Page 16 of Claimed
“I won’t. I know what I’m doing.”
“Gage –”
“Don’t,” I stop her. “Please, don’t ask me to do nothing. It’s my fault this happened to you. I can’t undo it, but I can make sure the fucker pays.”
“How is it your fault?”
“I just know it is.”
“It’s not. I know you’re angry, and I’ve seen a sample of what you can do when you’re angry. I don’t want this guy to drag you down to his level, Gage.”
“His level?” I ask with a mirthless chuckle. “I may not be a rapist, but you have no idea what I’m capable of, Raven. The things I’m planning to do to him will make even the Devil refuse me entrance to Hell.”
“Gage...”
There’s a plea in her voice. God knows I’d do anything for her, but I can’t leave this up to the fuck-ups known as the Stoney View Sheriff’s Department. I need to do this for her, but I need to do it for me, too. This motherfucker put his hands onmywoman. A lesson needs to be learned and a clear message sent to anyone else who thinks they can fuck with me.
“Drop it, Raven.”
My words come out harsher than I wanted and I instantly regret them.
“Okay,” she whispers before I can apologize. “But promise me you’ll be careful. I need you here, not behind bars or...or worse.”
“I promise. You’re stuck with me, doll. Get used to it.”
She turns her face into my chest and takes a deep breath.
“Little puppy.”
I get a soft giggle from her. I already miss her laugh. You really don’t know the value of something until it’s gone. She was a bright light and instead of illuminating my world, I dragged her into the darkness. I need to make this right. I need my sun back.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll fix it.”
“I know,” she says in a soft voice. “I know you will.”
I kiss the top of her head and hold her close. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to fix it, though, and that’s my problem. How can I come up with a plan when I don’t even know what I’m dealing with?
There’s a knock at the door and I carefully leave the bed to answer it. When I open it, I see the boy – Chris. He’s holding a bunch of flowers with a balloon. His jaw twitches and he squares his shoulders. Good for him.
“I’m here to see Raven,” he states.
I simply nod and move aside so he can enter. He goes straight to the bed and takes her hand. I want to tell him to get his hands off her, but I bite my tongue. I don’t want to upset Raven.
“How are you doing, beautiful?”
I bite my tongue again.
“I’m okay,” she answers.
“You think we could talk without him hovering over my shoulder?”
Okay, this kid is seriously pushing my boundaries. He’s lucky I even let him see her. Raven shoots me a pleading look, so I take a deep breath and calm down. “I’ll go talk to the doctor about your release.”
“Thanks.”
I head out to find her doctor but spot her mother at the nurse’s station, so I head there instead. There’s a man with her who I assume is her husband, and a little girl clutching at her skirt.
“Mrs. Marchand?”
