Page 107 of Claimed

She sniffles and I look up to see her tears flowing freely. “What happened, Lonnie?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Jealousy. As a child, I didn’t know how much time a baby needed. I felt neglected, I guess, and I blamed you.”

“I can understand that’s how you felt but you got older, smarter. Hell, you tried to kill me for riding on the back of Gage’s bike.”

“I was a bitch. I don’t expect you to forgive me,peroI need you to know I’m working on myself and things will be different from now on. I haven’t even been with any of the guys since I came back.”

“And Gage?” I ask.

“I won’t lie. A part of me will always love him, but like I said, I won’t interfere. I’m actually thinking about moving back to Miami. Do you know what you’re going to do with the house?”

“Not yet. I’ve been holding on to it in case I wanted to move back, too.”

Thinking about it, it may be a good idea to have her living there. She’ll be out of my hair, and I’ll have someone taking care of the house for me.

“You want to move back into Daddy’s house?”

“If it’s okay with you,” she answers hopefully.

“I’ll think about it.”

I slide out of the booth but stop after taking only one step. She seems to be trying; maybe I should, too. I turn to face her, taking a deep breath.Fuck, I hope I don’t regret this.“I’m heading to the mall. Wanna come?”

She smiles, wiping away the remnants of her tears. “I’d love to.”

We drive to the mall in silence. After suffering through a few awkward stops, we have a slightly less awkward lunch. I keep the conversation on ‘safe’ subjects but she’s so eager, it’s not long before I start to relax. Just a little. I’m still suspicious of her having an ulterior motive and after a few more stores, I decide I’ve had enough of her for one day. While walking back to the car, I get a call from Laurelyn. We’re in an underground lot, so the call is choppy. As we’re about to pass a big, black van, a man steps out in front of us, blocking our path – a man I recognize.

“Let me call you back,” I tell Laurelyn and hang up.

I hear movement behind me and turn to see another man. Goldie and Lip Licker.What the hell are these Snakes doing here?

“What’s up, bitch? Remember me?” Goldie asks.

“Vaguely. I do remember Gage promising to put a bullet in your brain.”

He looks around and spreads his arms wide. “I don’t see him around. Do you?”

“Fuck off.” I roll my eyes and try to move past him, but he grabs my hand. I drop my bags and twist out of his grasp, moving into a fighting stance. Lonnie screams as Lip Licker grabs her and tosses her into the back of the van. Fear starts to take hold, but I’ll be damned if I let them take me without a fight. Goldie lunges at me, but I side-step him. When he turns to face me, I give him my left jab.

“You fucking bitch!” he groans as he grabs his nose.

I’m about to kick him in the balls when a scent triggers a memory. Maybe it’s the heightened fear of the situation, but it knocks the wind out of me. Someone steps up behind me and I know, without a doubt, it’s my rapist. There’s no mistaking the scent. I spin around, shock overpowering my fear as I stare into the face ofmy rapist.

“Can’t you do anything right? Get her in the van.”

Then, the world goes black.

CHAPTER 24

***Gage***

I gave Raven the space I thought she needed. I’ve been working from the clubhouse today, or at leasttryingto work. She’s been on my mind all day – especially the hurt in her eyes as she left this morning. I picked up the phone to call her a million times but didn’t go through with it. Fuck. I put my computer to sleep and head to the kitchen to find something to eat. One of the Hounds offers to make me something, but I decline. I can’t remember the last time I had a meal Raven didn’t prepare. I make myself a sandwich, grab a Coke, and sit at the bar to eat. E walks in with a few greasy paper bags and drops one on the bar in front of me.

I push away the sandwich and dig into the burger and fries he brought. “Thanks, man.”

“Thought you could use it.”

“Yeah,” I answer distractedly, Raven still invading my thoughts.