Chapter 74

Riley's phone buzzed in her hand—Sienna's mother was calling. Sienna was missing, and no one had been able to find her. Frustration surged through Riley as she raked her fingers through her hair, rushing out of the house and into her car. The engine roared to life as she tried dialing Sienna's number, but all she got was the incessant ringing of unanswered calls. The rain pounded hard against the windshield, and it was already late into the night.

Her phone rang again, Nyx's name flashing across the screen. She quickly answered, one hand gripping the wheel. "Did you get through to her?" Nyx asked, her voice tight with concern.

"No," Riley replied, her voice shaky. "She's not answering, Nyx. Nothing's going through." She swallowed her worry, trying to stay composed. "Please, help me find her. Text me if you hear anything," she said before ending the call and shooting another text to Sienna, her fingers trembling.

Come on, Sienna... please, just answer your phone. Riley begged silently as she drove through the rain-slicked streets. The storm seemed to worsen, visibility decreasing, but she pressed on, refusing to give up.

The overwhelming sense of helplessness pushed her to pull over for a moment, her heart hammering in her chest. "Please, just let me know you're safe," she muttered under her breath, dialing Sienna's number yet again. Still nothing. An hour had already passed, and the heavy rain showed no sign of letting up.

"Where the hell are you?" she whispered to herself, staring at the missed call screen. "Fuck it!" she yelled, slamming her fist against the steering wheel in frustration.

She took a few deep, steadying breaths before deciding to head down a familiar road—one she hadn't traveled in years. Slowing down, her headlights illuminated a figure in the distance, hunched over in the pouring rain, at a spot Riley had visited countless times before—Sophie's grave.

Without hesitation, Riley threw open the car door and ran toward the grave, her clothes quickly becoming soaked. She stopped in front of the figure—Sienna—slumped on the ground, oblivious to the downpour.

"Sienna," Riley called, her voice thick with relief and worry. The rain streamed down both of them, but Sienna didn't move. "Sienna, come on, what are you doing?" Riley crouched down, cupping Sienna's tear-streaked face in her hands.

Sienna looked up, her eyes swollen from crying. "Riley..." she mumbled, her voice barely audible over the rain.

"What happened?" Riley asked softly, pulling Sienna into a tight embrace. "You scared the hell out of me. Don't ever do that again," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. She gently stroked Sienna's back, trying to soothe her, as the rain continued to fall around them, blending with Sienna's tears.

Sienna wrapped her arms tightly around Riley, burying her face in the warmth of Riley's chest. The rain outside hadn't let up—it had only grown heavier, pounding against the windows as they sat in the backseat of Riley's car. Both of them were drenched, but Sienna, wrapped in a towel and sitting on Riley's lap, was slowly warming up as the car's heater hummed in the background.

Riley silently stroked Sienna's back, her fingers tracing slow, comforting patterns. The silence between them felt heavy, though Sienna had stopped crying, her breathing still uneven. The weight of unspoken words hung in the air.

"I'm sorry," Sienna whispered, her voice breaking the stillness. "I'm sorry you got stabbed because of me... because of my father."

Riley's hand froze mid-motion, caught off guard by the confession. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Sienna's tear-filled eyes. "What...?" Riley asked softly, struggling to process the words. "What do you mean?"

"It was because of me. My father... he planned to kill you." Sienna's voice cracked, her guilt evident. "It's my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been hurt—"

Before she could finish, Riley leaned in and pressed her lips softly against Sienna's, silencing her. The kiss lingered, gentle but filled with reassurance. When Riley pulled back, she smiled, though sadness flickered behind her eyes.

"It's not your fault," Riley said, her voice firm but tender. "You can't blame yourself for something you didn't do. Your father made his choices, but none of that is on you."

Sienna wiped at the fresh tears that had begun to fall, her emotions overwhelming her again. "Still, I feel responsible. You almost died because of him... because of me."

Riley chuckled softly, though the sound was weighed with emotion. "I'm not leaving you that easily. I survived, didn't I? And I'm right here, with you." She cupped Sienna's face gently, her thumbs brushing away the remaining tears. "You don't have to carry this guilt, love. Everything will be okay."

Sienna let out a shaky breath, her hands now resting on Riley's cheeks, her thumbs brushing across Riley's skin. "I've decided," she began, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'm stepping down as LunaVera's CEO. I'm leaving it all behind... because I want to be with you. I don't want to stay tied to my father's mistakes anymore."

Riley's breath hitched slightly, her eyes searching Sienna's face. "Sienna, are you sure?"

Sienna nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I'm sure. I want to be with you, Riley. I've made up my mind."

Riley pulled her close again, holding her tightly. "Then I'll be with you, every step of the way."

Sienna smiled softly as she leaned in to kiss Riley, intending it to be a brief touch, but Riley had other plans. She pulled Sienna closer, cupping the back of her head, deepening the kiss as if afraid to let go. Sienna sighed against her lips, melting into the warmth of Riley's embrace, the rain tapping against the car windows like a distant song.

The kisses trailed lower, to Sienna's neck, soft and teasing. Riley's hand slid down her spine, fingers lightly tracing over damp skin, sending shivers that had nothing to do with the cold outside. Sienna tilted her head, allowing Riley more access, feeling the fire in her core rising with every touch.

Sienna's hands found their way to Riley's shoulders, gripping them tightly as if grounding herself. Their bodies moved in perfect rhythm, the heat between them intensifying with every shared breath. Riley's touch was firm but tender, her fingers dancing over Sienna's clothed skin before pressing more purposefully. A soft gasp escaped Sienna, her body reacting instinctively to the growing pressure.

The rain outside only amplified the intensity inside, creating a cocoon of privacy and intimacy. Each kiss, each touch felt magnified, like the world had faded, leaving only the two of them in this moment.

When Riley's hand slipped beneath the fabric, Sienna's breath hitched. Their connection was more than physical—it was an unspoken understanding, a reunion of hearts that had longed for each other, even in silence. Riley's fingers moved gently, exploring with care, while her other hand held Sienna steady, never letting her go. The sensation was overwhelming, not just in touch but in the way their souls seemed to intertwine once more, after so much had tried to pull them apart.