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Chapter Forty-Seven
Baxter
“Is Phoenix okay?” I ask as soon as Raven and Jax re-enter the room.
“She’s fine,” Raven responds as she passes me Phoenix’s sample to bag up and label.
“We’re all done.” I indicate the samples laid out on the table. “Just you now Jax,” I tell him.
Wordlessly he takes the swab, swipes the inside of his cheek, and deposits it into the clear plastic sample bag. He seals it, reaches for a pen, scrawls his details, and then passes the final test piece to me.
I bag them, seal the envelope and stick the postage label on the front.
“Let’s get this to the post office,” I declare. “I’ll be right back.”
“Actually, Bax, do you mind if I take it?” Raven offers.
“Sure. Need company?”
“No. Just fresh air. Clear my head a little.”
I nod. Hand over the parcel and watch her leave. We wait in silence for a moment until the front door clicks and then, dropping all pretense, Jax asks: “How fucked is she with this Cordelia shit?”
“Honestly? It’s really fucking bad.” I confess. “I don’t want to be a harbinger of doom, but I can’t see a way out of this one.”
“Let’s go over things again. What are her reasons?” Jax asks, in a matter of fact way. He wants this sorted as much as me. We’re both organisers, doers, fixers.
“She states that Raven is incompetent to look after Phoenix, she says the poverty is the main factor, but that Raven’s ‘immoral lifestyle choices’ also have a bearing.”
“What the fuck?!” He growls, sounding a lot like Rebel.
“Yeah, she means you guys. But I also get blamed. Apparently she’s putting Phoenix’s safety in jeopardy by associating with a known criminal.” I tell them.
“How does she know about that? I thought everything was kept off record where possible, or sealed?” Rebel chimes in.
“Grandfather is well and truly blinded by her. It’s safe to assume that she knows everything about me and my past.” My stomach churns uncomfortably at that, but now isn’t the time for me to be worrying about myself and what that bitch knows about me. My only concern is how she can warp the truth to suit her own means.
“Then she should know what an amazing protector you are!”
“Ah but the role of a knight doesn’t fit in with her plans to make me the villain of the story.” I smile ruefully.
“Ok, what else?” Jax prompts.
“Cordelia has told the courts that Raven had a mental breakdown and attempted to take her own life.”
“WHAT?” Rebel explodes. “That’s bullshit, man!”
“Fuck!” Ace’s eyes go wide. “Bitch.”
“Cunt,” Thorn corrects. “She’s an absolute cunt. Cuntdelia is henceforth her new name.”
“I know,” I try to placate them, holding my hands up in peace. I chuckle at the moniker for the vile witch, despite the seriousness of the situation.
“Surely Charlie could set them straight on that?” Jax asks thoughtfully.
“He’s not in a position to answer any questions at the moment. It would seem his injuries were more severe than initially thought. He’s in a medically induced coma.”
“Your doing?” Jax raises an eyebrow at me and I shake my head.
