Page 29 of Property of Raider
She stops and shakes her head slightly.“I should have known you’d follow those two into the fire.”
“Holy hell, it really is you,” Pope rushes around the bar, pulling her into a tight hug, spinning her around.“Who else would keep them on the slightly straight and slightly narrow path?”
“I see what you did there.”She laughs quietly, poking a hole in the shield I’ve surrounded myself with and letting some light touch my soul.
Chapter Nine
Anastasia
Clark wraps me in a tight hug.“Who else would keep them on the slightly straight and slightly narrow path?”
“I see what you did there.”I can’t stifle a small laugh.
Clark was truly the brother I never had and always wanted.He sets me back down on my feet before cupping my cheeks, looking closely at my face.
“I’m so sorry to hear about Auntie Lynn.I know how much she meant to you,” he whispers before pulling me into another tight hug.
“We need to go, Pope.You and Tasia can catch up with each other later.She’ll be staying with us for a bit,” Raider says, stepping up behind me and placing his hand on my back to guide me to the door where another man is standing.
I take a deep breath to ready myself for what is about to go down when I get out there because if I know nothing else about the situation, I know Shea is going to be fucking pissed.The time it takes me to make my way outside isn’t long enough.When I step outside, Shea squeals, running over to me and pulling me into a hug.This hug may look like a worried sister hugging another.I, on the other hand, know it is not that.
“You’ve really fucked it all up now, and you will fucking pay,” she mumbles low enough that only I can hear her before pulling away.“I am so glad to see that you’re okay.It just broke my heart when I found out that Auntie Lynn had passed away.”
“Thank you, Shea,” I say, taking a step back, so she loses her hold on me.“I appreciate your coming tonight.”
“How could I not check on my dear sister?How is the boy doing?”She cocks an eyebrow at me, daring me to correct or question her.
“He is just fine,” I answer her, knowing that my vagueness would piss her off.
“Where is he?I want to see him,” she demands, looking around me.
“Thankfully, he ended up staying with a friend and wasn’t home.I’m going to let him get through practice tomorrow before I tell him about what’s going on,” I lie through my teeth like mine and Rusher’s life depend on it.
Well, I guess in this moment it does.
Shea’s face goes dark with suppressed anger.“Well, that’s good, I suppose.”
I just nod again, trying to nonchalantly break out of her hold.Shea’s grip on my arm tightens painfully.
The man from a few weeks back steps up behind her.“Instead of imposing on these fine gentlemen here, why don’t you come on home with us?We have plenty of space for you and the boy.”
“She and the boy will be staying here,” Raider demands, placing a hand on my shoulder.
Both the man’s and Shea’s eyes narrow on him.“Being with family is best for them right now.She will be coming with us,” she states with finality.
I turn, looking up at Raider.“It’s okay.I’m going to go with them so we can go over the stuff about Auntie Lynn’s house in the morning.”
The man with Shea says something to her quietly that causes her to loosen her hold on my arm enough for me to pull it free.I turn completely to Raider, throwing my arms around his neck so I can pull him close.
“Whatever you do, keep him safe.She doesn’t need to know where he is or what he's doing,” I murmur quietly.“I know you hate me and I’m asking you for a huge favor, but he doesn’t deserve any of this.”
I give him one more tight squeeze before turning to walk away.My sister’s smug smile makes me want to throw up.The men in dress shirts and slacks open one of the doors to the large SUVs sitting there idling.Climbing up, I slide across the seat to the other door.For just a second, I think about possibly trying to slide out the other door.That plan is blocked by the very large, scary-looking man standing there.My sister slides in beside me, and the nice pretty mask she had been wearing falls away.Her friend stays outside speaking with Raider and his men for a few more minutes before he too climbs in, the nice guy act falling away as soon as he does.He sits across from us, the glare so prominent on his face I don’t know how he does anything different.
“What the fuck, Shea?”he spits the words, the anger rolling off him nearly suffocating.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jose.This couldn’t have gone any fucking better,” she tries to hide the slight edge of fear in her voice.
I’m doing my best to be invisible, watching the world fly by.For the first time, I take in that we’re on the outskirts of Savannah.The world flies by.The trees are getting fewer, and buildings are getting more frequent.I work overtime to keep the growing anxiety from taking over, hoping this isn’t going to be as bad as I believe it will be.It seems as if it takes hours for us to get to where my sister wants me to be.
