Page 7

Violet

I glanced at Riot as he mounted his motorcycle.

In another life, I’d have been terrified of him.

He was big, tattooed, and muscled. Attractive in a bad-boy way, I was sure.

I’d gotten over my parents’ assertion that men like Riot were trouble.

Which was kind of laughable, considering the man they picked out for me was a monster.

I was also fairly certain they weren’t interested in finding out, not as long as Doug continued to do business with my father.

Lana unlocked her vehicle, and I got in beside her while Caleb got in the back.

She started the car, then turned to me. Taking my hand, she gave me an encouraging smile.

“Riot’s been through a lot, but he’s a good guy.

I’d have gotten someone else if I didn’t believe he’d protect you with his life. ”

“I thought you only wanted him to support Caleb while he was telling the judge about his father.”

“That was one reason. I admit I also wanted him to stay close to both you and Caleb. Doug Harrington isn’t the type of man who likes to lose. You know he’ll try to intimidate you. Or worse.” She squeezed my hand once more before starting the vehicle.

I looked out the window at Riot, who was adjusting his leather vest and seemed to be scanning the area around us before putting on a helmet and closing the tinted visor.

I thought it odd, but if the guy was on probation, he was probably doing his best to avoid giving anyone a reason to look at him. Not my business.

There was something primal about Riot. Something dangerous making me both wary and… something else I wasn’t ready to examine too closely.

“When you first told me about this, you said Riot had been to prison. It’s obvious the judge knew it too. Can you tell me why he was in prison?”

“Does it matter, Vi? You saw how he was today. He’s solidly on your side.”

“Because you told him to be. For the right price, maybe he takes Doug’s side.”

Lana scowled at me and shook her head. “Are you not listening to anything I’m telling you?

I don’t pick bikers at random for my program, Vi.

This isn’t a volunteer program where you get what’s available.

Anyone I use in a particular case for victim support understands what it’s like to be a victim.

He might not have experienced exactly what you did, but he’s been in a similar situation, and it changed him.

” She took a long breath, tamping down her building anger.

Lana was the best person I’d ever met, but she was very passionate about people in general.

“Look. You know I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Our choices in life sometimes take us down a dark path, but if we work hard enough, when we come out at the end of that tunnel, we’re stronger and, hopefully, better for those experiences and consequences.

Riot will protect you with his life. That’s what his experiences made him into.

There is no amount of money in the world that could make that man take Doug’s side over yours and Caleb’s.

Riot is not a man who can be bought in this instance. Not for any price.”

“Mom.” Caleb leaned forward between the seats. “I think we should let him help us. Just for a little while, until we figure things out.”

I turned to look at my son, surprised. Caleb had been slow to trust anyone since Doug’s behavior had escalated. The fact that he was advocating for Riot’s presence said a lot.

“You’re sure?” I asked him.

“Yeah.” Caleb’s eyes were serious as he held my gaze.

I wanted to cry. I wasn’t looking into the eyes of a child.

Sitting in the courtroom, telling the judge exactly what he’d seen and what had happened to him personally, all while his father stared at him with that accusing gaze, had effectively killed anything left of the child in Caleb.

He still had a lot to learn but he was a young man, and he was determined to protect his mother.

While I loved him all the more for that protective streak, I wanted to howl at the injustice of his childhood being cut short by a megalomaniac.

“All right,” I said, relenting. “If you think it’s a good idea and Caleb is OK with him, then we’ll accept Riot’s help for now.”

Lana nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now let’s get you both back to your hotel. You’re booked under a different name. Right?”

“Yes.” I continued to stare out the window as we pulled away. I could see Riot behind us in the rearview mirror. “I paid cash for two weeks.” There was something reassuring about his large presence following us, like a shadow that for once meant protection rather than threat.

The small hotel where we were staying wasn’t anything fancy.

It was a chain hotel for people on a budget, so there were two beds, a bathroom, a small table, two chairs, and a tiny fridge.

That was pretty much it. But you had to have a key card to get anywhere inside but the main entrance, so it was more secure than some hotels.

I’d chosen a room like this on purpose because Doug would never look someplace like this for me.

He thought I was a spoiled, dimwitted trophy wife, but my dad married me off to Doug to bring the rest of my family into Doug’s lifestyle.

I grew up on ramen noodles and cereal. This hotel was a couple steps up from some places I’d lived growing up.

We parked and Riot pulled alongside us, shutting down his bike.

I opened my door and slid out. Caleb followed, putting himself between me and Riot.

I thought the big man would take exception or act irritated.

Instead, he met Caleb’s gaze and gave him an approving nod.

The gesture seemed to shock Caleb as much as it did me.

Riot moved behind us while I led the way to the side entrance.

I swiped us in, then we all headed down the hall.

“Are you sure your husband doesn’t know where you’re staying?” Riot’s voice was soft and low, not quite a whisper but not much louder.

