Riot Hearts: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Saints of Crow Book 1) Read online

“Yep.”

  Yep? River was not a person who said yep.

  Rolling my eyes briefly, I went over to the passenger side and helped him out. Oddly enough, he let me support his weight and didn’t seem to mind me struggling to handle his every pound of muscle.

  “Keys,” I commanded.

  He blinked slowly. “In my pocket.” His hand dove down to fetch them, but he didn’t have the fine motor skills.

  Sighing and bracing myself at the same time, I stuck my hand into the front pocket of his jeans. He snickered while I was fiddling around, only to find it empty. With hot skin and flushed cheeks, I leaned over to search the other pocket.

  “Touchy,” he remarked with a smirk. Ignoring him, I pulled out the keys and unlocked the door to the elevator.

  River pressed the button to the sixteenth floor and once we got there, he pointed to his door. Unlocking it, I pulled the door open and humped inside with River clinging to me.

  The situation was so twisted, and not one I imagined finding myself in.

  After turning the lights on, I crouched to untie his shoes and River leaned against the wall. He wandered off without me, disappearing around a corner to the left. Walking after him, I tried to take in the apartment.

  It looked cozy and spotless, and nothing like I imagined River’s place to be. Unlike the Sinclair estate, this place was homey and cozy with a dark brick wall tying it all together.

  River circled his black kitchen island, already having found a new bottle to drink from. To my surprise, he was drinking water.

  Clapping my hands together, I sighed. “Will you be fine on your own? You won’t go around getting assaulted on the streets?”

  “Yes,” he said, irritation edging his voice.

  Rolling my eyes, I picked up my phone and dialed.

  “What are you doing? Who are you calling?”

  “Shh.” I shushed on him, raising the phone to my ear.

  It rung several times before a groggy voice picked up. “Emory Lauder? Am I dreaming? Is this a booty call?”

  Snorting out a laugh at the youngest Sinclair, I shook my head. “Unfortunately, not a dream and not a booty call either, I’m afraid.”

  “Booty call?” River cut in. “Who the fuck are you booty-calling from my apartment?”

  I waved my arm at him, trying to signal for him to shut up.

  “Was that my brother’s voice?” Something crackled on the other side and Sebastian’s voice came back clearer. “Don’t tell me he did something.”

  “What? No, but I need you to come over to his apartment.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” He sounded skeptical.

  “He was at my door, drunk. He’s pretending to be okay, but I do not trust him to be fine on his own, and I can’t stay the night.”

  Nor do I particularly want to.

  “Ah, mate, come on.” Sebastian’s faded British accent came out in his voice. “It’s the middle of the night.”

  “I know.”

  Sebastian was only hesitant for a few seconds before he said, “I’ll be there in five if I break the speed limit.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tossing a glance over at River, I saw his eyelids were heavy, his skin flushed, and his lips pink.

  “But Em?” Sebastian sounded wary.

  “Yeah?”

  “Stay with him till I get there?” There was a plea in his voice.

  Looking at River scowling at me, I hesitated. Surely, he couldn’t be that drunk, right? He’d manage on his own until his brother got here.

  “Please, Emory,” Sebastian added. “He’s my brother. I don’t want anything to happen to him. He might fall.”

  That wouldn’t be so bad. But… argh. He was drunk and it wouldn’t be as fun when he was.

  “Fine. I’ll stay.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, way to go playing on my conscience,” I muttered. River would never have done this for me.

  Sebastian chuckled. “Hey, at least you know you have one.”

  “You owe me, little Sinclair.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll let you blow me one day.”

  I snorted out a laugh. “Uh-huh sure, and River would kill you for sleeping with the enemy.”

  I expected laughter in return but there was only silence. “Nah, you’re not the enemy, and River knows that. Deep down, that is. Deep, deep down.” The sudden seriousness in his voice surprised me. I thought he was only capable of laughter and smiles.

  “Then who is?”

  Sebastian chuckled. “I’m not going to bother you with that. Besides, he could tell you himself.”

