Page 21 of Raven

Because I care about you. Because I’m falling for you. Because I’d die before I let someone put a bullet in you.

He didn’t actually say any of that out loud.

He didn’t have to.

It was in his eyes. His breath and the way his hand brushed mine like an anchor. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me hard and long.

He gave a tight nod. “We are ready for them.”

* * *

Later that evening,the house was quiet.

The team was in position.

Mandy lay at the front window. Mike curled at my feet, finally calm.

And I was at peace for the first time in years.

Because this time, I wasn’t worried about the enemy finding me. For some reason, I thought Slate was dead. If I knew he was alive, I would have disappeared. I was glad my brothers were still on vacation.

12

Beatrice

It started with a flicker.

A faint glint off glass.

Then the soft click of a boot on gravel.

They were here.

I crouched near the back door, every nerve sharp, every sense open. The house was dark, the power cut minutes ago—exactly how we wanted it. We’d planned for this. Every exit. Every angle.

Mandy stood beside me, ears pinned, barely breathing. Mike locked up at Raven’s.

I gripped the hilt of my knife tighter and waited.

Three shadows. West side. Moving fast.

River’s voice crackled through the earpiece, clipped and calm.

Raven has the deck. Cyclone at north corner. Gage with me. Faron will be watching you.

There—Slate’s silhouette. He was bigger than I remembered. Heavier. But still moved fast. There were two others behind him—one with a suppressed rifle, the other with a gun. Probably planning to breach the back door.

Not tonight.

I hit the remote.

Flashbang.

BOOM.

Light exploded. Slate ducked. The one with the hand gun went flying.

I was already moving.

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