Page 41 of Broken Promises

“She’s okay.”

“How do you know? Is she talking to you?” I asked, a little hurt when he nodded.

“Yeah. A lot’s happened,” he said vaguely, worry washing through me.

“Like what?”

“Don’t fucking hit me or go looking for her,” he warned, only making my worry worse.

“Spit it out then before I do punch you.”

“I just want to say she really is okay, so calm down. Raven went to a party with Cami on Saturday night. Michael played her and lured her into a bedroom so him and Devon could rape her.”

My blood ran cold, knowing he said she was okay, but it was a little hard to focus on that when he’d just dropped that bomb on me.

“Did they fucking touch her?”

“Raven went into that room wanting to hook up with Michael, so there was some touching, but it was consensual. Once Devon showed up, she obviously freaked. They stripped her naked and shredded her clothes.”

“You need to talk faster before I kill someone,” I snapped, reaching for the keys to start the engine, but he put a hand out to stop me.

“Lavaro showed up and killed them both. He got her out of there.”

“She was naked and vulnerable alone withLavaro?” I practically shouted, swatting his hand away. “Where the fuck is she, dude? We have to?—”

“Right now, she’s working at Rory’s house. Lavaro took her home after the party and saw what she was dealing with there, so he?—”

“What’s happening at the house?”

“Rae’s dad’s back.”

“She can’t stay there alone,” I said in a panic, snarling at him when he pulled the keys from the ignition to stop me from driving off.

“Would you let me talk before you run off?” he hissed. “She’s not staying at the house. Her dad’s got a bunch of buddies crashing there, and Ander wouldn’t let her stay. She’s living at Ander’s.”

“She’s no fucking safer with him!”

“Yes, she is. I’m staying there now too. Ander left to try and keep us safe, not realizing Stefano knew about us. Apparently, Stefano thinks I know things that I don’t.”

“He’s been back for how long? A day or two? He managed to brainwash you that fucking fast? Your bromance is based on bullshit, Lopez. He’s playing you, and he’s going to hurt Raven. Give me my fucking keys,” I ordered, but he didn’t move.

“He’s not going to hurt Raven. We had a long conversation about it last night. He’s trying to keep her safe. You don’t have to trust him, but trust me.”

I eyed him, trying to relax a little. “Promise me she’s okay.”

“She’s okay,” he repeated calmly. “I wouldn’t lie to you about that.”

“She’s talking to you then? Can you convince her to talk to me? I?—”

“I tried to get her to come today before she got called to help at Rory’s. She’s still too raw, Logan. She was mad at me because she was blaming me for being run down. It wasn’t my fault, and now she knows that. You, on the other hand, really hurt her. I’m trying to get her to talk to you, but I can’t push her too hard or she’ll push me away too. I can’t risk that right now.”

He flicked his gaze away from me, my eyes narrowing. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing.”

“Lopez, I swear to God?—”

“I’m not trying to be a dick, but it’s none of your business,” he scowled, realization kicking in.

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