “Why me?”

I dipped my head, mouth hovering over hers. “Because you’re mine now.”

And then I kissed her.

Not soft.

Not careful.

I kissed her like I meant it. Like I had every right. Like I was done pretending I didn’t want her.

She gasped just a little when I pulled her closer, her hands wrapping around my neck. I felt her grip tighten in my shirt, her mouth opening beneath mine, the heat between us spiking. I slid my tongue across hers, slow and steady, deep enough to make her sigh into me.

Her body pressed against mine, soft and warm, and all I could think about was how good she felt. How right. Her fingers curled at the base of my neck, tugging just enough to make my control slip for half a second.

I pulled back, breathing hard. “Damn.”

She licked her lips, eyes hooded. “You’re the one who said we had to take it slow.”

“Yeah, well,” I smirked, “you keep kissing me like that and slow’s gonna turn into a sprint.”

She laughed. Threw her head back, light and breathless. That laugh hit me in the chest harder than her kiss had.

I leaned down and pressed one last kiss to her neck before grabbing my keys off the counter. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Try not to miss me too much.”

“No promises,” she said, biting her bottom lip.

I walked out of there smiling, heart pounding like I was eighteen again.

Yeah.

I was in trouble.

Big fucking trouble.

The ride upstate to King’s Vine was smooth, but my mind stayed twisted in knots.

Even with the wind cutting through the windows and the silence of the road, I couldn’t shake the way she looked at me when I said she was mine. Like it meant something. Like I meant something. That kind of shit didn’t just land on me—it burrowed in, settled somewhere deep.

I couldn’t afford distractions, but fuck, Allure was already a fixture in my chest. And after all the shit I’ve done, could I really have someone as pure as her? Was I deserving?

By the time I pulled into the gravel lot behind the main house at the vineyard, Abra was pacing in front of the long glass doors.

She had her iPad tucked under her arm, a her AirPods in, and a permanent frown etched across her face.

Her tight curls were up in a puff, edges laid but starting to lift.

I knew that look. She was running on fumes.

“Don’t say it,” she muttered the second I stepped out the car.

“I wasn’t gonna,” I smirked.

“Liar.”

“You right. You look rough baby girl,” I laughed as she playfully pushed me.

“I work hard and my homegirl Irina has been driving me crazy. She’s really scared for her father.”

“She should be,” I shrugged.

I followed her inside, the cool air and smell of fresh oak wine barrels settling over me.

I walked with her to the lounge where we would be hosting the open house.

The lounge was complete with exposed beams, floor-to-ceiling windows, candles already staged like they were prepping for a wedding.

She had repainted and gotten new furniture in as well as a new bar built. It was regal and elegant.

“This shit’s gonna be fire,” I told her, scanning the space.

“Yeah, if I survive it,” she said. “Do you know how many vendors bailed last minute? I had to replace two caterers and a band yesterday. A whole damn band.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I know you wanted to only use black owned vendors.”

“Right. What happened?”

“Well, there were a few businesses that were actually lying about being black owned. A few were Asian owned. Can you believe that? But it’s okay. I’ve taken care of it. This open house is about black elegance and regality. We are gonna put King’s Vine on the map.”

“Damn, I didn’t think people would be that shady. But thank you for staying on top of it. I swear things will get easier once we’re at the finish line.”

“I know,” she said. “That’s why I’m killin’ myself making sure it runs smooth. The wine industry makes folks billionaires. That’s what’s at stake.”

“That’s why I chose it.”

I studied her face. She looked more tired than usual. Even her voice had that cracked edge to it.

“You need help,” I said.

“I need a clone.”

“I can’t give you that, but I can give you a raise and a long ass vacation once we get through the open house.”

She blinked at me. “Wait, what?”

“You’ve been running point since Mama’s been out of commission. Holding it down harder than most of the execs. You earned it. We’re gonna get you exec status.”

For a split second, her face softened. “You serious?”

“Deadass. I’ll talk to Creed this week about it.”

She let out a slow exhale and dropped her tablet onto a side table. “Thanks, Riot. Really.”

I nodded once, and before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I checked the screen and saw that it was Creed calling.

“Gimme a second,” I told her, stepping outside and taking the call.

“Yo.”

“She agreed,” Creed said on the other end. “Mama’s gonna check in to St. August on Friday.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. “Damn. For real?”

“Yeah. Took some convincing. I think she’s more scared than she lets on. But she’s tired.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

There was a silence on the line. A heavy one.

“I feel like we failed her,” I admitted. “We let her carry too much for too long. I feel guilty because I’m the one that pulled the trigger.”

“You think I don’t feel that shit every day?

We can’t do that to ourselves. I knew when I caught pops and kidnapped his nasty ass that there would be fall out.

I didn’t think Mama would lose her mind though.

” Creed said. “But she’s still here. That means we got time to make it right. Let’s just start with this.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll be there Friday.”

“Good. She’ll need both of us.”

We hung up, and I stood there for a moment, staring out across the vineyard.

The sky was starting to turn, a wash of gray cutting through the blue. The storm was coming, in more ways than one.

Boaz.

Mama.

Allure.

They were all wrapped around the same wire inside me, pulling me in every direction.

And somehow, I had to hold it all together without breaking.

But for her, for them, I’d try like hell.