Page 13

Violet

I woke up with a scream. Sweat coated my body, and I was trapped.

I thrashed, trying to get my hands free, but something was restraining my whole body.

No amount of kicking seemed to help. “NO!” I screamed again.

“Let me go!” I couldn’t catch my breath.

Sweat made my bindings stick to my skin even worse.

A light snapped on, throwing shadows on the ceiling. I had no idea where I was as I looked around me, searching for Doug.

“Violet!” A male voice cut through my panic. “Hey. It’s OK, honey. It’s OK.” His voice was soft. Quiet. Probably trying to keep me from panicking even more.

I sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly.

I closed my eyes and tried to shake off the haze of sleep.

Slowly, my mind caught up with reality and I recognized my surroundings.

“I’m in an apartment in a motorcycle club compound.

” I don’t know why I spoke my thoughts out loud, but the affirmation helped finish clearing the cobwebs from my head.

I met Riot’s gaze. He was on his knees on the floor beside my bed. “Riot.”

He seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “You’re back with me, aren’t you, honey?”

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. I felt like I’d run a marathon. My chest ached, my lungs burned, and I was sticky with sweat. Riot didn’t touch me, but kept looking into my eyes, making me focus on him. “Yes. I’m sorry I woke you.”

“You didn’t.” His voice was gruff, but he was looking more at ease the more I spoke. “Can I help you get untangled?”

I nodded, unable to speak without my voice wavering. The last thing I wanted was to show more weakness than I already had. He was gentle as he unwound the sheet from my body, his touch clinical and respectful. When I was finally free, I pulled my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.

He stood, then helped me get the sheet off so I wasn’t restrained.

“I must have gotten tangled in the sheets and had a nightmare.”

Riot grunted as he stepped back out of my space. I probably should have been embarrassed. I was sleeping in a T-shirt and panties and nothing else. At the very least I didn’t want to parade around half naked in front of a strange man. Instead, I was too shaky to worry much about it.

“I need to wash off the sweat.” It was an inane thing to say, but it was all I could come up with.

“Do you need help walking to the bathroom? You’re trembling.”

I shook my head. “I think I’m OK.”

Riot nodded and moved farther away from the bed, close to the bedroom door, but didn’t leave.

As I crossed to the bathroom, I found myself oddly grateful he hadn’t left immediately.

It was inappropriate at best, dangerous at worst, but Riot fascinated me.

He was so protective, but unsure of himself.

It felt like he was afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing.

So not like any man I’d ever been around.

I snagged a clean shirt and underwear before heading to the bathroom. “Thanks, Riot,” I murmured as I opened the bathroom door. “I didn’t mean to be a bother.”

“You’re not. Go take your shower. I’ll wait until you’re settled.” He sat on a plush chair in the corner next to a matching loveseat. It made a small, intimate area for relaxing.

I should probably have told him I was fine and to leave, but I didn’t want to.

I wanted Riot to stay. At least for a little while.

So, I simply gave him a small smile. “You don’t have to, but I won’t object if you want to stay.

” I swallowed, then added, “You know. For a little while.” Riot nodded but said nothing.

The door was shoved open, and Caleb appeared in the doorway, his hair sticking up in all directions. “Mom?”

“It’s all right, Caleb. I’m fine.”

Caleb looked around the room until his gaze settled on Riot sitting in the corner. I thought I saw Riot wince, but I wasn’t sure. He looked from Riot back to me, then back to Riot. “He hurt you, Mom? Scare you?”

“No, honey,” I said immediately, hurrying to his side. “No. He came when he heard me scream. I’m so sorry I woke you.”

Caleb opened his arms and let me hug him. He wasn’t like typical teenage boys. He never hesitated to show me affection. It never seemed to embarrass him. “I’d rather you wake me up than not, Mom. You sure you’re OK with Riot here?”

“Yes. I’m not scared of Riot. I would never put you at risk. If I wasn’t sure about him, we wouldn’t be here.”

Caleb looked satisfied with my answer, then turned to Riot.

Something passed between the two of them I didn’t understand but Caleb seemed satisfied while Riot looked even more uncomfortable than ever.

It was kind of cute. Not a word I’d ever have associated with a biker or an ex-con.

