Page 30 of The Raven
Irollmy eyes, even though I secretly like it. My mom and dad have alwaysinsisted that my name isMason, and it shouldn’t be abbreviated in any way. It’s like this will bemineandRaven’slittle secret.
“Pinky promise,” I reply, holding my little finger out. She locks her little finger around it, and we shake.
Thememoryin my head changed to two years later.
“He scares me,Mase. He looks at me like he wants tokillme, and he hates itwhen his dad shows me any kind of affection,”Ravensays, snuggling into my side.
I plant akisson thetopof her head as Iholdher tighter to me, hating thatshe’sscaredof her new stepbrother, but I can’t say I blame her. He’s a scary fucker.
“Grim won’t hurt you, Blackbird,” I reply, wanting to reassure her. Who names their kid Grim, anyway? “I won’t let him hurt you, I promise.”
Shemeetsmygazeand brings her mouth tomine, where our lips lightly presstogether.Ravenhas been mygirlfriendfor a year now, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of kissing her lips.
So much for promising not to let Grim hurt her. Another promise I failed on.
Once again, I allowed the memory to shift.
Tearsstreak downRaven’sface as the carpullsout of our shared driveway.My heart cracks down the middle as she grows smaller the further away we get. I want to tell my dad to stop the car and refuse to go with him and my mom, but I know he won’tlistento me.
BehindRaven,Grimwatches from the porch, a calculating look on his face.Who’s going to protect her from him if I’m not there? Who’s going to comfort her when he torments her? Ihatemy father for tearing usapart, and IhopebeyondhopethatRavenbelieves thepromisethat I made to her.
One way or another, I will comeback for her.
Raven is mine.
Our souls belong together.
I let my mind gloss over thememoriesof the years we were separated. Therewas no pointshowingher those. We wereapart, and nothing wouldchangethe past.
We wrote to each other tobeginwith, but over time, lettersbecameinfrequent. Life took over. I went to thepoliceacademy,Raventrained to be a florist, and opened her ownshop.
I should havereturnedthe second I was done with training, but itwasn’tas simple as that. My career took me in a different direction until theopportunityarose for me to return.
By then, she’d met Eric.
Recalling the memory of when I returned to Hadleigh Peak years later, I let the memory play.
As soon as I’ve introduced myself at thepolicestation anddroppedall myshit off, I head for Blackbird’s Bouquet, theflowershopRavenowns. I smile at the name and try not to let myself get excited at her reaction when she sees I’ve come back for her, just like Ipromised. It’s been twelve years since I left, since we last saw each other in the flesh, butdeepdown, I know time and distance hasn’t ruined what we had.
I park my car, and I’m about to get out and head inside when shestepsout from the shop. My breath catches. She’s even more beautiful than Iremembered. Her long, black hair flows down her back, almost reaching her ass, and her gorgeous eyes sparkle with happiness. She’s grown into a stunning woman with a shapely figure, and I’m overwhelmed with the need to run to her and pull her into my arms.
Until a manstepsbehind her and wraps his arms around herwaist, leaningdown tokissher neck. He’s a good-looking man, with black hair likeRaven’s, and long enough totieinto a bun. Light smatterings of facial hair covers his strong jawline, and hewearsan affectionate smile on his face.
She spins around and reaches up towrapher arms around his neck,pullinghim down so his mouthmeetshers. An arrow shoots me in the chest, and before I let her see me, I put the car in drive and get thefuckoutta there.
Ravenpulled her hands away, a mixture ofemotionsplayingout on her face.She didn’t speak, just gaped at me as if she were replaying everything I’dshownher.
“Say something,” I said when the tension became too much.
“You came back,” she replied, anguish lacing her tone.
I nodded. “I promised I would.”
“That’s why you said you were too late. I’d met Eric by the time you returned.”
It was my turn to nod as the words lodged in my throat. I rarely regretted things in my life; regret was a wound that cut deep if you let it, but the regret I held for not returning to Hadleigh Peak sooner was a wound that would never heal.
A tear slid downRaven’scheek. I reached out and brushed it away with mythumb, the need totouchher again all-consuming. If our time was running out, I wanted to take everyopportunitytotouchher.
