Saving Riley

13

James' POV

I couldn't get it out of my head, I couldn't unsee her in that corner, beaten and feeling worthless. Riley should never have been in that situation to begin with. All I've every wanted to do for her is protect her and I couldn't protect her from this, I couldn't protect her from him. The more I see him continuing to destroy her the more it makes my blood boil
That's why I'm here. That's why I'm doing this
The benefits to having a thousand and one cousins is each different one had a new hobby and they come in handy in situations like this, my cousin Neil managed to find the exact hotel Lucas is staying at, his room number and even what he had ordered for lunch if I really needed to know that
Here I stood in front oh his hotel room door. I needed to do this to protect Riley
"Took you long enough" his voice said moments after my first knock
"Figured sooner or later you would come to protect her" he said rolling his eyes. He didn't say anything else but merely let me into his hotel room. That was strange and I won't lie, I felt like I was walking in to a trap. But I couldn't care, I was here for Riley's sake. If it meant I got hurt, I couldn't care at all

"So let me guess, she's made me out to be this big and wolf hug?" He asked taking another swig of the beer in front of him,
"I don't care. What I care about is Riley" I replied making him chuckle
"You're the guy aren't you?" He asked, I looked at him confused hoping he would take the hint to fill me in
"When I first met Riley, she was heartbroken about some guy back home, it took her a whole year to even allow me to get close enough to take her on date. It was James this and James that. Credit to you for putting up with her" he replied with an evil laugh. I looked at him in disbelief, he chased for a year to then make her his play thing. Riley was looking to find a new safe place but fell into his fucking hands
"What you are doing to her is disgusting" I answered
"Go on, what am I doing to her?" He then asked
"The fear she gets from your name alone says enough. Let along the fact I had to cradle her after finding her in the corner with nothing but your handprint on her face" I spat making him laugh
"And did you see me hit her?" He asked and I hesitantly shook my head
"Then what's to say she didn't do that to herself to cause a fuss?" He asked
"Riley wouldn't do that" I growled
"Riley is not that same teenager you once knew James, I promise you that. That girls has a lot of skeletons in her closet" he muttered with his eyes turning dark
"Riley was a mess when I met her, I merely fixed her after you broke her" he said and that was it. I couldn't sit here and try and let him turn this on me or Riley for that matter
"I'm going to tell you this once and one time only" I said earning a smirk from him, he as clearly intrigued with what I had to say
"You are going to go back to New York and you are never going to look back. You aren't ever going to contact Riley or see her again, let along lay a hand on her.. if I find out otherwise, your ass is mine" I replied making him laugh
"I'm not going anywhere" he spat now squaring up at me
"You've had your warning" I replied before turning and leaving that room
If I had stayed around, god knows where that would have led. I didn't want this to turn physical. Not yet, I know for a fact that Riley wouldn't have wanted that. I'm play by the rules she used to give me until he doesn't take the hint. That's when I move in

—
I walk into Studio A to see Riley teaching a baby ballet class, she was smiling at the little girls as they tried spinning, some were pretty good at the balance how ever there were a few tumbles. I chuckled a little leaning against the wall in front of the office as I continued to watch. When the time is right, I know for a fact Riley will make an amazing mother. She's always been super caring and always prepared for any occasion, there is no doubt that she would smash it
"What are you doing here?" She asked finally coming over to me after letting the final ballerina go back to her mum
"I was in the area" I lied, I came here to see her
"How sweet. Well I'm finished for the day, do you want to go do something?" She asked making me smile again
"Sure" I replied. I wanted to play this cool but in all honestly my stomach is having a flipping party right now
I don't want to go for it to be another chance for us, I wanted to go so that Riley can truly see what she deserves, I want her to smile, to laugh, to have an overall good time. I don't want anything to ruin that
"Let's go?" Riley offered as she grabbed her bag from the office
" come here for a sec?" I asked making her look at me a little confused until she was stood in front of me, she looked at me with he perfect awkward smile before I wrapped my arms around her making her chuckle as she hugged me back
"What's this for?" She asked and I shrugged still not moving
"Just wanted a hug" I replied making her hum in response as we both just stood there
She slowly pulled away and looked up at me
"Are you okay James?" She asked, i cupped her cheek, the one that merely 24 hours ago was covered in a red hot hand print
"I'm okay" i replied tucking her hair behind her ear
There is so much i want to say to her, so much I want to do, so much I want to show her. And I know in time I will but for now? For now just being around her, being there when she needs is all I can offer her