Page 32 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Chapter Twenty-One

S imon’s stomach threatened to cast up his accounts as he walked into Raven House. Ash looked up with a smile, which was uncommon, but it fell when he saw Simon’s face.

“Did she say no?”

Simon shook his head and laughed nervously. Apparently, his trepidation was obvious. “She said yes. As of yesterday, marriage material or not, I’m officially a married man.”

“Congratulations.” Ash stood and shook his hand. “Everything is going to be alright, Allister. I know, especially as a group, we can be intimidating, but you don’t need to be worried. I wouldn’t have invited you in if I didn’t want you here.”

That did help a little. “Thank you.”

“Also, we’re heading over to the club, and there’s booze there.”

He followed Ash up a flight of stairs. “This is the door to my private quarters.” He tapped the raven top of his cane against the wooden surface.

Simon nodded.

“You’ll get a full tour today, so you can learn where everything and everyone is. You’re going to need to know all that.”

Simon’s heart beat a frenzied rhythm as his mind struggled to accept that this was real.

Ash pulled out a ring of keys and inserted one into another door.

“This door remains locked at all times, unless someone is going through.” He pulled it open.

On the other side was a long hall with a matching door at the other end.

Ash locked the door after they passed through.

“This is the bridge that crosses over to the Den.”

The other door was locked as well. On the other side, Ash led him to yet another door. He placed his hand on the solid surface. “This is our office. It’s where we take care of boring business stuff, but it’s also where we store all of our cash and chips.”

An important room, then. Simon nodded, cataloging each new piece of information. Ash led him to another room. That door was wide open. “I expect you’ll spend a fair amount of time up here.”

It was a balcony that overlooked the gaming floor. There was a group of men already down there, talking and moving about. Simon had never actually been into The Raven’s Den, and it was an impressive sight to behold.

He was nearly speechless. “This is… wow.”

Ash chuckled. “Wait until you see it at night, full of men gambling, music playing, the Lady Ravens dancing. I still think it’s magical, if I’m honest.”

“I’m very much looking forward to it.”

They walked downstairs and into a dimly lit corridor. Ash pointed with his cane. “That door leads to the alley behind the building. And that,” he said, swinging his cane to point in the opposite direction, “is the gaming floor.”

They walked through the curtain and were greeted by a chorus of voices. He shook hands with a man holding a glass of some kind of cloudy liquid, his long blond hair tied back at his nape. “I’m Michael. That’s Patrick, behind the bar.”

“What are you having?” Patrick called over his shoulder.

“Whisky, if you’ve got it.”

“We’ve got everything,” Michael said, and held up his own glass. “Even barley water.”

That’s right. This one didn’t even drink. Bloody Saints. Michael ushered him to a table where they were gathering. “That’s Giles, and our newest partner, Fitz.” They both shook his hand and welcomed him. They were younger than the other three.

Patrick arrived with a tray of drinks. “We’re going to have to start having either a barman or a footman attend these meetings pretty soon.” Laughter rumbled through the group as Patrick placed their glasses one by one around the table.

A large man who’d been standing quietly off to the side, slowly approached. He was bald, with a neatly trimmed orange beard that was sprinkled with grey. “Name’s McKinnon,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’ll be the one making sure you learn everything you need to know to keep everyone here safe.”

Simon blew out a breath. “No pressure then.”

McKinnon smiled. “You’ll do fine. I’ve never seen Ash be wrong about someone. There must be something in your skillset to recommend you, because it certainly isn’t your size.”

Simon laughed. He was the smallest man in the room.

“Alright,” Ash said over the din. “Let’s get started.”

Everyone settled around the table and quieted down. “First, and most importantly, Allister was married yesterday!” Ash announced.

A wave of cheers went around the table, and they all raised their glasses. He struggled to accept that they were welcoming him so fully as one of their own.

“Thank you for making it happen so quickly,” Ash said, taking another drink. “We appreciate your commitment to getting started.”

“I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for this opportunity, and how much I look forward to knowing you all, and working here with you.”

Simon’s brain felt like mush by the time he left The Raven’s Den.

There was so much to learn and know. Luckily, he was already in the habit of carrying a notepad and pencil for keeping track of names and details of things, so that helped some.

