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Raven
When I step backinto the bar area, the fight has dwindled down, but the place is a mess. Tables and chairs are broken, shattered glass covers the floor, and it’s pretty clear people have been thrown out since the place is down to about half the capacity it was before I was dragged back into the hallway
Since I can’t see the guys anywhere, I head for the entrance doors with the card in my hand. I’m not sure what to do with it. Should I tell Jax and Hunter? I mean, I don’t have any reason not to except for that the stranger told me not to.
By the time I step outside, I’m still unsure what I’m going to do. Or where I should even go to find Jax and Hunter. I don’t have a cell phone, which turns out to suck. And, to make things even more uneasy, the parking lot is filled with drunk people.
As a few guys glance at me, I quickly scan the parking lot for the car, trying to remember where we parked. When I spot it, relief washes over me. Jax, Hunter, and Benton are standing by it. Benton is leaning against the car while texting someone; Hunter is near the front of his car, looking around; and Jax is pacing beside it with his arms crossed, probably freaking out.
I hurry over to them, ignoring a few catcalls in my direction. Normally, if I wasn’t in such a hurry, I’d tell them to go fuck themselves, but I just want to get the hell out of here.
While I’m powerwalking across the gravel, I hear a woman talking to a man about how Benny is a douche for kicking everyone out just because Joe decided to sucker punch Dick, who I’m assuming is some guy. Honestly, she could be referring to some guy’s junk. Who knows with this crowd?
“We need to get back inside,” Jax is saying to Hunter as I near them. He’s bursting with so much anxiety that I swear I can taste it in the air. I guess that’s better than tasting drunken people’s sweat, so … “She has to be in there.”
“I know we do, but the fucking bouncer is bring a prick …” Hunter trails off as he spots me. So much relief consumes his features that I almost feel like I’m drowning in it for a moment. Then he’s rushing toward me, taking long strides.
“What the hell happened?”
All right, Raven, it’s decision time.
Do I tell them?
Who do I trust?
They saved me. Took me in.
No one has done that for me before.
Think about it, Raven. Think about what they’ve done for you.
“The guy in the corner sort of pulled me aside,” I tell Hunter as we reach each other.
Well, there you go. I guess I have my answer. I do trust these guys. A lot. I just hope I’m not making a mistake.
Most of my doubt about that dissipates when Hunter wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. So much adrenaline rushes through me that my body begins to tremble, and I wrap my arms around him, mostly to keep from falling down.
“You’re shaking, baby,” Hunter whispers, his lips brushing against my neck as he scoops me up in his arms. “What did he do to you?”
“He didn’t do anything,” I assure him, briefly shutting my eyes as I wrap my legs around his waist. This … This is nice. “I’m … It’s just the hug. I’m not used to it. Like, you know when you touched me on my waist. But it’s okay.”
“Are you sure?” he double-checks with his arm positioned under my butt.
I nod. “I’m perfectly fine.”
“Good.” He breathes in relief. Then he does something that can only be described as soul-stealing. He kisses the side of my neck, a soft brush of his lips against my flesh.
Oh my God, how could I have gone years without being touched? It’s insane how depraved my mind and body are.
He pulls back and looks me in the eyes. “I want you to tell me what happened, but first …” He sets me down, steps back, and then he pulls me forward but moves out of the way.
I’m confused at first until I see Jax, right there in front of me. He instantly opens his arms and hugs me so tightly I swear he’s trying to pull me into him.
I hug him back, telling him, “I’m fine. I promise. Nothing bad happened to me.”
He continues to hold me, his hands trembling. “When I couldn’t see you, I thought …” A faltering breath flees from his lips.
“I’m fine,” I promise, skimming my finger down the back of his neck. “But I do have some stuff to tell you guys … when we’re in the car.”
