Page 117 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

“Save it.” I kiss her again, just to prove that I can. Because I need to know it wasn’t a one-time thing.

She lets me.

“You’re mine. Okay?”

“Okay,” she says. “I need to get back…”

I grimace and set her down. “Don’t get in Caleb’s way. I don’t know what he would do if you tried to interfere.”

She crosses her arms. “So, what, I’m supposed to let him bully my new friend?”

“I don’t know.” I blow out a breath. “They’ll either kill each other or come out happy on the other side.”

She looks away. “Okay. Fine.”

I brush my thumb over her cheek. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

The pain in her eyes almost does me in—but this is a step in the right direction. Riley belongs with me. I know it as well as she does. It’s about time we straightened this mess out.

And now we can be happy.

29

Eli

My nose won’t stop bleeding.

I’m not exactly sure why Riley’s dad hit me, but it just so happened that Detective Jim Masters was talking to Noah when it happened.

Jim seemed pretty fucking gleeful about it, too.

Riley crouches beside me, holding a stack of gauze.

I’m man enough to admit that I wasn’t expecting the hit, and that Riley’s dad packs a mean punch. Damn. My jaw already feels tender to the touch, but the nurse who handed me an ice pack five minutes ago felt my nose and determined nothing was broken.

Small blessings, I guess.

This face won’t win trials with a crooked, bulbous nose.

If I can even get into another school that offers pre-law…

“Do you need to call your dad?” the detective asks me. “If you want to press charges.”

Riley helps me to my feet.

I grimace. I’ll probably have a nasty black eye thanks to the nose injury, but other than that, I’m unharmed. “Press charges against Mr. Appleton? Um, no. I don’t want to do that.”

“See?” Riley snaps. She lifts my hand and curls my fingers around the gauze, then takes off down the hall. She stands above her father, her hands on her hips.

I can’t imagine the conversation they’re having.

“Hey, Masters?”

It isn’t like me to ask for help, but…

He raises his eyebrows. “Change your mind? Didn’t want to say it in front of the girl, huh? Not a problem—”

“No. There’s something else I could get your opinion on.”