  My question was unanswered, but I had my suspicions.

  Sebastian was right, though. If River had something to say, then he should be the one to tell me himself.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure River—” Before I could finish my sentence, the phone was snatched from my hand.

  “Bye now,” River said into the phone without looking at the display. He turned to me, something fierce sparking in his eyes.

  I glared at him. “What is wrong with you?”

  “Lots of things.”

  I glared, mouth slightly opened as I scowled.

  “I see the way you look at me… scrutinizing me. Like I can be saved. Maybe you want to save me, but I’m telling you now, I’m not worth saving.”

  “I’m not trying to save you. I’m just trying to survive you.”

  He huffed air out of his nose. “And is that working out for you?”

  My eyes narrowed, and annoyance surged in my veins. “You know what? I don’t know what’s your problem. You’re impossible.” And significantly less drunk.

  The fact that he didn’t speak and that he seemed less intoxicated infuriated me, and so I kept on vomiting words.

  “You may be rich, ambitious, smart, and insanely attractive on the outside, but beyond that, there is nothing. You’re callous and cruel, selfish and proud—and you have never had a personality besides being your father’s son!” I only said the words I knew would hit closest to home.

  His eyes were set on me, and his lips were pursed. His shoulders were tense and when I glanced at his hands, I saw they were clenched into fists. I thought he was going to yell back at me, but instead, he calmed his breaths before speaking. “You’re not wrong.”

  “What?” I almost fell on my ass because him admitting I was right shocked me.

  River took a swaying step closer and heat flared up inside me. My mouth went dry as his scent washed over me along with his dominance.

  “I am all those things. I may be cruel at times. And yes, I’m callous and selfish.” His breaths were heavy. “Callous and cruel and selfish enough to do this.”

  I gasped when he grabbed my chin and lowered his face to mine. His lips met mine, and my heart drummed in my chest as they molded together like cement. He kissed me like he wanted to suffocate me with his lips, but the kiss triggered dynamite in my head. With a skilled mouth, he parted my lips so his tongue could slide in to duel with mine.

  I gasped for air as I broke away.

  River bit his lip, and when he spoke, his voice was thick with lust and regret and something dark I couldn’t place. “And I’m way too proud to recognize this ever happened.”

  All I managed to do was stare at him in shock.

  What just happened?

  That son of a…

  He did it on purpose.

  That wasn’t a kiss of affection; it was a kiss of undoing. He knew this would haunt me forever. Because I hadn’t pulled back. I’d let him kiss me.

  A knock on the door jerked me out of my haze. Glancing at River, the moment seemed to last forever. But then I pulled away, air filling my lungs as I went to open the door.

  Being around River was like being in some magnetic field that sucked out the oxygen from my lungs and made my brain spin. I couldn’t think straight when he was around.

  Shoving the image of the kiss to the back of my mind, I opened the door. “Thank God.”r />
  Nico and Sebastian looked at me from the other side. Their hair was messy—and not the styled mess like usual.

  “Well, that’s a new one, but I like it. I am divine, after all.” Sebastian grinned before brushing past me.

  “Emory,” Nicolas greeted with a shy smile, nodding and trailing Sebastian.

  They strode over to River immediately.

  “Mate.” Sebastian smiled gingerly at River, who stood in the living room. River sent them the ugliest glare before he looked at me accusingly.

  “You called my brothers?”

  I held my hands up in surrender. “Well, I didn’t call Santa Claus if that’s what you thought.”

  He stifled a growl. “Whatever. As you all can see, I’m fine. I don’t need you to babysit me for fuck’s sake.” Crossing his arms, he walked over, and as he shouldered past Nico, he sent him an icy stare.

  I looked to Sebastian for an answer as to why River was angry, but Sebastian looked away.

  River walked but almost tripped. In an instant, Nico was by his side, holding him up. River leveled him with a cold glare, shoving him off before humping on.

  For some reason, I didn’t leave right away but instead, watched as Nico and Sebastian followed River into the hall and through the bathroom into an adjoined bedroom. River peeled off clothing item after clothing item as they moved, shedding them onto the floor. I walked after them but lingered in the doorway to his bedroom.

