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Raven

T he ring is my new happy place. Inside the ropes, I can let go. I can work out my frustration, my anger, my worry, and let the world fade away. It's the only kind of therapy I’d ever agree to. And I'm about to put it to the test.

Nix is in a funk because her friend went MIA, and I can tell it's eating her up. She told me what her friend’s boyfriend told her. How she used to have a bad drug addiction and somehow slipped back into those habits. I tried to make Nix see that none of it was her fault, but I doubt she believed me.

She internalizes everything, taking on guilt that she shouldn’t any time the world deals hard lumps to those she cares about. It’s one of my favorite and least favorite things about her. Her huge heart is bound to get her into trouble one of these days.

It kills me to see her hurting over things she has no control over, but I know it’s just the way she is. I tried to talk her out of her head and told her my experience with people who’d wrestled demons like that before. Used those stories to show her there was nothing more she could do that wasn’t already being done.

That only helped a little. So, I suggested something different. Something outside her comfort zone to see if it might help her, like it helped me.

She looks hesitant as six of us enter the open area that houses the boxing ring. Bones, Raptor, Jesse, and Reaper are on guard duty today, and none of them objected to visiting the gym when I suggested it. Everyone in the club seems stir crazy lately, so any chance to blow off some steam is welcome.

I coax Nix over to an area to warm up, explaining a simple routine for her to try once we're done. She takes it all in stride, taking in everything I tell her like a good sport. I walk her through the routine, guiding her on technique until she feels comfortable.

After a while, she seems to realize that I need something harder, faster, more challenging. So she sends me away, insisting she wants to work on the moves I showed her with Raptor. I keep an eye on her as I go through one of my own routines at an open bag just across the room.

When she finally cracks a smile at something the MC treasurer says, I let myself focus on my workout. It feels so good to unleash on that bag, to let myself free and feel the tension evaporating with every hit against the leather. It's easy to get lost in the rhythm.

Before I know it, twenty minutes has flown by, and I'm just getting started. When I take a break, I see Nix staring wide-eyed into the ring, watching two hulking forms as they start their dance. I join her, Jesse, and Bones off to the side as Raptor and Reaper square off.

A familiar excitement swells inside me as I wait for one of them to throw the first punch. The adrenaline rush from a good fight always sparks something inside me, whether I’m observing or participating. It’s the thrill of the fight that sends me into a place I can’t explain. All I know is when I come out, I feel a thousand times better. Like I can take on the world.

Raptor throws the first punch, missing Reaper’s jaw by an inch as he shifts to avoid the blow. He answers with a jab of his own, landing roughly against Raptor’s side. Round and round they go, exchanging blows and ducking punches as the rest of us watch, mesmerized.

The two of them are evenly matched, even with Reaper’s extra height. It's exhilarating watching them, neither seeming to tire even as the hits grow harder and faster. It's a rush watching them, but it seems like no one will be crowned the winner, and they’ll have to call it soon. That’s when the gym doors burst open.

We all turn to find Viper storming in, Bear and Miguel close on his heels. None of them look happy. Viper eyes Nix and me and stops a healthy distance away, waving the guys over. I still haven’t spoken to him since our blow-up outside the bar when we got jumped. He seems keen to keep it that way for now.

While the guys talk in hushed tones, I elbow my sister. “How are you feeling?”

She gives me a small smile. “Better. I’m still not one hundred percent, but I feel a little lighter than I did earlier. Thank you.”

I nod, leaning against the side of the ring. “Any time you want to come out here, let me know. It’s a great way to blow off steam.”

Her eyes fill with a question as she studies me. “Is that why you’ve been so different lately?”

“What do you mean?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. It seems like you’ve been more settled. Even with everything going on, it’s like you’re more mellow than you’d normally be in these circumstances. I thought for a while it was because of Jesse, but maybe I was wrong.” She shrugs, eyeing me again.

I blow out a breath, glancing to where the guys are still talking before saying, “Jesse took the edge off for a while, but that’s all it was. When that stopped working, I needed something else to ease my temper.” I motion to the gym. “This place seems to do the trick.”

Nix dips her head as she sits on the edge of the ring. “And there’s nothing else that’s doing that? No new person of interest to pick up where you and Jesse left off?” she asks.

Her question shocks me. Where the hell did that come from?

I eye her warily. “No, there’s no one new. Why would you think that?”