“If he knew where we were, he’d already have us back at the estate.” I swiped open our room door. “Whether we wanted to go or not.”

Riot nodded, a grim look on his face. Then he entered the room ahead of us, looking in the bathroom and small closet before letting us in. “Even if you’re positive he doesn’t know where you’re staying, I’ll feel better checking your room any time you come back here.”

Caleb glanced at me, his eyes wide with shock. “Wow. That’s just like in the movies.”

“Well, I did watch a lot of TV in prison.” Riot kept his face perfectly blank, but Caleb chuckled before trying to smother it with a cough. When he looked up at Riot, the man winked at my son before stepping further into the room so we could all go inside.

“You have my number, Violet. Make sure Caleb and Riot have it as well.” Then she addressed Riot.

“Let me know if you need anything and I’ll get it done.

” He nodded, and Lana pulled me into her arms for a hug.

“I’m going to help you through this. You’re not alone, as you’ll soon find out.

Trust Riot, but you can always call me if you need a second opinion. You’re not boxed in. OK?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I understand.”

“Good. I’ll leave you to it. Get to know Riot. Ask him questions. He’ll either tell you or he won’t, but I believe we’ve established he doesn’t lie.” That last was said like a dig at Riot when I knew she was trying to put me at ease. Riot must have known too, because he growled his displeasure.

Caleb shook his head with a wide grin. “That’s never gonna get old.” He flopped down on his bead and groaned. “That wasn’t like I thought it was going to be.”

“Oh? How’s that?” After checking the door and even attaching the safety chain, Riot sat in one of the chairs while I took the other one.

Caleb turned his head to look at us. “I’m not really sure. I thought it would be harder somehow. Or like I’d feel sad.” He turned to me. “I can see now how mean Dad was to you for a long time, but he wasn’t bad to me. Not until that night.”

“I’m so sorry, Caleb.” I could feel the tears threatening again. I thought I’d cried all the tears left inside me, but apparently there were a few more. “I never wanted this for you.”

“I don’t want it for you either, but here we are.

” My son moved to the edge of the bed and turned to take my hands in his.

“It hurts, Mom. I’m not gonna pretend it doesn’t make either of us feel better.

But he betrayed me too. Not in the same way he did you, but he made me believe he was a good man when he’s really nothing but evil. ”

I closed my eyes and let out a breath. “You deserve better than what you got handed, honey.”

He shrugged. “Up until now, I’ve had a good life. Even now, it’s not that bad. I’m gonna miss my gaming systems, but I was spending too much time on them anyway. One failed algebra test and all of a sudden he grounded me for my grades.” He chuckled, like it was all a big joke.

It was on the tip of my tongue to defend the bastard.

He’d ingrained it in me to agree with him.

To show a united front. Not just with Caleb, but in every aspect of my life.

I was to follow his lead. But he was wrong.

And my son was worth fighting that instinct and admitting to him and myself I could form my own opinions and ideas.

“You failed one test. One test. And you failed because you were sick the day before the review. You’ve never been anything other than a straight A student.

When he grounded you, you didn’t say a word in protest, yet Doug and Mr. Todd made you sound like a petulant child.

” I had a good mad building. “If I ever see either of them again, I may punch them in the nose.” I rarely got angry because it didn’t do me any good with Doug.

But when I lost my temper, it was the only time I was ever capable of fighting back.

I stopped to take a breath. I thought Caleb might say something to tease me like he did when I was upset on his behalf if he wanted to diffuse the situation.

Instead, neither he nor Riot said anything.

Caleb raised an eyebrow as he looked at Riot.

Riot looked at me like he was trying to fit me neatly into a box, only to find out he couldn’t quite make it work to suit him.

There was a spark of something in his eyes, but I wasn’t sure what.

He was definitely looking at me differently.

“That was, uh…” Caleb cleared his throat before continuing. “That was a lot of words, Mom.” He gave me a solemn look. “And a little violent.”

I blinked, looking from Caleb to Riot in confusion. “Violent?”

“Yeah,” Caleb said. “I mean, we shouldn’t punch people.”

Riot snorted out a laugh before coughing like he’d gotten choked.

Caleb cracked up too. I wanted to be irritated, but was so happy to see Caleb’s smile I found myself laughing at my own expense.

I wasn’t sure I’d see him smile like this so soon.

Sure, I’d seen a few sparks, but mostly when we were around Riot.

In the couple hours we’d been around the man, Riot seemed to know what to say to make things, if not better, at least bearable.

For that alone I could give Riot the benefit of the doubt.

“So, what do we do now?” I continued to hold Caleb’s hand, but I addressed Riot.

He sat back in his chair and sprawled out lazily. “I’m going to go talk to the front desk and see if anyone’s taken the adjoining room.” He pointed to the door that would open into the next room. “It will simplify things.”

“What if it’s not available?” Caleb asked.

“I’ll worry about that if it comes to it.”