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Raven
I watch him walk out the door with his uptight little girlfriend. She’s not right for him, but neither am I. My secrets run deep, and even though I feel something for him, there’s no way this could work. I’ll soon have to face reality; dragging Cross down that path with me isn’t an option. He doesn’t deserve it.
So, for now, I bide my time with him. I’ll take whatever he’s willing to give me to satisfy my hunger. I’ll take it and run with it. I know he’d give me more, he’s made that very clear, but a part of me knows it’s wrong. It would never work, especially when he learns my secrets.
“Are you okay?”
“Great,” I answer Cheryl as she watches me intently.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”
“You just look a little lost.”
“Maybe I am. I haven’t been myself lately,” I reply. That’s an understatement. I haven’t been myself in a while now. I need to get back to her. The girl I once was, one who didn’t let people walk all over her. The one who could stand up for herself. The time will come, and then there will be hell to pay. Being a victim of that trafficking ring changed something in me. It forced me to think and realize there’s more to life than what I was living. There was more out there, and I wanted it.
When the guys rescued us, I was a shadow of a woman. I’d been drugged, abused, and broken. Over the time I’ve been here, things have changed. I’ve become stronger, but unfortunately, my mind is still a little muddled sometimes, which doesn’t help.
“You don’t have to be yourself after what you went through,” Cheryl reminds me.
“I actually feel better than I have in a long time.”
“That’s good. I’m glad,” she says as I smile. Cheryl doesn’t know me and shouldn’t act as if she does. I could turn out to be the enemy, although the thought makes my stomach churn. They’ve done so much for me and the other girls I wouldn’t dream of turning on them. In fact, I’m far too thankful to them. I couldn’t have made it out of there on my own.
“I’m thinking I might go home soon,” I tell her. Her eyes light up, making me wonder if she wanted to get rid of all the girls who remained. Maybe we’re taking up their space. No, I shouldn’t think that. I shouldn’t assume things. They have been nothing short of caring and nice to us.
“Really? That’s good, Raven. Really good. Are you sure you’re ready, though? You don’t have to leave,” she says, and I almost believe she likes having me around.
“I think it’s almost time. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.”
“You know you don’t have to rush this. The guys don’t mind you being here. In fact, I think Cross likes having you around,” she teases me.
“I like being here. You have all been nice to me, but nearly all the other girls are gone now. I feel like I’m overstaying my welcome.”
“No, never think that. You are welcome here as long as you want.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You girls good?” Rage asks as he comes to stand next to us.
“Raven was thinking about going home.”
“You don’t have to,” he says quickly. A small smile tugs across my face as I look up at him.
“I’m still a little unsure by everything,” I admit. I’m not uncertain. I’m just on edge. I know what happened and why I was where I was. I know what I need to do. It’s just taking that first step and doing it.
“Then don’t go. You don’t need to leave anytime soon, darlin’. You’re welcome here as long as you want to be here,” he says. My smile gets bigger as I nod my head.
“Thank you, Rage.”
“No need to thank me.”
“I do, though. You guys have all been amazing. I’ve never seen a family like what you guys have here. Everyone has each other’s backs, and you never forced the girls to go. It was nice,” I tell him.
“It’s not what we’re about. We want to end the traffickin’ shit, but we know there’s no way to end it completely. We’ll never even scratch the surface of that shit, but we do what we can around here. Hell, Drake even travels if he has to.”
“I think what you guys do is incredible,” I tell him. Rage smiles and nods his head.
