Page 55 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)

The boys were never going to let Valentine do any of the things he thought he would get away with.

They came to the island prepared. So much so, they came in at the back of the island and parked their boat at the old rundown ramp I found the night I tried to escape Orlando.

They had a plan, and I’m sure it would have worked, but I’m thankful we don’t have to play the what-if game and I had already taken Valentine out.

When we got off the boys’ boat at Ravens Hollow, they drove me straight to Harley’s clinic, their handsome faces etched with worry.

The fog that has been clouding my head since Valentine threw that bucket of ice water over my head is starting to clear, and the events of the last day are coming back to me in crystal-clear vision.

Orlando getting me out of there through that trap door and the noises coming from the boys’ apartment are just a couple of questions I have for them.

“What the hell happened to you guys last night?” I whisper as we wait for Ricky to come and look me over. “We could hear banging and crashing. Is the apartment still in one piece?”

“Valentine sent in ten men to attack us. It was a fucking distraction, but we didn’t know that,” Romeo says, and I hear the disappointment in his tone like he thinks he failed me .

Onyx looks my way from his place leaning against the far wall. “Malachi thinks he was able to hack into our server and disarm the alarm system without me knowing. I’m still trying to work out how he did it.”

“Don’t worry about the apartment, wildcat, your brothers have already got it all back in place for you to come home.” Reef smiles softly, and I can see he’s trying for me even though he’s shaken. He and Romeo have both taken seats on the other side of Ricky’s desk.

I glance at Orlando, sitting beside me on the doctor’s bed, his hand resting on my thigh. “The other thing I can’t work out is how did you get into my room? That place is five stories up. Unless you have some sort of superpowers I’m not aware of, it would have been impossible.”

“I was already there. Got in about half an hour before his men arrived. We thought we had enough time, but Valentine was one step ahead of us.”

“That’s why you took me through that trap door? Who owns that place anyway, and why weren’t they home?”

“That’s my place, or it was before I started living upstairs with you and the boys,” Onyx says. “Has been since Jagger did up the building.”

“Oh,” is all I can say back to that, because how didn’t I know where Onyx lived all this time?

Ricky knocks at the door then enters the room. “Reception told me you needed to see me.” He looks between the five of us, a brow raised in question. “Wasn’t expecting all of you.”

“Sloane’s been attacked, she needs medical attention,” Onyx tells him as if it’s not obvious with the terrible bruising on my face and hand.

Ricky shines a little penlight in my good eye, then he listens to my heart with his stethoscope.

“You will need a couple of X-rays. My guess is your cheekbone is busted, and there is at least one break in your hand. You could have a minor concussion as well. You need to take it easy over the next few days.” He looks at the boys who all had to come into the room for my consultation.

Control freaks, the lot of them. “Keep an eye on her, and if her symptoms get worse, then take her straight to the hospital.”

They all agree, their faces serious as Ricky talks.

Truth is, I didn’t mind when they insisted on coming in here with me because they all need to be looked over as well.

And I knew they wouldn’t if it were up to them.

“Thanks, Doc.” I offer him a half smile, the best I can muster.

“Can you look Orlando over next? His head looks nasty.”

“I’m fine,” he mutters under his breath, giving me a look that tells me to mind my business. But I don’t care. He’s not fine, and he’s not dying on me now from some brain bleed we didn’t know about.

“Why don’t I just have a quick look to give Sloane some piece of mind.” He smirks over his shoulder at me, that smug knowing look Ricky does so damn well.

Orlando huffs out a protest but lets Ricky approach him.

Ricky feels around Orlando’s scalp and looks over his bruising and the terrible lump.

“I will have to send you for a CT scan. You could have a fracture, and we also need to rule out any bleeding on the brain,” he says as he shines the same little flashlight in his eyes.

“You are, however, responding well, so it would be just a precaution.”

“Thanks, Doc, can you look them over as well?”

That earns me glares from the other boys too, but they look fresh out of a horror movie, so I don’t care if they are pissed at me about it. I move closer to Orlando as Ricky looks them over, taking his hand in my good one. “You never filed for divorce.”

