Page 46 of Pretty Broken Wings

Adrenaline pumps into me so hard I feel like I’m floating. I trace the knife down her thigh. Nowhere vital. I don’t want her to feel like I’m going to kill her. Crashing would hurt more.

Raven lets out a breath that snaps me back down to earth.

“Drive,” I warn in a low breath.

And, miracle of miracles, the firebird listens to me. Slowly, she starts driving, reversing from the spot and making our way out to the street.

I’m floating again. We’re driving together. Our first time. It’s so thrilling. She’s being gentle too. I assume that’s to keep the knife out of her kneecap where it’s currently resting, but I like to think it’s ‘cause deep down, she wants to do what I asked.

I give her directions to my place, and all the while, my hand shakes with energy. The more she’s silent but can’t get away, the higher I get.

She can’t run. She’smine.

I feel like I’m flying above the car, and I’ve never been more excited.

“Faster,” I say. I want to get her home where she can be comfortable and won’t hurt herself trying to get away. Then, she can fight me all she wants, but she’ll be safe while she does it.

It doesn’t take long to get home. I live in a small house downtown. It’s a modest two-story, three-bedroom house, but it’s all I need. I can tell we’re back by the rumbling of the car over the gravel driveway.

“Home sweet home,” I say right as Raven violently throws the car into park.

I’m slammed into the dashboard, pain shocking through my system. I can’t resist a bubble of glee as I move around to her side of the car, uncuff her, and grab her around the middle to throw her over my shoulder.

“Put me down!” Her voice is higher and more panicked now. “Police, help!”

“Begging just turns me on, brat.”

Her response is an attempt to claw my eyes out, which almost makes me fall while trying to unlock the door.

“Fuck,” I cuss, catching myself before I can land on Raven and crush her.

“Fuck you! I fucking hate you!” She’s ripping at clumps of my hair now. I feel it snapping as I scramble to get the door unlocked. I’m alive. I’m so fucking alive. I almost want to keep this moment frozen in time.

But I get the door unlocked, and then I dart up the stairs, my woman bouncing at my back. Once there, I move to the back room that I’ve prepared for her. It’s simple, with a queen-size bed, a dresser, and a bathroom attached.

Kicking the door shut behind me, I put Raven down on the bed. She bounces up, and immediately, I back away, holding up my hands. “Easy.”

Raven launches at me, screaming and kicking and clawing.

I shove her back just enough that she catches herself on the bed. Although she’s smart not to trust me. I’m not a good man.

Raven screams, immediately backing up and looking around the room, her eyes wide. She darts to the bathroom, and I hear her wrestling with the window.

I’m buzzing. I did it. I fucking did it.

I want to rush through the rest of the steps. I think back to what Gage always did with his animals. They’d fight him at first,but he’d be gentle. He was so gentle. He’d take care of their needs, then spend time with them so they’d get used to him. So they’d trust him.

I rest my back against the door. Raven won’t be able to open the windows. I made sure all of them were nailed shut so she couldn’t open them.

Raven goes from window to window, trying to get out, searching for a weapon.

“Raven, it’s okay–”

“It’s okay?” She whirls on me. “It’sokay? You just kidnapped me! Let me go right fucking now.” She’s shaking. I lock in on her hands, which are quivering. Just like they did the first time I saw her at the bar. When the man scared her.

“Raven…” I sink down against the door, sliding so I’m lower than her. I hold my hands out in a soothing way.

“No, fuck you!” Spit flies from her mouth, and she points at me. “Let me go! Now!”