River sat at the dining table, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge, his mind churning with the weight of the decision before him.Alexander didn't seem to be cooperating so that meant deciding what to do with Riley.River's jaw clenched as he considered his options, each more distasteful than the last.He could not bring himself to kill Riley despite the leverage it would give him over Alexander.He had killed numerous men before. But an innocent like Riley? Never. Riley was an innocent girl, and he figured that out. No matter how strong she acted, how much attitude she gave him, he knew she wasn't a tainted soul like him.He couldn't violate her either. The very thought made his stomach turn. He was a father to a fourteen-year-old girl, for fuck's sake!Ellie's face also flashed through his mind, her kind eyes and gentle smile a stark reminder of the man he used to be, the man she had loved. He could not betray her memory, could not cross that line and become the very monster h
River’s mind was a storm of fury when he thought of his children in danger. It pushed him to the brink of his control, but he forced himself to remain composed.This was war, and he couldn’t afford to lose his head now.As River made his way to the car, he couldn’t help but think of Ellie. She had always been the one to keep him grounded, to remind him of the man he wanted to be, not the man he had to be. But Ellie was gone, and all that remained was her memories.He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. Antonio’s place was only a short drive away, but every second felt like an eternity as they sped through the darkened streets. River’s mind was racing, calculating every possible outcome, every potential threat.When they arrived at Antonio’s estate, the scene was chaos. The front gate had been blown open, and smoke billowed from the burning wreckage of a car. River’s heart pounded as he jumped out of the car, his pistol at the ready. The sound of gunfire echoed thro
Riley tried her best to escape. She really did.It wasn’t her fault that the stairs got in the way and made her trip!She touched her ankle again and groaned as sharp pain shot through her body, intensifying with each step she took. She gritted her teeth and fought through the agony, determined to break free at any cost.But then, she was greeted by another locked door.“Fuck my life!” she screamed at the door as she jiggled the doorknob.Riley’s heart pounded as she frantically twisted the doorknob, willing it to turn, but it wouldn’t budge. The pain in her ankle was unbearable, each throb a cruel reminder of her failed escape. She leaned her forehead against the cold metal door, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears welled up in her eye.“Come on,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please, just open…”But the door remained stubbornly locked. Riley slammed her fist against it, her anger bubbling over. She felt so powerless, so trapped.She limped back to the center of the room,
River carried Riley through the grand entryway of his sprawling mansion, her eyes widening as she took in the marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and expensive artwork lining the walls. “Admiring the decor?” River asked, his deep voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. “It’s…quite the house,” she mumbled, avoiding his penetrating blue gaze. The intensity in his eyes unnerved her, hinting at a barely contained rage simmering beneath the surface. She had no doubt this man was capable of terrible things in his quest for vengeance. But right now, it felt good being carried by him like a princess. River’s lips twitched, but there was no humor in it. “Amazing what blood money can buy, isn’t it?” He walked toward a room. Riley’s heart hammered in her chest as dark thoughts swirled in her mind. Was he leading her to another prison to lock her away in? Would she still be tortured for information about Alexander and his organization? She swallowed hard. “Where are you taking me?” Her voice soun
"I will not watch my mouth." River couldn't believe the audacity of this girl. What would it take to show her that she is still in danger and that defying him would only make things worse? "You have no idea what I'm capable of," he threatened, hoping it would help her realize. "Oh? Are you capable of cooking? Because I am starving," Riley announced. He heard Tiffany giggle behind him, and his anger flared even more. River's jaw tightened. This girl had a nerve, that was for sure. He was accustomed to dealing with people who were afraid of him, not those who taunted him outright. The thought of her sitting there, so calmly demanding food, while his world was falling apart, made him seethe. "Fine," he snapped. "I'll have something brought up for you. But don't think for a second that you're in any position to make demands." Riley's lips curved into a small, triumphant smile, but she said nothing more. River turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind h
River woke with a start, his body on fire. The sheets were soaked through with sweat, clinging to his skin like a second skin. His head pounded, vision swimming as he struggled to orient himself. With trembling limbs, River pushed himself up and swung his legs off the side of the bed. The room tilted and spun, but he gritted his teeth against the nausea rising in his throat. River stood on unsteady feet, clutching the bedpost for support. He took a deep breath and steadied himself, jaw clenched in determination. He was fine. He was not getting sick. He never got sick! One step. Then another. His muscles screamed in protest, and the wound on the shoulder hurt like hell, but he pushed onward. He made it to the door and paused, vision dimming for a moment. When it cleared, his gaze sharpened with purpose. He put the key in and unlocked the door. He found Riley in her room, staring out the window. Her shoulders were tense, and her hands curled into fists at her sides. Waiting. Watch
Riley quickly pulled the phone from River's pocket, her heart pounding as she fumbled with it. The device felt foreign in her hands, but she had to focus. Her father had to know where she was, and she needed to figure out her next steps. She dialed the number, praying that her father would pick up. The phone rang several times before a familiar voice answered. "Foster!" he growled. "Dad, it's me," Riley said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Riley! Where are you? Did he hurt you?" he said. Riley hesitated. The logical thing would be to tell her father she was at River's house so he could send his men to rescue her. But there was another part of her, that didn't want to do that. If she did that while River was lying here, weak and vulnerable from fever, her father's men would easily overpower him and could possibly kill him. As much as Riley claimed to hate River, she couldn't just get the man killed! Riley took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Dad, I'm okay.
Riley's guilt intensified, knowing that Ellie's absence was tied to the turmoil River was experiencing. "No, River," Riley said softly, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's me, Riley. Ellie isn't here." River's eyes fluttered open, still clouded with feverish delirium. He looked at Riley with a puzzled expression. "Ellie? I thought you left me." She gently placed a hand on his arm, trying to offer some comfort despite the complexity of the situation. "I'm here," Riley said softly. "I am not Ellie, but I am here." "You should've never left," River continued as if he hadn't heard her. "Oh, Ellie. Why did you leave me? The kids...the kids..." he groaned as if in pain. Riley's heart ached at the mention of River's children and the way he spoke of Ellie. She tightened her grip on his arm, her voice soft and soothing. "Shhh...Ellie is not here," she said gently. "She's gone. But you need to focus on getting better. Your fever is coming down." River's eyes were glazed with confusion