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I reach for my panties and tug them into place before running my hands over my skirt. “You don’t get to Kelsey me while your fiancée tries to break down the door.”

“Fake fiancée.” His lip curls in disgust. “And you know that. You know I don’t—”

I can’t hear it... whatever he has to say. It won’t change anything. I put my attention on my face in the mirror, using my fingers to clean up the smudges of lipstick from sucking his fingers. “Once a cheater... always a cheater.”

I really should have known from the beginning.

His breathing gets weird. Too intense for being so shallow. Gaze cast on his cock, he’s gone still halfway to tucking it back in his pants. There’s a pinched line between his brows. Something fathomless and wrong about his expression.

What is going on in his head? Why the fuck does it pull at my heartstrings? “What?”

His gaze is pitiful when it meets mine. Damaged. His Adam’s apple bobs. It’s like he’s haunted. But whatever it was is gone as he starts to move again.

He pulls up his pants. “Nothing.”

“This. This was a mistake.” I shove past him.

He catches my elbow. “Kelsey, I...”

He looks like he has more to say, and for a second I wait for him to bring some clarity that will allow me to want him without feeling like an idiot.

But the moment passes and he doesn’t even try to make excuses. His hand drops to his side. “I’m going to fix this.”

“I want to believe you.” My voice shakes. I will steel into it before I speak again. “I just don’t.”

Unlocking the door, I open it wide so Sonatina can see exactly what she wants to see. Riot zipping up his pants and tossing the used condom in the trash can. He was in here with me. Giving me what she wishes was hers. And even though he’s not mine either, it sure as hell brings me some satisfaction to see her turn scarlet as I push past her.

“I’m going to make you pay, Slut,” she screeches at my back.

This time I’m ready for her when she tries to grab me. Whirling on her, I slam her into the wall. I might not be strong enough to handle someone like Marco. But I had my fair share of bullies, and Sonatina is just another mean girl.

I press my forearm against her delicate throat. “Promises. Promises. Why don’t you go ahead and do it?”

Her eyes widen. “R-Riot?”

“I warned you.” He shrugs.

“Call me slut again.” I push that bit harder on her throat. It’s a lot less than I want to do. “I dare you.”

She doesn’t say anything.

“If you’re going to come at me, make sure you’re prepared for a fight. Because you’ll get one. You don’t scare me and I have nothing to lose.” Not Riot. Not our baby. Nothing that matters. I let her go with that warning.

“Next time you’re kissing him, let me know how my ass tastes.” I stick my middle finger up to them both as I walk away.

26

Kelsey

I’m barely out of their sight before Sonatina blows up on him. “I want her gone, and I am done playing nice about it. Either you make sure your little groupie whore is gone, or I will. And you won’t like what will happen then.”

“Don’t fucking push me, Sonatina. I’ve done everything you’ve asked, but this isn’t negotiable,” he says as I hurry along the passageway.

“You’re all bluster and no bite. Like a dog that’s had its teeth removed,” she snaps back. “You think I don’t know exactly how to handle you, but Riot, remember... I’m the reason you two broke up in the first place.”

“I’m never going to fucking forget it.” His voice drops until I can’t hear him anymore.

Sonatina is an awful person. A terrible human being. An even worse band manager since the only thing she’s interested in is herself. I hate that she’s right. He’s probably capitulating already. Trying to work out where he thinks is safe enough to send me that he won’t have to feel guilty about not choosing me yet again.