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Chapter Nine
Rebel
Fuck, I’m tired, I think to myself as I rake my hands through my hair, not caring if I mess it up. I’ve staked out Raven’s work for her last few shifts at the bar. I wanted to make sure she was safe. Mostly she stays behind the bar, which is good, but I’ve noticed that her boss is a real creep. He watches her way too keenly, and tries to send her out into crowds to collect glasses. It’s an obvious trick to bring more guys back to the bar to spend money, especially as their eyes follow Rae wherever she goes, but I hated having to watch dirty sleazeballs getting too handsy with her. She handled them all though...without even breaking their fingers or faces, which I would have done.
But then, obviously, I had to make sure she got home safely too. Late, late nights by the time she walked home. One night it was absolutely pissing it down. She needs a car. I don’t like her wandering the streets late at night. It’s not safe. And she’s more likely to get sick, walking in the rain...then how would she manage?
I take a massive gulp of some vile coffee concoction that I picked up at the service station, and manoeuvre the car into a parking space right outside Raven’s place. It looks even worse in daylight. It’s a fucking dump. I can’t wait to get her and Phoenix out of here; both for the day, and permanently.
I hop out of the car and eagerly make my way towards the front door. Out of the corner of my eye, I spy a dark van parked just down the street. It’s been there the last few nights, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it in daylight. I could be being paranoid, but I’m pretty sure it’s watching Raven’s flat. Fuck. I need to get her moved out of here faster.
I knock, and smile broadly when Phoenix answers the door. Then my face falls. She shouldn’t be opening the door; it’s not safe. She invites me in and races off to get her shoes, clearly hyped by the idea of getting ice cream.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I say as Raven enters the room. “I’ve missed you this week.”
“Really?” She raises an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Of course! I’ve gone four years without seeing you, now four hours is too much!” Shit that’s a bit soppy, shouldn’t have said that.
“Is that why you’ve been stalking me at work?” she asks.
Fuck. I look at her, trying to work out how much she really knows and just how mad she is. Luckily, she’s smiling. She seems more amused than pissed. Phew.
“How did you know?” I grin sheepishly.
“Please, you’re not exactly inconspicuous! Besides, all my colleagues were lusting after you.” She sounds mildly exasperated. “I was hounded by them to pass on your number once they realised I knew you.”
“Aww, baby, don’t be jealous, I’ve only got eyes for you!” I placate her teasingly.
“Let’s go!” She shakes her head like I’m just too much and calls for Phoenix to get a move on.
She locks up and I walk over to the car, stopping when she doesn’t follow me.
“Erm, Reb?” she calls. “We’re walking to the ice cream parlour.”
“No, we’re not,” I reply emphatically.
“We have to, I don’t have a car seat for Phoenix,” she tries to insist.
“Nope. I got one.”
“What?”
“I picked up a car seat yesterday, it’s top of the range so you don’t have to worry. She’ll be safe,” I try to reassure her.
“That’s too much.” She frowns.
“Nah,” I scoff. “It’s a purely selfish move. I’m sick of walking around following your fine ass everywhere. Besides, the place we’re going is too far away.”
“But there’s an ice cream place just down the road.”
“I know, but we’re going to my place. Stop arguing, get in.”
Thankfully she listens, belting Phoenix safely into the backseat and then climbing in the front beside me.
“What?” she asks when she catches me grinning.
“Thought you were going to go all stubborn on my ass and I was going to have to fight you a little more, that’s all.” I shrug, eyes twinkling.
