Riordan's Revenge (Body Count, #3)

by Jolie Vines

From the first moment of seeing Cassie, I’d wanted her. Attraction had smacked me down, enough for me to realise I’d needed to push her away.

“He isn’t my boyfriend, not exactly, but he is mine.” Hers? My heart thumped out of time. “You’re going to have to walk me through that,” the woman said. Cassie sighed. “He has green eyes.” “Do we think that’s a good enough reason to kidnap someone?”

“Repeat after me. We do not kidnap people we like.” I rolled my eyes but dutifully repeated the words. Lottie inclined her head. “The best way to share our feelings is to talk about them.” Again, I copied her. “Good. Now let’s combine those.” I tried it out. “Kidnapping is the best way to show a man you love him.”

I groaned and pulled a face. “Ye steal one man and everyone thinks you’re crazy.”

I need to know how long I have to stay.” I shrugged. “With me? Forever. In this house, maybe a couple of days?”

The happiest feeling had filled me at the realisation of what I wanted him to be. The big mine statement my brain had made. Instant, complete, and forever. But I couldn’t find the words.

The mayor was the reason I’d pushed Cassie away. I planned to get my own back on him, which had consequences. Falling in love with someone was out of the question when I’d very likely end up dead.

Tyler operated undercover in remote corners of the country and over in Europe, shutting down trafficking rings. Often by force. I’d only ever met him a few times, but he was an important part of Arran’s crew. A deadly and effective killer but gentle with the women he saved.

I don’t sugarcoat shite. No matter how much she trains or how her brain is streets ahead of the rest of us, she will never have an equal chance to fight off a man who gets his hands on her. Not without a lucky shot to his head or a knife to his gut. It’s not a slight on the fact she’s a girl. Women have strengths we lesser mortals can only dream of. It’s a fact because I want her to stay alive. It’s one we recognise because that’s the tactic a lot of men will stoop to. They’ll use violence to force her to do what they want, or worse. I won’t pretend for the sake of her ego.” He tossed me an uncommon grin. “As big as that fucker already is.”

By a quirk of fate, five street kids had changed from urchins to wealthy. We owned a mansion. Had investments for days. None of my nieces or nephews would ever worry about where the next meal was coming from. None would ever be homeless. Yet that still didn’t afford us peace of mind. Money talked. The threat of violence silenced.

Riordan climbed up, breathing hard and dripping sweat. He wiped the blood from his nose, then returned to his position. “Again.” If my crush on him was ever going to fade, today was not that day.

The world spun around me. Fuck, no. Fuck no with fucking bells on it. Riordan was not going to throw his life away for Mayor Makepeace. Whether or not my obsession was real, I was a ride or die kind of girl. I was Team Rio all the way, even if just as a friend.

“Whatever I’m facing, why does it feel like the biggest danger is you?”

I loved all my family. Struan was dark energy and ready to bring pain without losing sleep over what he had to do. Sin was the father figure, powerful, supportive, and ready to judge with his fists. Camden was our measure, a checkpoint and a balance. If he was willing to go there, the cause was just. But Jamieson was most like me. A little bit wilder. Emotionally led. Inclined to do daft things on the flip of a coin. Or in his case, a flick of his lighter wheel.

Riordan’s problem was that he was a lone wolf. Not by choice. He was alone in the world with few who cared about him. Obviously Genevieve did, and maybe Everly, but beyond them he had no tribe. I could give that to him. Help him see that people were ready and willing to help if he was prepared to trust. More importantly, this way, he wouldn’t die in the process of getting his revenge.

I liked him grumpy. It was very possibly my favourite side of him because it helped him break out of his restraints. He let his passions lead where he otherwise wouldn’t go.

I told her I wouldn’t fall in love with her. Maybe that had been a lie. Whatever the rising Cassie-shaped energy in me turned into, it was my secret to keep. If she knew our being together risked my heart, she’d back away. It had been one of her conditions, meaningless for me at the time but now a problem. I liked her. A lot. I was going to do all I could to keep her.

Every cell of my body was tuned in to the man in front of me. My furious, beautiful love.

“This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” He chuffed and stroked my back. “It’s nothing.” “It’s everything. I love this. I love ye.” Emotion flared in his eyes. “Say that again.” “I love ye so much it hurts.” His smile broke my heart. Riordan needed my words like he needed air. Like I needed him.

“I want to walk in with pretty nails and cute shoes and drive fear into the hearts of people who hurt others. I want them to know what I am and realise there are consequences to the things they did. That consequence is me.”

Cassie is my favorite foreverrrr

She tasted of ash and happiness, destruction and devotion. My world stopped and started again with that kiss. The broken pieces of my heart mended, stronger and better, fixed by my wild girl’s love.

“You’re turned on.” He exhaled a laugh. “I can’t help it. Your brand of crazy works for me.” Now that, I intended to exploit forever.