Page 52 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)
Chapter Fifty-Two
JAMES
A djusting my trousers and shirt, I walk back into the ballroom, a smirk on my face.
“I know that face,” Caleb says, his own smirk staring back at me.
I wish I could wipe the grin off my face, but I can’t. Raven makes me happy, happier than I’ve ever felt in my goddam life.
“What was it you said, Caleb? ‘A gentleman never tells?’” I grin as Theo hands me a beer.
“Spill.”
“What are we? A bunch of gossiping women?” I groan. “Get a life, one that isn’t preferably in mine.”
Theo pouts. “But I thought we were besties? You braided my hair that one time?—”
“Theo!” I glance around, my eyes wide. “We said we’d never talk about that night again.”
He holds a finger up at me while Caleb looks on in question. “Ah, you said to never talk about it again. I made no such promise. ”
Caleb chokes out a laugh. “What did I miss now?”
“Well, Caleb, darling—” Theo begins, but I clamp a hand over his mouth.
“Nothing, he means absolutely nothing.” Sweat beads down my spine at my biggest secret, one that was supposed to go to the grave with us. I give Theo a warning glare. “Zip it.”
Theo sniffs my hand that’s still against his mouth. “That don’t smell like no hors d’oeuvres to me.”
“Fuck off.” I glance around, looking at anything that isn’t my best friend's shit-eating grin. A redhead runs past the ballroom doors, her hands covering her face, and I’m instantly on alert. “The fuck?”
Theo and Caleb, noticing my distress, ask, “What?”
Not thinking, I chase after her. Just as she’s getting to the corner of the hallway, I yell, “Raven.”
She doesn’t listen, just keeps running. Caleb and Theo are hot on my heels as I chase after her. I watch as she pushes through the exit, someone coming up behind her and grabbing her. Fear like never before races through my body—I’m too far away, but I keep pushing my legs harder.
I get to the door just as a van’s tires are squealing out of the parking lot, the smell of burning rubber hits me as I push out into the alley.
“Raven,” I roar. I run after the van, knowing full well I won’t be able to keep up, but I try anyway. It turns a corner, racing away, and I know I’ve lost her.
Bending down, I brace myself against my knees. Caleb gets to me first. “What the hell just happened?” he asks angrily.
Standing up to my full height, I grit out, “Some fucker has a death wish. They took what’s mine.”
Theo finally arrives, phone in hand. “I got the license plate number. My guy’s running it now. ”
I nod my head in thanks.
“Someone wanna fill me in on why someone’s just taken Raven and why she’s yours?” Caleb asks, running a hand through his hair.
Not wanting to get into it, I say, “We need to find Drew.”
Storming back into the building, I’m waiting on tenterhooks for Theo’s guy to call him back. Luckily, Theo’s a handy man to know—he’s got connections all over.
Drew’s standing with Emma talking to Phillips and his daughter.
“We have a problem,” I say, my tone dark.
They both look at me in surprise at the way I interrupted their conversation, but I’m past giving a fuck.
A hand lands on my arm, and I look down, a growl leaving my throat at this bitch touching me when my girl’s been fucking kidnapped. “I’ve told you once not to fucking touch me,” I sneer. She gasps and takes a step back.
Wise move .
My anger explodes at her. “Ever touch me, contact me, or even be in the same room, and I will destroy both you and your father.”
I can see it finally dawn on her that she isn’t going to get what she wants, and her eyes go wide in fear at my threat.
My head swings to Phillips. “You're done with our company.”
“James—” Drew begins.
“Raven’s been taken,” I snap. “So save the bullshit lectures. We need to leave.”
Drew doesn’t utter another word, just follows swiftly behind me as I race to get to Danny and the waiting car.