Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 201(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
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.