Page 50

50

Raven

I 'm fuming. The story Raptor told us about Scar has my blood boiling. He'd been kicked out of the Sons for horrendous acts. His cronies had been doing his dirty work for months, and no one thought to clue us in on what we were up against—me, Nix, Lace. We were supposed to exist in oblivion while that sick fuck ran his boys all around town, every move bringing him closer to us.

Maybe if they'd told us about him sooner, we— I —wouldn't have pushed back so hard when Viper insisted we needed escorts everywhere. I get that they didn't want to cause a panic, but if that psychopath has had us in his sights since we got here, we deserved to know what we were up against. Viper shouldn't have kept us in the dark.

My mind is moving a hundred miles an hour as I stare out my bedroom window. What a fucking mess. Someone moves in the darkness behind me, stopping only a foot away. Watching, waiting for me to say something. He knows I'm pissed, that's why he's hanging back a bit tonight, not jumping straight into the physical like we usually do.

Smart man.

The air is tense, and I know it's a matter of time before the storm breaks. I'm primed for a fight, and he sees it. If I know him at all, he's already bracing for it. Waiting for that first wave of fury to come rolling out of me and directed straight for him. He can take it. That's why I don't feel bad for what I'm about to do.

When I turn to face him, I can see his eyes harden—he knows it's coming. There's no stopping it now.

"Why the fuck didn't you say something?" My burning question is met with silence.

"Why let me stay locked in the dark when you knew that fucker was out there gunning for Viper? When you knew he'd try to find a way to use me or Nix to do it." I step closer, leaving only inches between us. "Why, Reaper? Why did everyone keep it quiet? Why didn't you say anything?"

His mouth tightens as he matches my glare. "Viper was clear—no one said anything to you girls about Scar."

I scoff, "So that's it, then. Prez says jump, and you do it. A good little soldier following orders, huh?"

A low growl rumbles in Reaper's chest as he presses it against mine. "Orders are orders, Raven. That's how the club survives, how we all survive."

A snort leaves my nose as I cross my arms in front of me. "Yeah? Well, this time, your orders were bullshit. We deserved to know what was waiting in the wings for us. I deserved to know."

Reaper's face contorts with fury as he stares down at me. I expect the harsh reply he hits me with, but it cuts deeper than it should. "Why, so you could run off and do something stupid like run away with your sister to some shithole town or take matters into your own hands with the Bastards?"

My jaw clenches at the truth in his words. That's exactly what I would have done—I almost did even before things with Dom escalated. I thought about taking Nix and leaving so many times, thinking we'd be safer that way, but it was a lie. Scar already knew about us by then; he'd have followed us wherever we went just to knock Viper down a few pegs. Staying with the Sons was our only saving grace. Staying kept us safe.

And how many times had I imagined putting my fists through Dom's face? Too many to count. I'd never acted on it, but my anger made me want to more times than I'm willing to admit. Where would that have gotten us? What would that have solved?

He's right, but I'm not willing to admit that yet. I still want a fight, need to release this newfound fury, and Reaper is brave enough to take me on. I sneer back at him as I grit out my reply. "Fuck. You."

Reaper leans closer. "Fuck you too, Princess."

That nickname. He knows I hate it. I know that's the only reason he used it instead of the new one he'd given me. He knows it will rile me up more, knows this fight was what I need. I rear up, preparing to spew my next round of insults at him, when a loud commotion outside silences me.

Reaper pushes past me to the window, now on high alert. It sounds like a bomb went off, and by the look of what's left of the van in the driveway, that's exactly what happened. "Stay here," he orders, storming toward the door.

I follow close behind him as he races down the stairs. He scowls at me as we reach the landing. "Fucking stay inside, Raven. I'm serious. Stay the fuck inside."

He's gone in a flash, following Raptor, Stitch, and Jesse outside with guns drawn. I almost disobey until I see Nix and Lace huddled together in a corner of the living room. Nix. I can't leave her. The explosion from earlier took out one of the club vans. Even from inside, the orange of the flames are raging as gunshots start firing.

It's here. The war has come to us, and Viper and the cavalry didn't make it on time.

Glass shatters as a bullet shoots through one of the windows. I scream at Nix and Lace to get down. They do quickly, covering their heads as they duck in front of one of the couches. Looking around, I see Archie and Bones defending the side and back doors of the house, firing off shots of their own at Dom's crew. We can't stay here, not so close to the outside walls; it's too risky.

I scan the space, looking for somewhere we can go, further from the windows. That's when I see the closet under the stairs. Centrally located and protected by layers of stairs and walls. It'll do. We have to crawl to get there, but it should be safe for us to hunker down there until the guys finish the firefight.

"Come on," I call out as I start moving low and slow toward the closet.

Nix and Lace follow, stopping only to shield themselves as more bullets rain through the air above us. It seems like an eternity before we make it to the closet, but when we do, I let out a sigh of relief. I sit up, opening the door as I usher Nix and Lace inside.

