Page 161 of Savage Hearts

Riley says, “I can’t drink alcohol anymore.”

“Why not?”

“I’m missing a kidney.”

It wasn’t meant for him, but Spider stiffens anyway. He snaps, “You know it was Malek who told me where to find you, right? He called me.Himself.”

The look Riley sends him could melt steel. “Of course I know it was him. Nobody else is that selfless.”

Spider’s face turns red. He steps forward, bristling. “Selfless? Themurderer who broke into your bedroom and ran off with you in the middle of the night isselfless?”

Riley looks at him for a long moment, then says quietly, “You’re a good man. And I know you wanted to help me by going to Russia, so thank you for that. But you and your boss here have both killed people, so don’t sling the word ‘murderer’ around like you’re on some kind of moral high ground. Malek Antonov is the best man I’ve ever met.”

Spider looks like he just took a kick to the gut.

Riley turns back to me and pins me in a death glare so forceful, I almost step back.

“Andyou.”

“Me? What didIdo?”

She shakes her head like she’s deeply disappointed in me. “This job you have. This thing you do for a living. Mr. Bigshot Mob Boss. You chose this life, didn’t you?”

I feel like this is a trick question, so I fold my arms over my chest and stare her down.

She doesn’t look intimidated.

“That’s what I thought. Nobody forced you into it. Nobody put a gun to your whole family’s heads, did they? Nobody said, ‘Become my personal hitman or everyone you love dies.’ But that’s exactly what happened to Mal. Everything he’s ever done has been in service to other people, including what he just did for me.”

“Let’s not paint too rosy a picture, lass. He went to the Bahamas to kill me, remember? Who was that in service to, if not himself?”

Her eyes glitter. Her voice drops. “You killed his brother. His last living relative. A person he loved and protected his entire life. So yes, he came here to get revenge, but he didn’t. Can you guess why?”

When nobody says anything, her voice rises.

“The reason is standing right in front of you. I asked him not to kill you, you and Spider both, and he didn’t,because he didn’t wantto fucking disappoint me. So you’re welcome for saving your lives. Now get me on a plane back to Russia!”

After a long, silent moment, Sloane turns and looks at me. “How fun,” she says drily. “Stockholm syndrome runs in the family.”

FORTY-FOUR

RILEY

It’s funny, being in love. You can’t see it up close. It’s too massive.

It isn’t until you’re on a plane headed five thousand miles away that the big picture emerges, and you realize that the person you’re leaving behind is someone you can’t live without.

You realize that because, mile by mile, your heart feels like it’s getting crushed and your stomach is twisted into knots and all the cells in your body scream his name at the top of their little cellular lungs.

The pain of separation is overwhelming. You feel as if you’re going to die.

Youwantto die if it means you can never see him again.

And the anger. Oh, god! The anger that he’s the one who forced the separation in the first place. Him with his stupid principles and his overdeveloped penchant for self-sacrifice.

If he only knew that he’d be killing me with this separation, not saving me, maybe he’d have thought twice.

As soon as I see him again, I’m going to kick his big bearded ass.