Page 10 of Just One More Moment

Her big brother wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him. “I wish you could move in with me and Owen.”

She shook her head, a lump in her throat. “We both know that’s a terrible idea. I don’t want to put you in the middle and besides, I will never put Owen at risk.”

“But—”

She pulled away and held up a hand, cutting him off. “Before you say Lance wouldn’t hurt your child, remember what he did to Emily. I won’t risk someone I love ever again.”

In an effort to escape him once before, she’d left home at the age of twenty-one and moved in with a friend in the city. Not only had Lance found her, he’d beaten and was about to rape her roommate while Raven wasn’t home. She’d arrived in the middle of the assault, had taken a bat and swung, hitting him in the shoulder to get him off her beaten friend. Raven shuddered at the memory and swallowed back the urge to throw up.

“Okay, but you’re safe, right?” Caleb’s voice helped ground her to the present.

She nodded. “Nothing here is in my name. The apartment where I’m staying is owned by the bar and it’s alarmed.” She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her goose-bumped skin.

“And no more visits you haven’t told me about?” He pinned her with a worried gaze.

“None since I moved upstairs. I promise. I would have let you know.” After Lance had been convicted thanks to Raven’s testimony, he’d obviously made friends inside because she’d get periodic visits from released inmates, telling her that her brother saidhello. Lance’s way of letting her know that wherever she went, he’d find her.

This final move had enabled her more freedom since the apartment was listed under a corporate name and her lease was with Zach, personally, not through a property manager or real estate firm. He didn’t know what she was running from but he hadn’t questioned her need for secrecy. If he’d dug into her background and knew her story, he’d never let on, and for that she was grateful. Which made her wonder… if Zach did know about her past, had he told Remy?

She shook her head, discounting either notion. Both Remy and Zach had protective streaks a mile wide for anyone in their world. Despite Raven’s deliberate attempts to remain aloof—until Saturday night, anyway—they’d pulled her into their world. She knew their family and their friends.

Zach might have his hands full now with his wife and her teenage sister, but Remy kept an eye on Raven. If he had any sense that danger lurked in her background and her future, he’d have mentioned it by now.

“Hey. Where’d you go?” Caleb asked.

She refocused on her brother. “Sorry. Just thinking.”

He looked at her with a combination of pity and worry in his gaze. She despised the former and understood the latter.

“I’ll do my best to keep an ear out and make sure I press our mother for details on herfavoriteson,” he muttered, his tone laced with disgust.

Raven pursed her lips at that. Cassandra Kane spoiled her psycho child, turning a blind eye to his sociopathic behavior and taking his side no matter how bad the incident.Always. Which was why Raven put distance between them. Her father, a weak but kind man, passed away from a heart attack seven years ago, before Lance had tried and failed to rape Raven. Her mother had believed Lance over Raven and she’d moved out almost immediately afterward.

If Caleb could get information from their mother about Lance’s whereabouts and plans post-release, that would help.

“Thank you, big brother.” She managed a smile but knew Caleb didn’t buy her forced cheer.

“I love you, Raven. If you need anything, day or night, call me. I’ll get someone to watch Owen and I’ll be there immediately.”

Standing, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. “Love you too. You’re a good man, Caleb. Your ex-wife was a fool to let my two favorite boys go.”

He chuckled but didn’t reply. He rose to his feet. “Are you going to be okay?”

She drew in a deep breath. “Yes. Don’t worry about me.”

He shot her an exasperated, are-you-kidding look, just as Remy strode over, joining them. God, the man was sexy. It didn’t matter if he wore a tuxedo as he had Saturday night or a pair of black jeans and a button-down shirt open at his throat, the man oozed magnetic charm.

“Leaving already?” he asked Caleb.

Her brother nodded. “I have to get back to the office.”

Remy looked from Caleb to Raven, his eyes narrowing on her face. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Caleb leaned over and hugged her again. “Tell him everything. I need to know there’s someone here looking out for you,” he whispered in her ear before rising to his full height once more.

He said goodbye to Remy and told Raven to call him later, then he strode out of the bar.

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