Page 19 of Clover

Blake moves around us in the space, fidgeting a little. He’s either nervous or just doesn’t know how to entertain guests. Lots of the Smiths are recluses and stay hidden away in their homes with their computer screens. It’s actually a mystery how they ever find someone to marry and reproduce with how little they get out. Maybe mail-order brides?

“Do you guys want something to drink? I have mountain dew, tea, water?”

“No thanks. We’re kind of on a time limit, and I would just like to get to it.” My tone might be a little more stern than necessary. But I really don’t have time to pussy foot around shit. We needed to do this yesterday and are already losing time.

“Oh right, of course. No problem.” Blake walks towards the couch, offering us a seat. Neither of us accepts. I’m too on edge to sit. Instead, he takes his seat at his command center and starts pulling programs up on the screens, then turns to look up at me.

“Ok, so we’re looking for Clover, and you think Braxton Shaw took her?”

“Yes. We’ve already searched all his business properties and couldn’t find her. So maybe you can find something from the night she was taken and track her or something. I don’t really know.” Looking down at Blake, I can see he’s watching me intently, taking in everything I say.

“And the council?” he asks cautiously.

“Doesn’t know anything about this, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Of course, that’s not a problem. I would love to help in any way I can. I only met Clover that once at your shop in passing, but she was really nice. Plus, Raven says great things about her.” Smiling softly, his eyes shift to Raven standing not too far from us, then back to me. “If she steps in front of a camera anywhere, I’ll find her.”

I don’t know if he can really do that, but fuck, if he can, he’s my new best friend. Sorry, Beau.

“Thanks. If you get me what I’m looking for and keep it quiet, I’ll owe you one.” At the prospect of a favor from a Colton, he swivels to face his screens and starts typing. Possibly hiding a giddy grin. He’s still new to the game, or at least I think he is. I’ve never worked with him before. So, the idea of being in tight with a Colton even amongst the head families is a coveted place to be. We’re kind of awesome like that. Also, we know how to kill people in like five thousand different ways, so it’s not wise to piss us off. We’re the Syndicate’s enforcers for a reason. And we earned it with blood.

“Oh, I’ll get you what you need. I’ll find her. One way or another, Ialwaysfind them.” That makes me even more curious about what kind of work he’s already done for the Syndicate at his young age. He’s only a year or two older than Raven. We don’t allow her to participate in anything violent yet. That doesn’t mean we haven’t trained her. She can use almost any gun she can get her hands on and has been sparring with many of us since she was at least twelve. No one can get the jump on her. That doesn’t mean I’m not still extremely protective of her.

After the incident with Robin, it’s been harder to let go of Raven. She’s older, stronger, and able to protect herself, where Robin wasn’t. She was so young, and there was nothing any of us could have done to stop what happened that night. Hunter still, to this day, has guilt over it. Since he was the one with her when it happened. We all know the cliff notes of the evening, but only he knows what really happened, and he’s never told anyone, even with my father and his threatening him. After that night, he didn’t speak for a year after her death. So, it was difficult to get anything out of him.

I know first-hand how such a traumatic event at a young age caused by the world we live in can create long-lasting issues, and I try to protect Raven as long as I can from them. When she’s older, hell, probably even now, given how collected she is right now standing here next to me, she’ll be able to handle anything thrown in her path.

Blake’s typing is quick and fluid and draws me back to the present in his apartment living room. The clickity-clack of the keys a sort of music in the quiet hum of the computer towers.

“Ok, so before I can get in deep, I’m going to need a picture of Clover. Does she have any social media accounts or YouTube videos? Anything that I can grab a still shot from.”

“What do you need a picture of her for?” He never said anything about pictures before. Sounds kinda pervy to me.

“So, I can run facial recognition through the security videos.” He says matter-of-factly. Like it was blatantly obvious, even a brute like me should know that.

“Oh. Um, I don’t think she does.”

“Do you have a picture of her then that I can use?”

A picture of Clover?I don’t think I have a picture of anyone. The only photos on my phone are of my car and bike parts that I need to find. If I had a picture of Clover, that shit would be my wallpaper on my phone. Hell, I’d probably print it out and wallpaper my bedroom with it. It would be extremely distracting. I’d never get anything done. Especially if she were wearing that red lipstick. I must have been standing there silent for too long because Raven interjects.

“Here, I have one you can use.” She hands him her phone with the photo pulled up on its screen. Leaning over his shoulder, I look at the faces on the screen. Clover has her face pressed up next to Raven’s, and they’re smiling. Clovers bright sapphire eyes sparkling in the sunlight of what looks like the bakery my Aunt and Uncle own.

“When did you take this?”

“Girl’s brunch last week. We went with Rosie, Lily, and Emerald to Aunt Cherry’s.”

There’s not much I can say. There’s still a lot about Clover I need to learn. I want to know everything there is to know about her. When she goes to brunch. What she likes to eat when she’s sad. So, I can always have it in the kitchen for her to help make her feel better. Seeing a photo of her shouldn’t hurt as much as it does. Our relationship is so unorthodox I never thought to take a photo with her. Really though, what was I expecting? I hadn’t even told anyone about us until this happened. There are a lot of things I’m going to change after I find her. Starting with taking her picture. A lot. Maybe even take a picture of us together.

Blake takes the phone and sends the picture to his computer, where it pops up larger than life on the flat screen hanging on the wall.

“Ok, let’s see what I can find.”

Chapter 10

Clover

Idon’t know what time it is or how long I was asleep. All I know is what wakes me. The telltale sounds of Braxton returning. So much for wishing he was dead. Suppose it was a long shot anyways. Scurrying off the bed, all I can think to do is crouch down behind it on the far side. Hoping it’ll hide me. The idea to crawl under the bed flashes briefly through my muffled brain. Should I, or shouldn’t I? Would he even look under there for me? Realizing the inevitability of my situation, I decide against hiding like a five-year-old afraid of the boogie man under the bed. It’ll only delay the inevitable, and he’d probably enjoy it.

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