  It had dark walls, a big bed, a built-in closet, and a built-in tv.

  It seemed too personal for me to invade.

  “Let’s get you to bed,” Sebastian said in a light tone.

  I watched as they tried to help River into bed, but he kept shoving them away with stifled growls. His muscles were covered in a sheer layer of sweat that made his skin shine like silk. The muscle bulged and rippled as he moved, and I couldn’t pull my gaze away.

  “Bugger off. I don’t want you here,” River groaned to his brothers.

  Nico sighed. “We’re family. We’re here when you don’t want us but need us.” He turned and walked out of the room.

  “I don’t need anyone,” River grumbled after him, letting his head drop to his pillow.

  “You like telling yourself that,” Sebastian mumbled, smiling down at him as he placed his hands on his hips.

  It was as if River had let go of that destructive side he’d showed earlier when he had kissed me. I’d never seen him so wounded and frail. He didn’t seem like himself at all. I knew I said that a lot, but it was true. He surprised me every day.

  “Are you going to keep staring, Nightmare? Because either you get into bed with me, or you can keep your eyes to yourself.”

  His words shocked me, and I suddenly remembered what kind of person he was and how our relationship actually worked. It did not include me taking care of him when he was drunk. To be honest, I’d never seen him drunk. Buzzed, sure, but not drunk. It wasn’t his style—and it didn’t suit him.

  “I think it’s time for me to leave,” I said dryly before I turned around. “Get better.” I sighed, mostly to avoid an awkward goodbye.

  At the same time, Nico returned with a water bottle which he unscrewed and handed to River.

  I left, and it was as if the air cleared up the farther away from the Sinclair boys I got. Getting to the hallway, I slipped my coat back into place over my shoulders.

  “Wait a second,” Sebastian’s voice shouted from inside the room.

  He came jogging out into the hall. “Thanks, Emory,” he said, a genuine smile on his lips. “I know you two don’t get along, so thanks for sticking around until we got here.”

  I shrugged. “Well, I hope you know our bickering isn’t because I’m being impossible.”

  Sebastian chuckled. “I know. River’s complicated and flawed. Definitely flawed.”

  “I’ve never seen him like this,” I admitted.

  “Because this isn’t him,” Sebastian said with confidence. “I know this doesn’t make sense, but please be lenient with him. He’s not himself right now. It’s pretty obvious when he goes and gets himself wasted. He hates being drunk, really.”

  “Hm,” was all I could say. “Thanks for the info, I guess. See you around.”

  “Yeah. I bet I’ll be seeing a lot of you.” He smirked his boyish smile and I gave him a confused smile before I left.

  I didn’t understand him, so I guess he was a Sinclair after all.

  The rest of the week flew by and the week after that. After that night, River was, if possible, even more cold, detached, and ruthless.

  Especially at school. Pissing him off was almost a given if you even so much as looked at him for a second too long. He could look at you and suddenly, he was mad at you for not looking how he wanted you to look.

  Most people assumed he was a bit more irritated than usual, but I knew it went deeper than that.

  For me, things were normal except that River and I butted heads every opportunity he had to annoy me. Leaving for New York with him for a long weekend wasn’t on the top of my bucket list, nor was a dinner at the Sinclair estate.

  Just as River had grown colder and less predictable, so had the fall weather. Sunny days turned clouded, and the temperature was shifting like the wind.

  The dining situation with the Sinclairs made me uneasy. I knew my parents and Thomas Sinclair didn’t get along. They were civil, of course, but they strongly disagreed on most things. The letter from my mom made me even more sure I had underestimated the feud between them. I didn’t know what to do with that information, so I was determined to make my own choices. Until I found some real reason to not trust them, I would simply keep them at arm’s length.

  Only that had proved more difficult with River than I had anticipated.

  The Sinclair estate was four streets down from my house, so after dressing in a red jumpsuit and slinging a blazer over my shoulders, I walked down to them.

