Page 23 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

JAMES

A fter leaving Raven this morning, I spent all day in the office going over what she said.

I know I’m confusing her; hell, I’m confusing myself, but I don’t know what the answer is.

My confusing ways continue to hold no bounds when I bribed a kid she works with to give me her schedule.

I’ve lost count of the evenings I’ve sat in my car across the street and watched her, telling myself over and over that I was only there to keep my promise to Drew.

This girl has firmly worked her way under my skin, and I don’t know why. Is it the thrill of the chase? That my life feels like it's lost all meaning since the night of her birthday, I’ve now set my eyes on the one woman I can’t have because she makes me feel something no one else has done before?

I shouldn’t want her, I can’t want her.

I’m going round in circles trying to figure it out. I wake up most mornings haunted by dreams of her. Most of them are Raven in various positions as I fuck the shit out of her. I’ve never had so many cold showers in my life.

This is some fucked up shit.

I’m driving down the highway, on my way home from the office, when my phone rings. Hitting the ‘connect call’ on my steering wheel, I answer, “Smith.”

A sob comes through the speaker, and I’m instantly on high alert. “J-James?”

My chest tightens with fear, and the car swerves slightly. “Raven? What is it? What’s wrong?” I demand. Every worst-case scenario runs through my head because Raven would never call me unless she had to.

“They—He—” she stutters before trying again. “Someone—” she cuts off again, and the sound of her cries fills my car.

“Pretty girl,” I say as softly as I can manage, panic coursing through me. “What happened? Are you okay? Where are you?”

“Ho-honey Po-pot,” she manages to say between hiccups.

Getting off at the nearest exit, I race down the streets, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. “Raven, are you safe?” I ask as white noise rings in my ears. I push the car harder, faster.

“Ye-yes.”

I hear a muffled voice in the background. “Raven, who’s there with you?” I bark. “Who is it?”

My insides feel like they’re about to explode with worry. Who the fuck is with her, and why is she in this state?

“Hello?” a new voice says.

“Who the fuck is this?” My hand clenches around the steering wheel as I take a corner too sharply, the back end of the car swinging out wide .

“My name’s Simon. I was out walking my dog when I saw what happened. Raven’s fine, she’s just shaken up.”

I exhale sharply, knowing that for the moment she’s safe. With my heart in my throat, I race to get to her.