Page 15 of Claimed

I watch her raise her good shoulder in a shrug for the millionth time. She’s done it in response to every question the rape counsellor has asked. The woman keeps trying to get her to express her feelings, but Raven seems unbothered. I know her. I know she’s not good at hiding her emotions, but I also know she doesn’t like talking about them. I thought she needed support, why she asked me to stay, but this exchange isn’t helping anybody.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, lady,” Raven snaps in frustration. “I told you I don’t remember anything. If I wasn’t feeling the effects of it, I wouldn’t know it happened at all.”

That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? She can’t process something she doesn’t remember. The whole conversation has only served to upset her.

“Look,” I address the counsellor. “Obviously, this is going nowhere. How about we just try another time?”

The counsellor takes a deep breath and nods in agreement. After handing me a business card, she turns to Raven.

“I’ll recommend your release, but call me if you want to talk. Anytime.”

“Thank you.”

“Mr. Hunter.” She dips her head at me and then she’s gone.

Raven breathes a sigh of relief. “I thought she’d never leave.”

“She’s only trying to help, babe.”

“I know.”

She turns her baby blues to me and I run my fingers through her hair. I can’t stand to see her in this hospital bed.

“When can I go home?”

“I don’t know. I’ll talk to the doctor.”

“Get me out of here, Gage. I can’t take being here another day.”

“I will. I just need to make sure you’re okay to leave.”

“I am. I feel –”

“I need the go-ahead from the doctors, babe. I don’t want to risk hurting you further.”

“Fine,” she grumbles.

I shift her position on the bed and climb in next to her. She snuggles up to me, inhaling deeply. I can’t wait to get her out of here, but I need to know it’s safe first.

“Have you heard anything?” she asks quietly.

I take a deep breath. I have to tell her we’ve got jack shit. We’ve talked to everyone, called in all my markers, and still nothing. It’s frustrating as fuck, and I’m only holding it in for her sake. I need to be as calm as possible around her because she needs that from me.

“Not yet.”

“Who is this guy? A ghost?”

“I don’t care who or what he is. There isn’t a hole in the ground I won’t dig up to find him.”

“Gage...I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“When you find him...promise me you’ll let the cops handle it.”

What the fuck? The cops? The moment I find that motherfucker, he ceases breathing. No way I’m leaving anything up to the cops. He’ll probably go to trial and get off on some bullshit technicality. No way. “Anything but that.”

“I don’t want you getting into trouble for me.”