RILEY’S POV
I blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question. My heart stuttered in my chest. It wasn’t the question I had expected. It wasn’t what I was prepared for. My breath caught in my throat as the meaning of his words sank in, twisting the atmosphere tighter.
“Because I didn’t do it,” I snapped, the frustration and helplessness rising like a wave in my chest. I couldn’t hold it back. “Because I know how quickly rumors turn into death sentences around here.”
His expression remained unreadable, his gaze as cold and unyielding as ever.
“So you’re afraid?” he mused, his voice smooth but cutting.
I froze at the question. A muscle in my jaw twitched, my fists clenched at my sides. The word stung more than I wanted to admit, but I wasn’t going to back down.
“I’m not afraid of the
