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I snort. Raven is perceptive and insightful.
“You have to know where you two stand,” he carries on. I’ve never heard him talk so much on the topic of a relationship. “If you are not on the same page, let her go, get over it, get her off this island so she doesn’t bother your ego, and get yourself straight. If you are on the same page, get over your ego and make things right with her so you can function like you used to.”
“And you?” I ask him with a smile. I feel that even drunk he’s as sharp as a nail. And I’ve never seen him drunk.
“What about me?”
“What do you drink for?”
“I just enjoy it.”
“Nuh-huh. Bullshit. I’ve come to know you, Raven. You are sedating your shitty past. And I’m avoiding the pointless future. That’s the difference.”
“You are making the future happen for a lot of people.”
“Well, I’m glad someone is optimistic about life.”
“You think dealing with rich snobby assholes is a burden?” There’s a little smirk on his lips. Every emotion is just a tiny indication on his face, like he drained himself of all of it a long time ago. “Try dealing with guys who shake hands with you but can put a bullet in your head if they don’t like your shirt.”
“Raven, you are one of the most important guys on Zion.”
He nods. “But if Butcher decides to put a bullet in my head one day and I’m not prepared, I’ll be gone in a matter of seconds. And it’ll probably be a bullet Ayana paid for.”
A sad smile curves his lips. There’s too much I don’t know about his deals in Port Mrei. Maybe I should. For now, I’m glad I have people like Raven and Marlow in my life who cover other bases.
Droga, too—he’s finally creeping back into my life.
And Kat. I wish I still had her. But we played our games, and now she’s done with them, feels bad for saying awful things, and wants to receive an amnesty so she can stay on the island because by now, she has friends and enjoys it.
“Did Maddy patch you up?” I ask, just to change the topic and out of genuine curiosity.
Raven plays deaf.
“Are you avoiding the conversation?” It’s my turn to smile.
He shakes his head, finally meeting my gaze, his expression too cold like I just brought up his enemy. “She did fine.”
“No more conflicts?”
“She’s good at what she does. Especially when she follows orders.”
He flicks the ash of his cigarette into the ashtray too sharply. Uh-oh. Last time I checked, she got her way in the office.
“She’s leaving for the mainland or staying?” Raven asks without looking at me.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Staying. Why?”
Raven only shrugs. “No reason.”
There’s always a reason with Raven. “You like her or something?” I ask, teasing him.
He stares at me for some time without a single emotion, then finally says, “Just wondered is all.”
Raven neverjust wonders. But he is usually not a talker either.
“Women—they make things complicated, huh?” I smile, thinking about Kat and trying to distract myself from picking up the phone and calling her—the urge I’ve been fighting every night for the last month.
Raven only smirks. “No. They’re an unnecessary evil. And that’s too much credit.”
