Page 48

48

Raven

V iper and the others have been gone for four days now. Four long, stressful days. You'd think they'd want to hurry and get back here as soon as possible, but Jesse and Raptor say everything is fine. "Things are going the way we want", they said. "Prez and the others will be back soon."

Sure. But what if Dom and his guys decide to attack before they do? What happens then? Who else will get hurt while they take their time sorting out particulars with this other MC? And how do the rest of us know we can even trust these guys, these Devils?

It doesn't sit right with me. Every minute they're gone is another minute the Bastards are plotting against us, planning their next big move. The one that may end with multiple body bags and more than one broken heart.

I look over at my sister sitting under Raptor's arm. She's listening as he and the guys make plans for the next few days. Watching him with eyes full of hearts, hanging on to his every word. Every once in a while, he glimpses over at her, giving her the same lovestruck look. The feelings there are real for both of them. Anyone with eyes can see that.

It makes me happy knowing she has someone who loves her more than life itself, but it scares the hell out of me. The more than life itself part is heavy. If things go bad in this war, if something happens to him, it would break her. And I don't know that she'd ever recover from losing him, not as deep in it as she is already.

The thought adds fuel to my fire. I hate them—the Desert Bastards. Dom. His whole crew. I hate them.

What they've done to my sister's happy life here—to mine—is unforgivable. I wish nothing but the worst for every single one of them. They deserve it for what they've done to me, Nix, the Sons. They've disrupted our lives and hurt people —my people, my family.

Something loosens in my chest at the thought. As much as I rebelled against moving here, meeting Viper and the club, and letting myself get to know them, fate had other plans. The MC has become part of my family. Even with our disagreements, I couldn't imagine my life without them—any of them.

Looking around the room, I take them all in. Lace and Stitch are standing close together at the counter. Always within arm's reach of each other. Tweak is across from Raptor at the table, soaking up every word. Looking at him now, you'd never know he was knocking on Death's door not too long ago.

Bones and Archie are helping Jesse and Hammer load extra mags for the arsenal. If I had to guess, I'd say the prospects aren't long from earning their member patches. They've been loyal to the club through all the crazy shit that's been going on. They've helped keep Nix, Lace, and I safe and got their hands dirty more than once for the Sons. I'd say they've proven themselves worthy.

Jesse catches my eye and shoots me a crooked smile. He still has wounds from the fire, but most of his injuries are healing nicely. My chest aches at the thought of something bad happening to him. The Bastards have already come too close. The idea of losing the first friend I made here makes me sick to my stomach.

Even when I was a raging bitch, J never judged me. He never stopped trying to bring me into the fold. After everything we've been through, sexual history included, he hasn't treated me differently. He's still my friend. Possibly the best friend I've ever had besides Nix. I give him the best smile I can muster, which isn't much given my current state, but it doesn't dampen his mood.

He shoots me a flirtatious wink, trying to break the tension and ease my stress-addled mind. It works only because his action makes the hulking figure beside me huff out a low growl. If I wasn't so preoccupied with thoughts of doom and gloom, I'd laugh. Such a caveman.

I turn to look at Reaper and my heart does a funny flip in my chest. He's glaring at Jesse, who's now grinning from ear to ear at the club's enforcer. He looks away when Hammer says something to him, breaking contact with the possessive man at my side. When he does, Reaper turns his attention to me.

Something wild is stirring in his dark eyes. Something dark and primal and possessive. The last few nights, he's been insatiable. So far, he's been good at keeping himself in check around the others. Jesse is still the only one who knows about us, and until this war with the Bastards is over, that's the way I'd like to keep it. But if he keeps looking at me like that, someone is bound to notice.

His claim on me is right there in his gaze, plain as day. Normally, that would be a turn-off. No one owns me. No one possesses me, but the idea of letting Reaper do that sends shivers down my spine. I'm his, and he knows it. Just as he is mine.

"Rae?"

My sister's voice cuts through the air, startling me. "What? Sorry, did you say something?"

She nods. "Would you mind?" she asks. "Going over the self-defense stuff with me and Lace again later?"

There's a heavy cloud of worry in her eyes. This whole mess has been hard on her and I'll do everything in my power to try and make it easier for her. "Of course," I reply. "I've always got your back, Nix."

My answer makes her lips curl at the edges. It's not her usual smile and I know whatever they were discussing before must be weighing heavy on her mind. It makes me feel like an ass for not paying attention, but I couldn't help it. All the shitty updates we've been getting on the Bastards have only made my mood worse the last few days.

They've been quiet. Too quiet. Laying low after the bar fire, but no news isn't good news when it comes to them. It only sets us all more on edge, waiting for the next shoe to drop. It's excruciating.

Raptor launches back into business mode, laying out the plan for the club until Viper gets back. Hold down the fort, keep an eye on the remaining businesses, don't do anything reckless, and watch your back. Such an uplifting message.

At least some good news has come out of this—Viper and the others will be back tomorrow. If all goes well with the Devils, they'll be bringing some friends along. We just have to sit tight for one more day. Less than twenty-four hours and we can breathe a little easier.

Dom's crew won't know what hit them when we show up with a small army to take him and his guys out. This time next week, the Desert Bastards will be no more. As long as everything goes to plan.