Page 74 of Sins of Seduction
“I never promised her forever, Danielle,” Raven tried to reason. She’d been as honest as she could, but the damage had already been done.
Danielle hit Raven with the gun, sending the pain in her head to a new level that made her see spots. “Don’t lie!” Danielle snapped. “You promised her paradise. The same way you promised Louis Bastillo and Brenda Jennings. You used your greedy cunt to get what you wanted out of them, and when you were done, you crawled right back to this asshole. My sister loved you with everything she had. She accepted your whorish ways, and still, you ran back to this loser.”
Danielle grabbed Raven’s face. “Such a pretty little Raven,” Danielle whispered against her lips, “such a divine taste that begs to be consumed. You are the reason I’m here. You are the reason my sister lost her life. You are the reason Bastillo and Jennings have lost their lives. It’s you. This world is in pain because of you. I need to pluck these pretty wings to save us all. But first…,” Danielle let go of Raven and turned, aiming the gun toward Jax’s head, “I think I’ll make you cry.”
Cruz watched out the front window of Raven’s home as Danielle—or Leigh—held a gun pointed at Jax. Both Raven and Jax were bound and bleeding, going by the blood that pooled around them. Cruz wasn’t sure if he should wait for backup or charge through the front door guns blazing. He glanced around the windows and the front door looking for anything that would trigger at his arrival. He didn’t see anything and wondered how Danielle got into the house undetected.
Cruz took one last look at the window, unsure if Danielle had time to set up anything that would blow the home up with everyone inside. Cruz wasn’t sure what Danielle’s end game was here.
Was she willing to forfeit her life so long as Raven lost hers?
Cruz wasn’t willing to find out and ran around back, stepping on flowers along the way. He saw a back window that was left slightly open. It was low enough that Cruz could jump up and hopefully sneak inside. He put his gun in his waistband and gripped the window. He swung himself up, holding his breath so he wouldn’t make a sound. He edged the window open slowly and let out a sigh of relief when it didn’t squeak. He could hear Raven trying to talk Danielle down, but all it did was enrage her.
Cruz slowly dropped down from the window and palmed his gun again. He looked down at the floor, hoping there weren’t any faulty wood pieces that would announce his arrival. He kept the gun aimed as he made his way from the back of the house to the living room, and as soon as he was close enough, the wood creaked under his weight.
He cursed as soon as Danielle’s angry eyes swung around to face him. Her gun aimed at his chest. “Well, you’re here earlier than expected. I figured you’d be the last to arrive.” Her head cocked to the side like she was sizing him up. “Or did one taste of Raven make you change your feelings toward her? Typical man.” Danielle moved the gun toward Raven.
“Drop the gun, Ms. Cunningham.” Cruz moved an inch closer, wondering where his backup was.
“Ms. Cunningham, really? I’ve seen your dick. We don’t need to be so formal. Besides, you know I’m not dropping this gun without putting a bullet in one of them. The question is, which one? I kill her, I feel better but Jax is mad at you and may never forgive you.”
Danielle aimed for Jax. “I shoot him, she’s mad at you, but maybe after a while, she’ll let you in her bed.”
Her smile set Cruz on edge as he crept closer. He was a good shot, but Jax was better. He knew there was no guarantee that once he pulled the trigger her finger would let up and he’d save both of them.
Cruz glanced behind her out the window. Still no cop cars in sight.
Where the fuck was everybody?
“Why do you want to hurt her so bad?” Cruz started as he inched closer. He glanced toward Jax who looked like he was ready to pass out. The wound at his knee made Cruz grimace. Jax nodded his head—the small movement their signal to let the other know they were okay.
“Come on, Cruz. You didn’t rush over here without getting the full picture. You know why she needs to die.”
Cruz nodded, his gaze shot passed her when he saw Greyson at the window. “She’s a plague on everyone. I get it. Just because I fucked her doesn’t mean I like her.” Raven’s gaze shot to his, and she narrowed her eyes at him. Good. She was pissed, which meant she hadn’t given up on anything.
Cruz took another step forward this time and Danielle’s eyes narrowed. She swung the gun to face him. “I have no use for you, Detective.” Just as the sound of glass breaking pierced the air. Danielle’s body jerked forward as her own gun went off. Cruz quickly moved out the way and shot Danielle in the leg, watching her crumble to the floor.
He rushed over to Danielle’s body and kicked the gun away from her while Greyson and a few other cops barged into the front door.
“We’re clear!” Cruz called out, keeping his gun on Danielle as she cried out in pain. He walked back toward Raven as Greyson came into the living room and went straight toward Danielle to assess her injuries.
Cruz put his gun away and took out a pocket knife to cut the zip ties at Raven’s ankles and wrists. “Are you okay?” Cruz whispered up at her while she shook her hands out.
“I don’t know.” He saw the tears in her eyes as he helped her stand. He’d only ever seen her emotional the one time when he couldn’t get her to leave Lea’s lifeless body. It had unnerved him to see her so vulnerable, just like it was doing now.
“Hey, don’t do that. I still don’t like you. Nothing has changed,” Cruz grumbled as he walked her over to Jax. The sound of sirens filled the air, and as he let go of Raven’s hand, she held on to him.
Her bright eyes were filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered at him before she pulled away. “But you’re right,” she chuckled weakly, “this doesn’t change shit. I still hate you.”
She turned toward Jax, and Cruz let her go to fuss over him as he worked Jax free of his binds.
Cruz clapped his friend on the shoulder, thankful Danielle hadn’t shot him somewhere fatal. Jax’s hand wrapped over his as did Raven’s.
Jax and Cruz shared a silent conversation that didn’t require words. Cruz had been desperate to get this case over with so he could get Raven out of his life, but as he glanced down at their intertwined hands, he had a fleeting thought that this moment, this case, might have just pulled the three of them closer together and he would never escape Raven.
Two months later…
Raven was at Lush. The club had retained its popularity, despite the murder and subsequent issue she had with Danielle who was currently locked up awaiting trial. Raven felt safer than she had in months, but she held on to it, knowing that once the trial started, the fear would come. She would have to relive it all, even her time with Lea.
