Riley’s POV

She moved before I could even fully react, and the moment she lunged at me, everything shifted from words into something physical and dangerous in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

Her hand struck me hard across the face, and the force of it sent me stumbling backward immediately, my balance breaking as my foot slipped behind me and I almost fell completely, but I managed to stay on my feet by forcing myself to steady.

Pain spread across my cheek instantly, sharp and real, and I tasted blood at the side of my mouth as I tried to focus on her again.

There was no pause.

There...