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I grind my teeth and force my eyes closed.
I can’t fucking let myself think about Raven in this place with a piece of shit like her.
“What are we doing here, RaeRae?” Royce turns around to look at her, a mix of worry and anger covering his face. “For real, the fuck’s this all about?”
She holds his eyes a moment before glancing away, but he keeps at her.
“We didn’t ask any questions, brought you like you wanted, avoided talking about the last few fucking weeks on the drive and now here we are, waiting outside your mom’s and we have no fucking clue what we’re getting into.” He watches her. “I’m not sure I’m up for any more fucking bombshells.”
No surprise when she gives him nothing and he glares my way.
None of us are okay with what’s happening right now, and we’re sure as fuck not used to doing things without knowing every detail included, but this is Raven and we’re trying to figure out why her brain works the way it does.
So, we’re bending a little.
A real fucking little.
Raven called it right, less than an hour goes by and a big burly fucker with a long, braided ponytail steps out.
He pauses at the sight of our SUV, but then quickly starts tucking his shirt in as he walks away.
Raven pauses a moment, then slips her hands between the seats.
I frown when she pulls out her knife.
She flips it open, turning it to inspect the sharpened blade, and I meet Cap’s eyes quickly, looking back when she snaps it closed. She squeezes it, her eyes stuck to the old metal before she slides it up her left sleeve, discreetly holding it there.
“Why do you feel the need to take that?”
“I take it everywhere,” she says flatly.
“Fine. Then why ready and waiting like it is instead of in your pocket or waistband like normal?”
Her eyes hit mine. “You think I’m unpredictable? She’s ten times me.”
“No. You are ten times anything she will ever fucking be.”
Her face contorts, a softness lining her eyes, but she washes it away just as quick as it slips. “She’s uncontrolled in a different way than I am.”
“You’re not convincing me to let you go in their alone.”
“You need to understand you’re not in control here.” She pushes open her door and steps out and I go to follow, but Royce’s hand shoots out, gripping me by the back of the collar.
With a growl, I yank free, spinning toward him with a glare.
“Give her a minute. Maybe this is about what Dad said, abuse or some shit and her mind is all fucked up.”
“Do you really think I give a fuck about that?” I shoot back.
“Maddoc,” he growls, spinning fully in his seat, anger flaring in his eyes. “She just fucking came back, man, and only because we went and got her. Your girl, your fucking call, brother, but damn. I don’t wanna lose her by pushing her. We all know how she gets when we do.”
“I’m with Royce,” Captain agrees.
I smack the back of the headrest and drop against the seat.
“Ten minutes,” I relent, slamming my eyes shut. “And not a second fucking longer.”
This is fucked.Taking a deep breath, I pull open the broken screen door and step inside, letting it slam with a loud whack.
God, I don’t miss the smell of stale cigarettes and filthy musk.
A muffled laugh has my eyes jerking right to the sofa that only months ago acted as my bedroom.
I frown when I spot her lying there, legs still laying open, nothing but a stretched out tank top on.
Dirty bitch.
I know what the candles being lit means, but flick the switch to be shitty and draw attention to it.
“Clientele is low, I see.”
“Clientele is just fine, daughter, but there are more important things to pay for than electricity.” Her words are sluggish, and I step closer to look her over more. She lies there limp, eyes glossy and hardly open. “Besides, the candles set the mood, hm?”
I scoff.
“I saw someone yesterday,” I say slowly. “Only he had a different name than the one I knew him by.”
She tenses, slowly pushing up on her elbows. Her eyes shift between mine a moment and she laughs lightly, but there’s a blankness to it that puts me on edge.
“Oh my god. He was right.” A slow grin takes over her face. “You really are just a girl under all that rot.”
My brows pull in and she laughs more.
I keep my calm bravado going, but really my insides are turning.
“I’ve gotta hand it to the man, it was the perfect ploy on his end.” She sticks a cigarette in her mouth and lights it, sucking in a long drag. “He thought it would look great for his case to have you around, forming a little bond with his boys. With three to pick from, guess his odds were pretty good. He knew what he was doing when he made his offer.”