She bites her lip, shaking her head. “No reason. I just wondered. That’s all.”

She looks away, refusing to meet my eye. Nix is a shit liar and knows I can see right through her, but this isn’t the time or place to call her on it. Plus, I'm not sure I want to know what sparked her current theory on my sex life. And I definitely don’t want to know who she thinks I've moved on to.

There are few options in our close circle, and under the current circumstances, any dalliances outside the club are a risk. We have Dom and his assholes to thank for that. Any fraternizing with strangers is always risky, but with the war looming, it's downright dangerous.

So, when that need arises, I have to pick from the meager choice of Sons or take care of things myself. The second option is more likely now that things have cooled down with Jesse. There's a fat chance in hell I’ll find comfort with any of the other members.

Raptor is my type to a T, but I’d never go there, not with Nix’s heart on the line. Stitch is attractive, but he and Lace have something going on. Tweak is hot, but his history with cocaine is enough to keep me away.

Then there’s . . .

I look up to see the men still talking. My eyes catch on the tallest of the group, and for a moment, I lose my sanity.

No. Nope. No fucking way.

That is never gonna happen.

Even if we could stand each other, it would be a fucking disaster.

As if he can hear my thoughts, Reaper looks up. His eyes narrow as he tries to read the expression on my face. I throw on a mask of indifference, trying to look bored as I cross my arms and sink lower onto the platform behind me.

When he turns away, I let loose the breath I'm holding. Jesus. What the hell was I thinking? Sure, the broody bastard’s nice to look at, even with that permanent scowl he wears, but every time he opens his mouth, I want to choke him.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Nix’s voice startles me out of my insanity.

I shake my head. “I have no idea,” I tell her. “But by the looks on their faces, it’s nothing good.” I hear her swallow as we both sit lost in thought, waiting for the guys to tell us what the hell is going on.

Finally, Viper, Bear, and Miguel tear off, leaving the gym in a rush. The others walk over to Nix and me. All wearing varying expressions of anger and concern.

“What is it?” I ask.

Jesse shares a look with Raptor before telling us, “There’s been a hit on one of our warehouses. A shipment was supposed to go out tomorrow and the goods stored at the warehouse were stolen.”

“Taken by who?” Nix asks, but I already know. The look on her face tells me she does too.

Jesse’s jaw tightens as he says the name. “The Desert Bastards.”

Fuck.

“Viper wants us back at the house while he and the others try to figure out who leaked the warehouse location and drop details,” Raptor says.

I can’t help the surge of anger that spreads through me. “He doesn’t think we have anything to do with it, does he?” I grind out, not bothering to keep the fury from my voice.

Jesse shakes his head. “No,” he says quickly. “Of course not, but he is looking at the sweetbutts and anyone else who has any link to the club who could have sold us out.”

He refuses to meet my eye, but Reaper is staring. His expression is unreadable as I glare back at him. This is fucking ridiculous. Why the fuck would we get involved in the MC bullshit?

I shake my head, grabbing Nix by the arm and tugging her toward the door. “Let’s go. Looks like we’re back under house arrest until their master gets his head out of his ass.”

An hour later, I'm still seething when the six of us camp out in the living room of my and Nix’s rental. The TV is buzzing in the background, but none of us are paying attention.

Unable to take the quiet, I blurt out what's on my mind. “If Viper wants to look at anyone for this bullshit, maybe he should look at that bimbo he tossed out a while back. Misty ,” I bark. “She seems like the type to hold a grudge.”

The men look at one another, processing my accusation, letting the words sink in. It would make sense. She was pissed about getting ousted from the club, so her striking a deal with the MC’s enemy sounds like the petty revenge she'd go after. If it turns out to be true, I won’t be the least bit surprised.

The looks on the guys’ faces tell me they feel the same. Before any of them can voice their opinion, a loud squeal sounds outside. The men bound for the window as a loud thud, then a slamming door echoes through the night air. Reaper and Jesse race outside as the vehicle speeds away. Raptor and Bones stand in front of me and Nix, blocking our view of what's going on.

When the others reappear, they aren’t alone. Supported between the two is another man, bloodied and bruised—no one I recognize. Not one of the Sons.

Nix gasps, her eyes flying wide as she surveys the man. There's terror written all over her as she looks at him. My stomach drops as recognition shows on her face, and her eyes start to well. Her voice is barely more than a whisper as she says his name. "Martin?"