Page 17 of Claimed

“Oh, Mr. Hunter.” She turns to me and offers her hand. “This is my husband, Daniel.”

Daniel gives me an appraising look as he shakes my hand. I’d love to see what he would have done if I was wearing my colors. He’d probably grab his wife and kid and run for the hills.

“You can call me Gage,” I tell him.

“Gage.”

I almost laugh at him trying to sound tough. I’ve never met a woman’s parents before, but I figure her father would have done the same thing.

“Is Raven awake?”

“Yes, she is.” I turn back to her mother. “A friend is with her now.”

“I was hoping she’d be up to meeting Daniel and Dani.”

I look down at the little girl and she hides her face behind her mom’s legs.

“Hi, there,” I say in a soft voice. She peeks out and I see her mom’s eyes. Raven’s eyes. I crouch to her level and extend my hand. “I’m Gage, Raven’s friend.”

At the mention of her sister’s name, she steps out from behind her mother and takes my hand.

“You know my sister?”

“Yeah, I do. You wanna go see her?”

“Yes, please.” She nods excitedly, and I chuckle at her enthusiasm.

“Tell you what. I’ll go tell her you’re here and then come back and get you, okay?”

“Okay.”

Her mother mouths a thank you as I stand, and I nod in acknowledgement. “I’ll be right back.”

“Mr. Gage?” Dani’s little voice stops me and I turn back to her. She waves me toward her, so I return to my crouching position. Placing her lips at my ear, she whispers, “Do you think she’ll like me?”

I stare into her eyes and all I can see is Raven looking back at me. She had the same apprehensive expression when she asked that very question about her mother. This is one meeting I know Raven will have no reservations about. “She’s going toloveyou.”

She gives me a wide smile I have to return when I see that two of her teeth are missing. Utter cuteness.Yeah, Raven’s going to fall in love with this little girl.

***Raven***

Gage re-enters the room and Chris immediately goes rigid. After he finished playing the blame game, we actually had a pretty nice visit. He told me the girls didn’t come with him because he asked for some alone time with me, but they’d come by later. Hopefully, Gage can get me out of here today so I can see them at home. Then again, whereishome? I’m definitely not going back to Lonnie’s place.Gage said he’s taking me home with him. Does he mean the clubhouse, or his house? Doesn’t matter. I just need to get out of here.

I give Chris’ hand a gentle squeeze. Rising from where he’s perched on the edge of my bed, he shoves his hands in his pockets. He sneers at Gage, who, frankly, isn’t paying him any attention. His gaze is locked on me.

“You good?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“There are some people here to see you.”

“Laurelyn?”

“Yeah. You up for it?”

“I guess.” I nod. “Dani?”

I admit, I’m excited to meet her. I have a little sister. One I can be a better sibling to than Lonnie was to me. That is, if Laurelyn doesn’t disappear again.