“Riley is back in town.”
Adrian frowned slightly. Taking his expression for confusion, Lydia began to explain. “My sister, Riley. She’s back, she’s-–”
“Yeah, I know who she is.”
Lydia sighed, relieved to be able to skip to her point. “Riley asks a lot of questions. Soon, she’s gonna ask about my work, and I don’t know what to tell her–”
“You’ll tell her nothing. You don’t owe her anything,” Adrian reminded her. “As long as you play the cool sister or whatever relationship you two might have, she’ll be safe from Julius.”
“I’m not the cool sister, Adrian. Riley and I are not friends. We had a tough relationship growing up and it hasn’t changed. I thought, after her being away for ten years, she would have forgotten about it, but she hasn’t. I’m the reason why she left.”
The truth was, Lydia didn’t hate Riley—that feeling had vanished after her sister left home and their mother had died. Ten years had been enough for Lydia to learn how to take away the bitterness from her heart, knowing the hatred she felt for Riley had been imposed by her mother and was not her own any longer. When Riley had reappeared, the “old Lydia” was a habitual response, and letting Riley believe she hadn’t changed was the easiest way to keep her at arm’s length.
“Either way, she’s your sister. Make sure she stays out of danger, or convince her to leave if you can.”
“I don’t think she can be persuaded easily—I tried to scare her, tried to look menacing even, but Riley’s braver than I thought. She didn’t move an inch. Protecting her is the only way, Adrian. Julius is always on my tail. If not him, then one of his guys. Maybe you should do it.”
“I’m not a bodyguard, Lydia. I’m a detective. It’s gonna be more suspicious if he sees me with her the entire time she’s here.”
“But you can find a way to be closer to her, be her friend. You are the one who can make sure she doesn’t ask too many questions and she doesn’t get in the way of things. Please, Adrian, I can’t protect her if I’m dead.”
When she had gotten involved with Julius, she knew from the first day he had trust issues. If he ever found out what she was really doing, she would never see the light of day again.
“What makes you believe–”
Lydia interrupted. “Please, Adrian, you know how this works. You know Julius better than anyone. Sooner or later, he’s gonna get to me, and I’ll be done for.” She had accepted her fate long before Adrian did, but she wanted to ensure Riley would be protected when Julius learned the truth.
“I promise you I won’t let that happen,” Adrian sighed. Lydia gave his hand a light squeeze before quickly letting it go, a weak smile spreading across her face.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
Adrian processed the information Lydia had given to him shakily. Riley Spencer. Of course he remembered her. Her bright blue eyes and auburn hair, and the freckles that adorned her beautiful face always remained on his mind. And now, after ten years of not seeing each other, the feelings he once had for her were apparently still there. Although now, with Julius around, he felt a duty to protect her as much as he could, and he was going to try, no matter what.
Chapter Five
Despite the hustle and bustle at the bar, Riley was enjoying her shift. She liked staying busy—it made the day pass faster and she liked having something to do with her hands. Taking orders, running drinks, and keeping an eye on refills had a certain routine to it, and she found herself settling into a rhythm.
A towering, brooding man stood in the doorway, the sunlight silhouetting him, but even his figure commanded the attention of everyone in the room. As he entered the bar, he began studying his surroundings with a somber expression, scanning the crowd. He was attractive, especially with that strong attitude and confident posture. Riley didn’t want to notice him, but she couldn’t help being mesmerized by someone so bold.
As if on cue, Mr. Eaton walked out of his office with Paige in tow, glaring at the newcomer.
“Detective Castelló, what are you doing here?”
“Making my regular watch, Mr. Eaton. Nothing to worry about,” the man replied.
Mr. Eaton eyed him with displeasure. “They could have sent another cop. You know you can’t be around anymore, not with your track record.”
The detective stepped closer to the man, their noses now almost touching. “I go wherever I want, whenever I want. This is my town, and I’m doing my job, not taking shots with my buddies. I deserve your respect in my professional role.”
Mr. Eaton shot one last glance at him before disappearing behind the bar and back into his office.
From her cautionary position a few tables away, Paige flashed a welcoming smile. “Hello, Detective. Can I offer you a nonalcoholic beverage?”
“Just a glass of water, please.”
Riley thought the detective would find a table somewhere, but instead he walked toward the counter and sat on an empty stool right in front of her.
When he greeted her, his voice was deep and breathtaking. It was the first time in a long time that Riley felt a shiver up her spine, and it had nothing to do with the fact he was handsome or a cop, but because his gaze was so intense.
“I haven’t seen you around in a while. I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Adrian. We went to school together,” Adrian said, and extended his hand for her to shake. She took it; his hand was warm and strong in hers.
“Yeah, I remember you. You were my sister’s
