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His eyes drop to my hands and I freeze, yanking them from my hoodie pocket.
“You still have it,” he muses.
Perceptive son of a bitch.
When I say nothing, he asks, “May I see it?”
“No.”
“But I’m the one who gave it to you.”
“You also bought me from my mother, so forgive me if I’m not ready to hand over the only thing in reach to kill you with should you give me a reason to.”
His eyes widen slightly before he can stop them.
“Raven!” Captain snaps, but I ignore him.
“Seems someone has grown up a little wary —”
“Don’t pretend to know or care how I grew up,” I cut Rolland off. “And just ... stop. What are you even doing?” I glance at Cap who watches me, Royce whose brows are lined with tension, and then Maddoc, who frowns at us both.
Rolland tilts his head slightly like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying.
“Your sons have missed you. Focus on them, not me.”
“But they have you to thank for getting me here, even if you did cause some problems along the way.” He tries to smile, but when he doesn’t get one in return, he nods instead.
“Ms. Maybell, would you please step upstairs with Raven. I’d like to speak with my sons a moment.”
Maybell’s features tighten and she waves me over. “Come on, child.”
I scoff, shake my head and spin around. I yank the front door open, but I only get a step out before Maddoc is gripping my arm.
My eyes snap to his, and his jaw clenches. I yank away and step onto the porch, Maybell right behind me and the door slams.
I lean my head against the wall a second, then spin to face her.
“Can I come back to the house?”
Her forehead crinkles, but her lip twitches. “Not gonna run, huh?”
I glare, and she laughs, a sigh falling shortly after.
She reaches for my hand and slowly drops to sit, her feet dangling over the edge of the porch, laughing lightly when I pull from her grip.
She pats the space at her side, so I plant my ass beside her. She blows my damn mind when she pulls an old school metal pipe from her pocket, packed and ready to go.
I gape at her, a laugh escaping me, and she shrugs.
“I’m an old, achy woman who deals with a good dozen females on a daily basis. These nerves are shot.”
I laugh and watch her hit it, taking it when she passes it my way.
“You knew I was smoking the whole time?” I ask her.
“I know everything, child. I’ve been a mother to many.” She looks my way. “I also knew you stole the binder from me.”
“Why not confront me, or take it back?”
“I wanted to see what would happen next.”
My mouth opens then closes. “What?”
“I wanted to see what would happen next,” she repeats. “I knew you’d do no harm to them. I could feel it in my gut.”
“You shouldn’t have trusted in your gut. You don’t know me.”
“I know you’re a fighter, like them. I knew right away you’d love him, and I was waiting to watch it happen.”
I frown at the orchards. “Maybe I don’t.”
She scoffs, and my eyes fall to my feet.
“Maybe ... I don’t want to.”
“Raven,” she starts but pauses for a long moment. Finally, she shifts to face me. “Child,” she whispers, something sounding a lot like devastation making her voice crack. “Things are gonna get real complicated, but I need you—”
The door is thrown open and a crazy-eyed Maddoc storms out, his feet screeching to a halt when he spots us off to the side.
His shoulders visibly drop.
Maybell smiles meekly from me to him. “Yes, boy, she’s still here.”
Maddoc nods, his frown not leaving me.
“What?” I ask a little more bitchy than necessary.
“Come inside.”
“I’m talking to Maybell.” Anything to prolong this.
“We’re done, child.”
My stare slices back to her and she offers a tight smile.
“Go on, girl,” she whispers, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “Boy,” she calls and Maddoc comes over, helping her stand.
He kisses her temple and she makes her way down the steps.
I stand and Maddoc steps against me.
“You good?” he rasps, his voice tense.
“Are you?” I counter, and he frowns.
I step past him and into the house.
Cap and Royce are on the couch, so I drop between them, not missing the frown that comes from Rolland as I do.
Maddoc moves to sit on the arm of it, on the other side of Royce.
“So,” Rolland starts.
“So...” I let my eyes trail him this time. “You look like the man I used to see once a week ... but at the same time, you don’t.” My eyes lift to his. “You played the trucker role well, never would have guessed you owned a suit, let alone wore one like a king.”
His lip tips slightly.
Fool.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
