Page 34 of Pursued-

“I told her I’m okay. Also, that things are complicated between you and me and that we had a fight this morning.”

“Did you tell her what it was about?”

“No, I didn’t have time.” I fold my arms across my chest. “But she’s my best friend. I tell her most things.”

His silence unnerves me.

“I can tell her whatever I want,” I add defiantly.

“Be careful with that.”

I narrow my eyes. “Maybe you should be careful what you do, so I don’t need to cover for you.”

“Don’t give me attitude, Raven. You said you could handle brutal honesty from me. If you can’t, then say so. But don’t drag Zoe in the middle. She didn’t say she wanted to be in the know on my dark dealings. I know she’s your best friend, but as C’s girl, she’s also the crue’s new queen. So be careful for her sake, because I could handle a cold war, but I don’t think she could and she has to be around me a lot. I’m C’s right hand.”

I think it over and know he’s right. If Zoe stopped speaking to Sasha and gave him dirty looks, Sasha would take it in stride. He’s had plenty of practice with people keeping their distance. But Zoe doesn’t like cold silences. She needs to talk things out and clear the air. She hugs and kisses and supports people and feeds off the positive energy she gets in return.

I nod, then sit on the bench and stare down at my lap. I’m capable of keeping secrets from Zoe. I never told her my father threatened her life because I didn’t want her to become afraid of him while still needing to see him, or the alternative, becoming afraid and staying away. I’d done what I needed to do to protect her, and I’d kept it to myself.

“He’s punishing her because she came to check on me,” I say, realization dawning.

“He’s punishing her because he told her not barge in on us without warning first thing in the morning and she disobeyed him.”

“And that’s what I can expect?” I ask, leveling my gaze on him. “That you’ll make decisions for me? Like Frank does? Like Alberto does? Only with you, I’ll also get physically punished for disobeying?”

“Does it feel the same?” he asks. “When I do something to you, when I exert my will, does it feel the same to you as when Frank or Leone does it?”

“No,” I admit.

“It cuts both ways, Raven. No one can order me to do anything. Not even C. If he wants something from me, he asks or suggests, and I step up. The only person I’ve ever let order me to do something I didn’t want to do is you.”

“When did I?—?”

“When I was sick,” he says. “It was miserable. The pain and the fevers and the fucking weakness. I could barely roll over. Bone-deep pain. Bone-deep exhaustion. I wanted it to end. I was ready to die. But you said fight, and I fought. Yousaid stay. And I stayed. You got in my head, and that’s where you’ve been ever since.”

I rise and cross the room to him. I stand between his knees, take his face in my hands, and kiss him. Our tongues touch, our breath mingles, and our arms wrap around each other.

I don’t know if we’re good for each other, or if we’re going to destroy each other. I only know we can’t stay away from each other anymore.

ANVIL

When we goto the castle, things are calm and under control.

To her credit, Zoe’s a great hostess. The four of us are in the kitchen and I notice she doesn’t sit down, but otherwise, she flutters back and forth making appetizers and serving them on crystal platters I didn’t even know C had.

Rachel’s wearing an indigo dress and some exquisite dark makeup that makes her look like an urban fantasy cover model. Made up, she’s got that kind of freakish beauty that makes me want to carry her upstairs, tie her to the bed, and fuck her till she passes out.

Trick wanders in and scores some freshly made guacamole by moving it to a separate counter where he’s the only one who can reach it.

“Rachel, I agree with ‘Vil. That’s a good look,” he says.

Rachel looks between us, confused, since I haven’t said shit.

“Don’t fuck with her head,” I say.

“You sure? Because I’ve got a bigger mind fuck that I was going to share with the whole group. But I can wait for the business meeting instead.”

“Don’t be a tease, Trick,” Zoe says. “What? Tell us.”