Together? Worse than laughable, yet there it was.

When Caleb shut the door behind him, I gave Riot a small smile, then went to the bathroom and shut the door.

I leaned against the door, then slid down to sit on the floor.

I let the coolness of the wood at my back ground me as I took several more deep breaths.

Nightmares were nothing new, but tonight was the worst ever.

Probably because of the fight at the motel.

The details were fuzzy, but I was still feeling the edge of panic as the adrenaline left me.

The adrenaline drop was the worst. Not only was I sweating and sticky, but I was also sick to my stomach and my legs were wobbly.

After a few more minutes, I stumbled to my feet and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature until it was as hot as I could stand it.

As steam filled the bathroom, I stripped off my sweat-dampened clothes, then used a hair band the women had supplied to secure my hair into a bun on top of my head.

Then I stepped into the shower and let the water beat against my tense muscles.

I tried to focus on the soothing sensation rather than the lingering fear.

Doug wasn’t here. I was safe. Riot was just outside in my bedroom.

That thought nearly made my knees give out.

Riot . The man was an enigma. A convicted killer who looked at me with such gentleness it made my chest ache.

I’d spent so many years flinching at sudden movements, anticipating the next outburst, the next blow.

Yet around Riot, despite his size and obvious strength, I didn’t feel that familiar dread.

I didn’t feel threatened in any way by Riot.

Not wanting to inconvenience Riot further, I finished up and dried off. I felt more like myself again, but still incredibly fragile. I pulled on clean clothes and ran a brush through my hair before opening the door and exiting the bathroom.

Riot was still there, sitting exactly where I’d left him. His gaze lifted to mine immediately. “Better?” he asked.

I nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Much.” For a while I stared down at my hands, not sure what to say when there were so many things I needed to know. “I appreciate your patience with me and Caleb.”

“No need for patience. I’m glad to help.”

“You and Caleb seem to be getting on well.” This conversation had to happen sometime. Might as well get it over with now.

“We’ve come to an understanding of sorts, I guess.”

“What’s that?”

The corners of his lips lifted in amusement. “We agree that if I don’t scare or hurt you, he won’t cut out my heart with a rusty spork.”

That got a surprised bark of laughter from me. “That’s good to know.”

“Also, he wants me to be your protector. At least, for now.”

That surprised me. “Caleb said that?”

“Yeah. I don’t think it was easy for him to admit he couldn’t do it on his own, but he wants you to be safe. I think that kid would do anything in the fuckin’ world to protect you.”

I had to smile. “Caleb is a great kid.”

“He’s a good man, too,” Riot said. “Better than most I know. I don’t respect many people, but I respect your son.”

“Wow. That’s high praise.”

“Deserved.”

Again, there was an awkward silence between us. Riot didn’t rush me or even anticipate my questions. He simply sat in that chair, resting his arms on the sides, and waited.

“I’d like to know…” I stopped, unsure how to phrase my question without accidentally offending him.

“I’m not going to pounce on you, Violet.

I’m not gonna get mad at anything you ask me.

As a mother of a boy Caleb’s age, you have every right to want to know as much as you can about the ex-con you’re gonna be stuck with for the foreseeable future.

” He grinned, not repentant in the least. “So, you ask all the questions you want, honey.”

It was ridiculous how much I liked him calling me honey .

A couple of the other guys had used that endearment too, but none of them said it to me in the same tone of voice Riot did.

Now was not the time for fantasies about the hot biker.

Especially when, first, I was married, and second, I had a preteen son in the next room.

Also, there was the fact my husband was probably going to retaliate for the legal victory today.

“I’d like to know what you’re going to tell Caleb tomorrow.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you want me to tell him?”

“I don’t know.” I sat on the edge of the bed, my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. “I’m handling this all wrong.”

“Talk it out as best you can. I hate you had a nightmare, but I wanted to talk with you about this before I spoke with Caleb. Probably for the same reasons you’re thinking of right now.”

“I’m sorry, Riot. I’m convinced you’re one of the good guys. Like the real good guys. The kind of guy who does what has to be done, no matter the consequences to himself.”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure I’d go that far. But in this case, yeah. I didn’t care what happened to me.”

“I don’t want to hear this, do I?” It wasn’t a question I needed answered.