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The second time, he gave me an uneasy flashback from my past.
When he came to the medical ward with bruises after the fight at Carnage, we didn’t say much to each other. Sometimes, all you need to tell you there’s something different about a person is a strange shiver down your spine at the touch, an unusual sensation in your heart when he speaks to you, the fingers with missing phalanges too gentle when they wrap around your wrist as you try to touch his old scars, the soft “Don’t,” and the tingling on your skin at the contact, too prolonged for two strangers who’ve never spoken before.
Raven’s gaze is on me as soon as he steps into the room, followed by Kai.
I shake off the thoughts, the memories, and the strange excitement at seeing him again.
I take a slow step to shield Sonny. I don’t need to make abrupt movements or say things loudly—Raven notices every little detail, like a predator. Something in me wants to get under his skin, see what makes him tick, what’s behind this reserved man everyone is too cautious about. His power is scary but contagious, reminding me of the past and the men I used to be around.
“I need the kid.” Raven tells me in that soft deep voice that doesn’t fit his almost cruelly cold expression. He’s talking to me, not Callie, who’s in charge of the kid, like I’m the boy’s mother, then gives Sonny a backward nod. “You’re coming with us.”
He’s in my domain now, and I know how to handle men like this—everything with him has to be a respectful negotiation.
So, I shake my head. “No, he’s not,” I say calmly.
Raven’s eyes probe into me with almost surgical precision, a humorous sparkle in them like he just heard something ridiculous that surprised and intrigued him.
He takes a step closer. The smile on his lips doesn’t reach his eyes when he says quietly, “He’s coming with us.”
I match his emotionless smile. “You learn how to talk to a child, you get to talk to one. Otherwise, you have to go through me.”
A quiet, “Huh,” escapes him.
It feels like it’s just him and me in the room, a silent duel, but I won’t budge unless he’s nice. “Maybe, you shouldaskhim if he wants to go.”
“I will,” Sonny says eagerly from behind me. He’s fascinated with everything, including new people, though he doesn’t yet know who to trust.
Raven only cocks a brow at me as if saying, “See? I win.”
“Maddy.” Kai steps from behind him. “Can we please take Sonny? He’ll be fine. I’ll take care of him. But he might help.Reallyhelp.” His gaze is so warm—it’s impossible to say no to Kai. “Please,” he mouths and kneads his brows in a plea.
Sometimes, that’s all one needs to resolve a conflict—a request, permission, and an ounce of understanding. Raven doesn’t get that. He moves like a dark shadow used to people stepping aside when he makes his way through.
“I’m coming with you,” I say and turn my back to Raven, then sit down on my haunches in front of Sonny. “You don’t have to, kiddo, if you don’t feel comfortable.”
Sonny’s eyes shift upward and behind me. I know who he’s looking at, and it’s uncanny—the kid is not afraid but curious about Raven when he shrugs his bony shoulders and pushes his long hair off his forehead. “Yeah. I don’ min’.”
I feel Raven’s gaze on me all the way to the Center. He’s on a sports bike behind our golf cart, as if on purpose so he can watch me.
I grew up amidst danger. I was taught to get used to it, accept it, and make friends with those who might hurt me one day. I’ve changed my ways since then, but Raven reminds me of where I come from. Maybe that’s the reason I feel excitement when he’s around.
We walk into the Center and to the surveillance part. I’ve only been here when we came back from the Eastside, and the fact that there are so many eyes and so many screens showing every part of Zion makes me uneasy. I close my eyes for a second, swallowing hard when I turn to see Raven’s cold stare burrowing into me.
I feel goosebumps on my skin, yet I have a hard time looking away.
“Okay,” Kai says, setting Sonny down at a big screen and kneeling next to him as the rest of us stand behind him. Raven’s next to me, our shoulders almost touching like he’s doing it on purpose. “Give us the Ashlands.” The surveillance guy next to Sonny moves the mouse and clicks, zooming in on an aerial view of Port Mrei and the vast polka-dotted area next to it. “Do you recognize any part of it from this far?”
Sunny shakes his head. “Wha’s this?”
Kai motions with his finger to the surveillance guy. “Closer, much closer, on any area, so he can see the landscape and structures.”
The surveillance guy does what he’s told.
Kai turns to look at Sonny. “Better? Do you recognize any of the tents?”
Sonny turns his head and then bends his entire body like he’s trying to read an upside-down picture, then does it the other way.
“I don’,” he murmurs almost apologetically and then turns around to look at Raven—Raven! Of all people!