  “Emory.” It was Nicolas who opened the door. He stood tall in his sleek smoking jacket. The guy had inherited the Sinclair handsome gene, even if he wasn’t as captivating as River.

  “Hey,” I said awkwardly.

  “Come in.” He stepped aside, opening the door wider. I walked in and saw their big white stairs in front. Behind it came Thomas with Sebastian and River trailing after.

  “Emory, love, thank you for coming.”

  “Thanks for inviting me.”

  My eyes darted to River, who had his head cast down, but he still looked at me. I tore my gaze away when Thomas came over and air-kissed my cheek.

  “Hey,” Sebastian greeted, doing the same, only he didn’t give me the creeps.

  “Come in, come in. Our cook has prepared a lovely meal for us. Chicken! Do you like chicken?”

  How could he be so nice and polite when he was brutal when it came to business? He was cold, yet he acted as if we were friends.

  “Sure, chicken is lovely.”

  I felt River’s gaze on me as we sat at their fully packed dining table. River sat opposite of me, Nicolas on his side, Sebastian next to me, and Thomas at the head of the table. Spices and sauces filled the air with a wonderful aroma. Thomas talked to me and I answered. Sebastian engaged me in small talk, trying to make the meal more pleasant.

  Truth be told, I wasn’t sure why I was here.

  “So, Emory, I’m sure you have some plans about New York… some idea on how to impress the people most.” Thomas smiled and it reached his eyes, but I didn’t believe it.

  “Actually, no. I haven’t thought of that yet.”

  “Don’t be shy, we wouldn’t judge your inexperience.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “I have no plans. Thought I’d go with the flow, feel my way forward.” Aggressively I shoved a piece of potato into my mouth.

  “I’m sure you must have some kind of thought about the trip.”

  I swallowed the food in my mouth and sucked my teeth. “No. But I’m sure you have lots.” Placing my fork down, I stared at him.
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  Everyone stopped eating, and River almost choked on his water.

  I bit down a smile, satisfied by the way I’d answered his interrogation. I wasn’t afraid of his condescending tone. He didn’t get to bully me like he did others.

  Suddenly, he laughed and his chest rumbled. I looked to the others, but they were as tense as I was. What was going on? It felt as if we were in some badly staged play.

  “Dear girl, not to worry. My son will teach you all you have to know.”

  I saw how River tensed with his every word. His jaw clenched and he ground his teeth together.

  “Right, River?” Thomas’s tone was clipped.

  Sebastian and Nico’s eyes widened, and they looked to River before exchanging glances. Something was going on that I wasn’t a part of. River hesitated before he straightened his back.

  “Actually, I think Emory has a good plan. No plan. Makes things more… genuine.” It sounded like his words were a silent stab to his father, who narrowed his eyes, but when he saw me looking, he immediately hummed a chuckle again.

  “Ah, son, you’re so amusing. And to think that you and Emory wouldn’t get along.” He laughed. “You two are destined to be together.”

  River’s earlobes reddened and he looked to me, those icy blue eyes piercing mine. They were full of emotion, and I could see them raging like a tornado.

  “Don’t you think so, Sebastian? Aren’t they good together?”

  All eyes cut to Sebastian, who stopped mid-chew. His eyes were big and his mouth pursed around a piece of food. Swallowing, he cleared his throat. “Uh. Yes. Very good.”

  I frowned at him, giving him the look of ‘what the heck?’ River did the same, only more aggressive and less discreet. We turned and scowled at each other.

  “River, I’m sure Emory has a lot you can learn from. After all, she’s a Lauder. They are tenacious and determined people, right?” Thomas rumbled with a laughter—a cold one. “But you can handle her, right, River?”

  River’s eyes were glued to me and his lips twitched. “Right.”

  After dinner, River drove us to the airport, but before that, I picked up my luggage back home. We said less than nothing as we checked in through security, and even less as we boarded the plane. To say that the flight was a drain would be an understatement. I would rather fly in the cargo hold than this fancy private jet cabin with him.