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Chapter Twenty-Six
Rebel
For fucks’ sake, I’m fucking late. I lean on my horn and cuss out the stupid fucking wanker who can’t fucking reverse, or park or pull-the-fuck-over. Hell, he can’t even fucking drive! I wish I had a smaller car, the 4x4 is too big for moments like this. Though the bull bar on the front is enough for me to ram him out of the way, I exercise a modicum of control.
My phone beeps with a message - probably Raven cancelling on me cause I took my sweet time getting there - and because I’m going nowhere fast, I think fuck it, and I pick it up to check.
It’s the group chat.
Thorn: Yo! @Reb Dude! Where you at? Just swung by the hotel and you’re not around. Plans?
Ace: Beer tonight, guys?
Thorn: I’m down for that! @Reb?
I sigh and type out a quick response:
No can do, I’m on my way to Raven’s tonight. Got Thai and Netflix.
I shouldn’t be bragging but I know my brothers will read between the lines. They’ll know I’m putting the moves on her tonight. They don’t need to know about the disastrous declaration of love from the other day. They’d tear me a new one with all their piss-taking. No, much better for them to think I’m getting lucky.
Ace: Enjoy, srecen prasec!
Thorn: Sounds good, we’ll be there soon!
I grind my teeth in annoyance and hit call.
“Don’t even fucking think about it!” I bark as soon as the call connects. Thorn pisses himself.
“Chill out, dude! I thought a good old fashioned movie night would be just what Raven would fancy!”
“Fuck off!”
“Should I text her and ask, or just show up?”
“I’m fucking warning you…” I growl, but the fucker has disconnected. “Fuck!” I beat my fists down on the steering wheel, not caring that the blare of the horn makes people jump.
If Thorn’s being serious - and I’ll kick his ass if he is - he’s likely to get to her before I do! Stupid fucking Thai restaurant. I just had to go over to the other side of town to hit up the best Thai place in the city. Stupid idiot, trying to impress Raven. I should have just focused on getting to her.
Without checking my mirrors, I slam the car into reverse and complete a turn in the road. It’s narrow as fuck so it takes me about six attempts but I’m too wound up to give a fuck. As soon as I’m moving again, I use my phone to recalculate a new route to her house. My ETA is ten minutes now. Good. Hopefully the food is still warm.
I beat the sat nav, pulling up outside her house and parking easily. I frown when I spot the same dark van that was hanging around her old house. Not bailiffs; I paid everything off. It makes me feel uneasy. I grab the Thai and quicken my pace up the steps to her door.
I ring the bell and wait, but there’s no answer. Weird. She knows to expect me. I ring, knock, peer through the windows as best I can. I can’t see her. I ring her phone; no answer.
And somehow, I just know in my gut that something isn’t right. I’m debating racing back to the car for my spare key when a thud from inside makes me panic. I run for the car, grabbing my phone and hitting redial.
“Chil the fuck out dude, we were just teasing,” Thorn groans when he answers.
“Get here now!” I pant and hang up. I wrench open the passenger door and rummage in the glove box, pulling everything out in my frantic search for the small golden key I decided to keep for emergencies.
Locating it, I spin and race back to the front door, throwing it open and not caring when it hits the wall behind. The car door also hangs open, abandoned in my haste to listen to my gut.
Something’s wrong…something’s wrong…something’s wrong…
“RAVEN!!!” I roar at the top of my lungs. “Raven! Baby! Please! Where are you?” My voice cracks at the end and the worst sickening dread fills me from top to toe. The kitchen is empty. The lounge is too, though I do notice signs of a scuffle. I race for the stairs, chanting prayers as I take them two at a time. Thank fuck Phoenix isn’t here. Please let Raven be okay. Please let me be here on time.
On the first floor landing I race for the nearest bedroom. It’s a guest, not the master, and the door is locked. Throwing my shoulder and full weight at it, I hear the wood splintering as the frame gives way and I crash into the room.
