Page 36 of Raine
The others? Does that mean Arrow will be here? An uneasiness settles deep in my belly, and nausea rolls around inside as I’m reminded of our recent fight.
I walk through the house on autopilot, my eyes forward even though I’m not seeing anything around me. Entering Justyce’s entertainment slash bar room that we use for our meetings, my chin lifts, and I lock eyes with Arrow.
He is leaning back lazily on the sofa, swirling a drink in his hand, his black leather jacket crinkling with the movement. I avert my gaze and focus on Justyce, who is resting his back against the wall. His onyx hues flick between us, and after a few seconds, he releases a sigh.
“Sit down, Raine. Ach said you have some information for us.”
I take a deep breath and breathe it out through my mouth, realizing Justyce must not know about Jelitza being one of the four girls he’s protecting at his safe house. I take a seat on the other single recliner and look at Justyce.
“I think you need to sit down for this, J.”
A deep v forms in his forehead, and he offers a brusque nod. Taking a seat next to Acheron, he motions for me to continue.
“There are four girls that Angelite is tending to.”
“I know this information, Raine,” Justyce growls impatiently.
I nod. “What you aren’t aware of is that one of those girls is someone close to us.”
He clenches his fists. “Spit it out.”
I look down, wringing my hands in my lap, before peering up and noticing even Arrow is leaning forward in his seat, his knuckles turning white around his glass.
“Jelitza,” I whisper, my hand flying to my mouth to cover the sob.
As if rehearsed, my brothers jump from their seats, fury lining their features and their bodies drawn tight.
“Repeat that,” Justyce demands.
“Jelitza is one of the four girls,” I stutter, my tears clouding my vision when I look up at him again, but it isn’t him that snatches my attention.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Acheron growls. “You didn’t say a peep on the way home.”
Wiping my eyes, I notice Arrow smirking in the corner at Acheron.
“Because I didn’t want to relive it over and over. Those girls are fucking fifteen. Fifteen!” I yell, jumping out of my seat like the boys did moments ago. “They fucked them, blindfolded them, and let whoever fuck them, not to mention exposing them to blood play and cutting into their young skin, sticking whatever the fuck they wanted into their little bodies!”
I stop, breathing hard, my heart smashing into my chest like it is readying to break through the flesh. Justyce walks forward slowly, folding me in his arms.
“Tell us everything, Raine, and don’t leave a fucking thing out.”
For the next hour and through a fuckload of tears from me, I rehashed all that the girls had divulged to me — the images they’d painted — turning my stomach and making me feel sick.
Justyce is the first to speak once I’m finished. His own were eyes glassy, and his body strung so fucking tight that I could bounce a coin off him and it would hit me back in the face.
“No one say a thing to Olga. The family thinks she is on a holiday with friends and their family, hence why no missing reports have been filed. And that means Avernus more than likely slaughtered the entirety of them. Arrow, work your magic and find out who these girls are and where they live. When you know, find me, and we will all go and see what Avernus and Jarvis have left for us.”
“You think this is a test?” Acheron wonders.
“Or a trap,” Arrow states.
I nod, thinking Arrow is more than likely on the money.
“Keep your phones close; I’ll be in touch as soon as Arrow finds their locations.”
Moving toward the door, I stop abruptly, Acheron and Arrow bumping into my back.
“What the fuck, Raine?” Arrow growls.
