Page 87 of Riordan's Revenge
Eventually, he inclined his head.
At last, I could breathe again. I crawled onto his body and hugged him. “I’ll try harder to stay safe. But please agree to sleep over here. Don’t go back to your car.”
Riordan hugged me. Over my head, he eyed the tall window across the room, where rain soaked the dark night, then hisfocus slid to the hall where our comfortable bed waited for daylight to send us scurrying to it. “Okay.”
My breathing came easier. “I’ll try to fall out of love with ye faster.”
His lips twitched, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Together, we cleaned up the food cartons and checked our phones. I had messages from my family—Lottie and Sin were back at the Great House, thank the gods, and I scanned them fast.
Lottie: Sorry for the late message, but I was so tired when we got home and slept hard. Short story: the hospital visit went fine. We had to stay another day because our first appointment was postponed. I can now confirm we are expecting a healthy baby boy. He’s due in March, and his scan pictures are the cutest.
She’d attached one, and I smiled wobbly at my new nephew’s black-and-white profile. A flurry of replies had congratulated them, and I added my own then read a more detailed answer about why they’d needed the appointment—some concern by Lottie’s regular doctor had sent them there.
Another separate message pinged in from Lottie, just for me.
Lottie: Are you okay? I know all went well with them capturing the man who threatened you, but you must be stressed.
She meant about her. I could never hide anything from her.
Cassie: If you’re okay, I’m okay. I can’t believe we’ll have another baby in the house.
The youngest was Seraphina, Jamieson and Summer’s baby. She wasn’t even one yet. Lottie sent further messages, my tight fear easing with her familiar and relaxed tone. Then she switched out the subject.
Lottie: Sin had a message from Jamieson, asking him to inflate your tyres. Any reason why that was needed?
Cassie: We had a fight. He’s a jerk.
Lottie: He did that to you?
I confirmed it, and she went quiet for a moment. A minute on, and a voice message from my youngest brother popped up in the family group chat.
Jamieson: Cassie, I’m sorry for being an overbearing dickhole. Can we be friends again, please? I promise to behave.
The sounds of the night were behind him, but it was his contrite tone that had me snorting a laugh. I loved how Lottie had gone to bat for me, and how easily our family disputes could be solved. All she had to do was get the two arguing members to talk to each other and the problem was sorted. No one wanted to see her upset.
I sent him the middle finger and Lottie a bunch of hearts, telling her to rest up. Then I sent Jamieson one small heart to show my acceptance.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Riordan finished up the call he’d been having. He shot me a look. “Manny said that the cops are downstairs. They asked to talk to Arran about his sister. Manny said no such person existed, and he’s getting rid of them, but one guess why they came.”
My lips curved in a grin. “Piggy Piers went squealing? That’s just delightful. What did they know?”
“Nothing. They had a hunch based on Piers’ information and a low-quality CCTV picture of two people in skeleton masks. Not enough to ID either of us.” He palmed his jaw. “I’m beyond pissed off that you’re in the frame for this.”
Like Piers could hurt me. If Arran’s pet cop didn’t help, I knew someone who would.
I shrugged, unbothered. “He’d have to catch me to give me trouble, and from what Manny said, they don’t even have my name.”
“If that changes, if anything happens, promise me you’ll tell them I did it.”
“Like hell am I promising that.”
“Then know that I’ll do it for you.”
We stared at each other, a battle of wills playing out. I was meant to be backing off and not being so in his face, but that didn’t apply to this. He wasn’t alone in his plan to bring the mayor down. I’d taken the first hit for him and intended to keep going.
I relented, pretending to yield by pushing up to kiss his cheek. “Want to show me what we stole?”