Page 99 of Raine
“This is only the beginning, Raine, and I won’t forget that little act of insubordinate behavior either.” Then the door opens and closes, and I know I’m finally alone.
The gun falls to the floor, the clamor loud in my sensitive ears, and I curl into myself feeling like a little girl, hating myself for enjoying the little buzz in my body. I’d done so well, keeping my addiction at the devil’s door and not mine, then Avernus had to shoot me up with heroin, a drug I’ve avoided at all costs. The first time I smoked heroin, I was inebriated by the euphoric feeling that rushed through my body. It made me feel so relaxed and as if I didn’t have a care in the world, and although I have experienced similar feelings with other drugs, I knew this was one I didn’t need to be chained to.
Attempting to push away the anger and abasement colliding within, I focus on my breathing and try to mollify the curdling emotions.
I have to tell the boys what just happened, but I know by the time I ring and they try to get here, he’ll be long gone. Avernus knew exactly what he was doing when he stormed in here, and if I had any doubts about him watching me before, they disintegrated like my ego.
Leaning forward, I pick my phone up off the table and dial the only number that I know will help me make sense of this mess; that’ll help center me.
But when he picks up the phone and I hear his deep, honeyed voice, my knees go even weaker than they already are, and I know I’ve made a mistake by letting him in.
“Raine?”
“I need you to come get me. I’ll send you my coordinates. Don’t tell anyone, just come.” I hang up the phone, not bothering to wait for his reply because I know he’ll come, he’s proven it time and time again.
For four hours, I sit with my decision, ruminating over memories and wondering if I’d regret it later, but knowing in my heart of hearts that I wouldn’t.
There’s a knock at the door, and I jolt up, the lingering effects of Avernus being in my home still playing havoc on my mind. I glance around the area one last time, reminding myself to buy a heap of sage to cleanse the damn thing with as I wring my hands together.
Taking in a deep breath, I’m thankful I feel more in control of my bodily functions than I did when Avernus was here. Even thinking his name sets an internal alarm off inside me, warding off the evilness that is him.
I pad slowly toward the door because I still feel a little airy and disorientated. Before I reach the door, I yell out, “Who is it?”
“Open the door, Raine,” Gabe demands, his Dom voice in full effect.
Opening the door, he storms through it and braces his hands on either side of my face, paying extra attention to the lump on the side of my head and then my blown eyes.
His eyes narrow, and I see the storm rolling in when he says, “What the fuck happened?”
It all happens in a blur; I push his hands off and slap him across the face. It snaps to the side, and he tilts his face back to me, his jaw clenched.
“What the hell was that for?”
“For lying to me, Gabe. You’re not off the hook.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Just for the record, I didn’t think I was. Now if you’re finished throwing hands at my face, can you tell me what the fuck happened and why you called me to pick you up?”
I soften in that moment because I see the concern lingering in his dark blue eyes. “Let’s sit. I don’t feel like I can stand much longer.”
He gives me a curt nod and then lifts me into his arms, kicks the door closed, and walks me to the lounge area. I curl into him, hating and loving the familiarity that goes along with it. Although I’m angry at him for lying to me, I know he would also do anything for me.
After he settles me down on the same lounge he fingerbanged me on while we watched Fear, my face heats as I watch him take a seat next to me and peer into my eyes.
“You’ve been using,” he remarks, matter-of-factly.
“Way to jump to conclusions, Big Daddy.” I roll my eyes and his narrow.
“Then explain why your pretty blue eyes are cloudy.”
“If you’d shut that big mouth of yours, I’ll tell you,” I hiss, the headache creeping back in.
Gabe sits back and crosses his legs at the ankles, bringing his hands behind his head. “By all means, proceed.”
“Avernus.”