He’d written down the names of all the security staff he’d met, along with a brief description of each one.

Mckinnon was now the bodyguard for Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and she had apparently shared a cell with his sister at Auburn Ridge. If he believed in fate, he’d think he was destined to end up here.

The club would be opening soon, and he desperately wanted to see it all in action, but he needed to check on Madelene first.

She was at their table with a fresh pot of tea when he entered the kitchen.

“Have I told you yet today how beautiful you are?”

She graced him with a radiant smile. “Perhaps, but I won’t complain if you repeat yourself.” She got up from the table and came around to kiss him. She poured him a cup of tea before sitting back down.

“Do you want a scone? I still have one wrapped up.”

“As much as I would enjoy sharing one with you, I fear what it may lead to, and we can’t stay long enough for that.”

“We?”

“Would you like to meet my sister tonight?”

Her smile broadened in approval. “Yes.”

Hopefully, his sister wouldn’t be terribly upset that he got married without her there to witness it.

It was spur of the moment, and he hadn’t even been sure Madelene would say yes.

Otherwise he would have taken Samantha with him.

Surely, she would forgive him. It was hardly the worst of his transgressions against her.

Nighttime had fallen fully by the time they settled into the cab headed for Raven House, and Simon was grateful for it.

He had a confession to make, which would be easier in darkness.

Coward. He took a deep breath and summoned his courage.

“There’s something I have to tell you about my sister.

” Guilt made it difficult for him to continue, but Madelene needed to know. “I took her to Auburn Ridge.”

Madelene gasped quietly beside him, and his heart clenched.

“Why?” Her voice was soft and unsure.

Shame settled in his gut. “I was trying to keep her safe. I didn’t know—” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I didn’t know they would hurt her there.”

Madelene took his hand and pulled it onto her lap. “That’s why you came? Dr. Mickelson hurt your sister?”

He nodded, his jaw clenched tight.

“Did you kill him, after I was outside?”

“No. But I probably should have. I did let him know that he needs to change his ways.”

“Will you tell me what happened with your sister?”

She deserved the truth. He probably should have shared it all before they’d married, in fact. “I’ve told you a little about her past.”

Madelene nodded.

“Well, after I got her out of that situation, she came to live with me for a while. She was there for something like eight months, and I tried to cheer her up. I brought her flowers, I bought her dresses. Nothing ever helped for long, though. Then one night—” He struggled to say the words aloud.

“One night, she tried to take her own life.”

“Oh, Simon.” He couldn’t see her face clearly in the dark, but there was sadness in her voice as she squeezed his hand.

“I tried to see if Ash would take her in. I thought he might be better equipped to deal with her emotional distress than I was. But I bungled that, too.”

She lifted his hand to her lips.

“Out of desperation, I took her to Auburn Ridge. Dr. Mickelson assured me she would be well cared for.” He sighed.

He hated himself for that mistake. He, of all people, should have known better.

He should have been able to read Mickelson and see he was lying, but perhaps his desperation had blinded him.

“Ash was the one who rescued her from there. Quite by accident. He’d gone in for someone else and got Samantha out too. ”

“Perhaps it was destined to be then? It would seem everyone has ended up exactly where they should.”

“Perhaps my sister was destined to suffer?”

“That’s not what I meant, Simon. But if she hadn’t, I’d still be there, and I wouldn’t have you.”

He pulled her into his embrace. “I’m so glad I have you.” He pressed a kiss on the top of her head. “I just wanted you to know the truth before you meet her.”

“Thank you.”

When they entered Raven House a few minutes later, McKinnon stood in the entrance hall.

“I’m glad to see you’re still here. I’d like you to meet my wife, Madelene.”

He smiled as he approached them.

“Madelene, this is McKinnon, the man who’s graciously taking time to teach me how to do my job.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Allister.”

She was nervous and as always, reverted to a simple nod, pressing herself closer to Simon. He squeezed her hand. “Everyone here is safe, Madelene. Use your voice freely.”

Tentatively, she looked up into McKinnon’s eyes. His smile was kind and patient as he waited for her. That would be another part of the job, presumably, understanding how to deal with these women, who often arrived damaged.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. McKinnon.”

A woman walked into the entrance hall from the long corridor where all of the ladies’ rooms were. A bright smile graced her lips.