Page 38 of Carver’s Crusade

I consider her statement and share a look with Shield. Jinx is new here. Most people don’t know why she’s here or the circumstances of her position in the clubhouse. Raven does. Why? I track my eyes to Athena, who is dancing with Ranch. I can think of only one reason Raven would know Jinx, and that’s if Jinx was a patient of Athena’s. I'm considering pushing the subject, but I don’t want to put Raven in a bad position.

My attention returns to the table when I hear Shield asking Raven if she remembered anything more about the attack.

CHAPTER 18: RAVEN

I consider telling Shield about Tony, but I know if I start giving him any details, I’ll be putting myself at risk. I want to tell him about last night's attack and Tony’s role in it, but I have no proof. I doubt the poor woman he drugged will remember the person who drugged her. But maybe I could push him to take a harder look at Tony.

“No, I’ve been trying, but I can’t remember,” I tell him. “Although I remember the color yellow. I just can’t remember why or what.”

“Tony’s Mustang is yellow,” Shield says.

“Oh, maybe that’s why I’m remembering the color. You said cameras caught his car leaving the scene, right? Did you ever find it or the driver?”

“Actually, his car turned up. Whoever took it abandoned it in a parking lot. Tony reclaimed it yesterday.”

“That’s convenient,” Carver says, his disbelief mimicking mine.

“Yeah, that’s what we thought. The car wasn’t damaged. According to Tony, the thief stole some money out of the glovebox. The car still had half a tank of gas,” Shield says.

“That doesn’t sound likely, does it?” Lenora asks. “Why would someone steal a car just to leave it for someone to find?”

“They could have taken it for a joyride, but I’m not buying it. Most joyriders would drive it until they ran out of gas or crashed. The car doesn’t look like anyone did anything more than drive it down the street and park it.”

“You don’t think it was stolen,” I murmur, watching Shield’s expression.

He chuckles. “No, I don’t.”

“You think he’s the one who attacked me,” I continue.

Shield stares at me for a minute without responding. “I can’t say. It might interfere with your memory and eventually your testimony.”

I nod, considering my options. A small voice inside me encourages me to trust these men, but my fear drowns it out. He’s a cop. A detective. For all I know, he’s working the case where I’m the person he is hunting. Shield may be a member of an outlaw motorcycle club and someone used to looking the other way when his club brothers commit crimes, but that doesn’t mean he’ll look the other way for me.

I glance at Carver and smile at him. He’s incredibly handsome and so very sexy. My body flushes with heat when I remember how good it felt being in his arms as we danced. I feel a pang of regret knowing that I can’t have him. Every minute I’m with him and his brothers is a risk. Being with him weakens my resolve.

Carver’s thigh brushes mine beneath the table, warm and solid. Steady. He leans close enough for me to catch the scent of whiskey and smoke clinging to his cut.

“You’ve gone quiet on me, Raven.”

His voice is low, rough around the edges, and God help me, I like it. I like him.

Too much.

I glance at him and regret twists hard in my chest. He’s unfairly handsome tonight, dark hair falling across his forehead, tattooed forearms flexing as he lifts his beer. Earlier, on the dance floor, I felt safe in his arms. He made me feel wanted. For a few stupid minutes, I forgot who I am and what I’ve done. Shield isn’t just hunting my attacker; he could be hunting me.

“You okay?” Carver asks again.

Shield’s gaze sharpens slightly, like he’s waiting for my answer too.

I wet my suddenly dry lips. “I’m fine,” I lie. The word scrapes my throat raw.

Because I’m sitting here one heartbeat away from confessing everything, I want to tell Shield that I know exactly who attacked me. I want to tell him about what happened the previous night. Maybe he’d focus on Tony and his friends and ignore my part, but I can’t take the chance.

Tony and his friends are predators. I know it. They give each other alibis. It’s the perfect setup for them. Shield needs to know this information. The thought of telling him rises so fast the words almost escape me.

All I have to do is lean across the table and whisper the truth in the space between us. I could tell him what I know about Tony. I could tell him that he’s looking in the wrong direction. He’d believe me. Wouldn’t he?

Then reality crashes in hard enough to steal the air from my lungs. Shield is a cop. He’ll protect his brothers and the club. He’ll protect his people. I’m not one of them. He has no reason to risk his badge by protecting me. He won’t see me as anything but what I am—a murderer.