I turn to survey the damage around us before crawling in myself. I make it all of two inches before realizing with dread that we won't all fit, not if we want to close the door securely. The gun safe inside takes up too much room and is far too heavy for us to move. It will give them an extra layer of protection, at least.

I look at Phoenix as I say, "Find something inside to defend yourselves if you have to. Try to get into the safe and grab a weapon. Don't hesitate to use force if someone comes for you that isn't one of ours."

"Rae—" Nix says with tears streaming down her face.

I shake my head. "There's not enough room for all three of us, Nix. Stay hidden. Stay quiet. And don't forget what I taught you. I'll be close by to keep an eye out, but you have to stay here. It's the only safe place in all this mess."

She shakes her head, trying to protest, but I stop her. "Please, Nix. Please, just stay here and promise me you'll stay safe until I or one of the guys comes to get you."

With a shuddering breath, my sister nods. "I promise, Rae."

"Good." I start to shut the door, stopping only for a second as I cross an X over my heart for Nix. She sees, and with fresh tears, she draws an X over her own as I shut the door, sealing her and Lace away safely.

The bullets are shooting slower, but not enough that I can stand to get away. I stay low, crawling toward the coffee table. If I tip it over, I can use it as a shield in front of the door. I'll have some added protection, and it will give Nix and Lace another block from incoming shots.

I'm halfway to the table when I hear Archie scream out in agony. He's been hit. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I abandon the table, crawling toward the wounded prospect. He's one of ours; I can't leave him. There's a lot of blood. I can see it even from a distance, but I won't know how bad it is until I move him out of the doorway.

Dodging bullets, I make it to where he's fallen. He's pale and gasping for breath as he clutches his side. Shit, this is bad. I manage to drag him away from the door and prop him against the kitchen cabinets. He's fading in and out of consciousness, his eyes working too hard to stay open. I hold pressure on his wound, scanning the room for his gun. If Scar's guys make it inside, we're screwed.

I don't know where Reaper, Raptor, Jesse, and Stitch are, but I hope at least one of them is outside the back door. With Archie down, that's now a weak spot, and Dom's crew can take advantage. I still hear Bones at the side door, holding his own. That's good, but what the fuck is happening out there? How many guys did Dom bring?

With a sinking feeling, I wonder if the others are all okay. I hope so, but now isn't the time for fear and doubt. I have to tell myself they're fine. We'll all make it out of this, but we have to stay alive. I need some way to protect us until the battle outside is over.

Looking around, I spot Archie's gun a few yards away. If I hurry, I can grab it and get back before he loses too much more blood. I look at him and back to his weapon. It's worth the risk. We'll need it if one of the Bastards knows Archie's down for the count.

Smacking him with my free hand, I tell him, "Stay awake. Keep holding pressure on your wound. I'll be right back."

He grimaces but nods, pressing his other hand over the top of the one staunching his bleeding. I move, crawling as fast as my knees will take me to Archie's gun. With each second, my breathing gets heavier. Almost there .

I throw a quick look at the closet where Nix and Lace are, loosing a breath when I see the door is still secured and undamaged. Safe. My sister is still safe. And I plan to keep her that way. I look back at the gun. A few more inches, and I'll be there.

The bullets slow even more as I get closer. My fingers are almost around the grip when they seem to stop altogether. I almost breathe a sigh of relief, but then a loud explosion sounds from the front, then the side of the house—another two bombs, another two fiery blasts. Sirens are starting to sound in the distance. Far away, but getting closer.

Help is coming. The police are on their way.

My fingers tighten around the weapon and I let out a heavy exhale. It's almost over. Help is almost here .

The second the thought leaves my brain, I hear the crunch of glass behind me as someone enters through the open back door. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here."

The sound of an unfamiliar voice makes my stomach drop. They're here—the Bastards made it inside. I close my eyes, steeling myself for what I know I have to do. When I open them, I'm already moving, whipping around to aim at Dom's guy. I pull down the hammer and ready my trigger finger. When the shot rings out, it goes wide. He saw it coming and batted me out of the way, knocking the gun from my hands.

"That wasn't very nice," he chides, moving closer with a feral grin. "Looks like we may have to teach you some manners."

I prime myself for a fight, scrambling to my feet and taking a defensive stance. My attacker chuckles, "Ohh, I like you. I like you a lot."

"Fuck you, asshole."

His laugh sounds maniacal as someone else grabs me from behind. I start fighting back, letting my defense training kick in, but it's no use, not when the damp cloth closes over my mouth and nose. Not when the fumes invade my senses. It's all useless once my mind starts going blank. I fight it as hard as I can, to no avail. They don't fight fair, and I don't stand a chance.

The only salvation I'm granted is the sound of someone saying, "Only her. There's no time left to find the other one. We have to go." At least the universe gives me that. If I know nothing else after this, at least I know she's safe.

A demented laugh chases me into the unconscious as the clubhouse fades to black. "Good to see you again, Wild Thing ." That familiar voice is coated in evil. I know what he has in store for me is brutal. He's finally stolen his prize . . . My mind rages until my last tether of control slips away.

Then, there's only silence. Dark, lonely silence.