He drops his head. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” His eyes lock with mine. “If you still want it, though, I will. ”

I look him over, not sure what I really want.

While we were in Italy, I got used to the idea, but it’s also never been something I wanted for my life, right up there with babies and a long-term boyfriend.

But now, apparently, I have four of those, so maybe I just have to accept my life is going to be different to what I pictured, and the truth is, I’m so glad it is.

I have more now than I ever could have imagined.

“Maybe today isn’t the time to make any life-changing decisions.” I squeeze his hand a little tighter.

He leans into my neck. “Just so you know, whatever you decide, I’m never letting you go again,” he whispers just for me.

“Yeah, I figured.” I can’t help but smirk back at him.

His lips brush my cheek. “You’re mine, and I hope I’m still yours.”

I touch the side of his face gently. “You’re mine,” I whisper, feeling teary all of a sudden.

He doesn’t give a shit if we’re in Ricky’s doctor’s office or if the other boys are here. He pulls me toward him, kissing me.

“I’m just going to get the referrals for X-rays and CT scans, along with some stronger painkillers for you all, then you can take your girl home. She needs to sleep.”

“Thanks, Ricky.”

He leaves the room, but as he does, Harley shoves past him. She waddles toward me, her face a mask of terror when she sees me. “What the fuck, girl?”

“I’m okay,” I tell her, not needing another person to worry about me.

She hugs me to her gently, her eyes locking with mine. “I wanted to check on you, but I pushed my way in because I needed to tell you Commissioner Sedgwick is outside waiting to talk with you. I couldn’t keep her out, and I wanted you to be prepared.”

Reef stands. “I’ll get rid of her,” he snips, sounding frustrated .

I push up off the bed to standing, my legs wobblier than I want them to be right now. “No, it’s okay, I can handle her.” I move through the room cautiously, still feeling lightheaded. Reef is by my side and places a hand at my waist to steady me as we walk out into the hall.

She’s leaning into the wall, looking every bit the woman of power she is in a navy-blue pant suit, her long dark hair hanging down her back in a low ponytail, with an extra sharp part. “Sloane,” she whispers my name like she’s about to burst into tears. Her reaction toward me catches me off guard.

“Commissioner.” I smile tightly, still not sure how to take her.

She moves toward me. Taking my elbow, she looks me over with motherly concern, in a way that makes me feel odd because I hardly know the woman. “When Jagger said you had been hurt, I had to come right away. Whoever did this to you will pay dearly.”

“I’m sure they will,” I mutter.

She searches my face, her perfectly manicured brow raising in question. “They already have, haven’t they?”

“Not sure, I took a pretty nasty knock to the head. I can’t remember the last twenty-four hours at all,” I snip like the smartass I am, not sure what she’s going to make of it.

Right now, I don’t care. Good luck if she wants to prove any of it.

Valentine’s body, along with all the men he brought with him, are lying in chunks at the bottom of the ocean just out front of Orlando’s island home.

The boat they took me to the island on went kaboom after the boys hooked it up with some pretty full-on explosives and sent it out to sea.

It was quite a sight, and I have to say, I’m glad they let me stay for it.

Very satisfying to know that piece of shit won’t be back to haunt me.

Her lips quirk up at the side ever so slightly, and she takes my hand in hers. “I’m glad you’re okay. ”

I glance at Reef, and he looks just as surprised by her kindness as I am.

She points at him. “And you I expect to see at the office first thing Monday morning. We have work to do. I have sent you the file of a new case I want you working on.” She looks me over.

“I’ll leave you guys to talk work,” I say, feeling awkward all of a sudden. I walk back toward Ricky’s room, so ready to get out of here and back home to sleep off this thumping pain in my head.

“I can start today,” Reef says. “What’s the case?”

“A missing Italian girl, goes by the nickname Daisy. Her parents think she might be in Ravens Hollow,” she says.

My body goes all goosebumpy. I glance back over my shoulder to see Reef’s reaction. His face says it all.

What the fuck…