Page 121 of Thorns of Deceit

“If we don’t make it,” she muttered. She pressed herself tighter against me. “I want you to know… Leaving you five years ago was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I never forgot you. I loved you then, and I love you now. I never want to leave you again.”

The bullets stopped and the dust cleared. But still my ears buzzed from her words. I lifted off her slightly, searching her face.

“I promise you, Aiden?—”

I smashed my mouth against hers while my heart soared to new heights. She loved me! Fuck, despite the blackmail and the fact that she deserved better than my old ass… she lovedme.

Then I heard Tyran’s voice. “There you are, lovebirds.”

“Not a good time for hanky panky,” Kyran drawled.

I pressed another kiss to her lips and then helped her to her feet. Her eyes darted around the room and she bolted to her mom who was in the fetal position, unmoving amid the chaos.

Raven fell to her knees in front of her chair, the expression on her face gut-wrenching as she hugged her mom.

“We’re safe now,” she cried softly. “You’ll never have to hurt again. I promise.”

But her mom didn’t even flinch, the blank look in her eyes haunting.

Raven cradled her, rocking her back and forth and murmuring softly. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I didn’t know, but I’m here now, and I’ll take care of you.”

Her grief hit me right in my chest and I wished there was something I could do. Even if it just meant shaking her mother from her horrified state, making it clear that we’d get her to a doctor as soon as possible.

“Raven, love.” I went to her and lowered so we were at eye level. “Let’s get her out of here.”

Her tearstained face turned to me, then she looked behind me at my brothers and the three Blackhawk Security men. River’s hand was wrapped around Duncan’s throat as he dangled in the air, above the bodies of his dead men.

And then there were two of Raven’s family members that she’d never met: Duncan’s sister—Raven’s aunt—and her husband.

Raven’s brow furrowed. “Who’s that?”

The middle-aged woman flashed Raven a soft smile. “I’m your aunt, dear. Your father’s sister. But don’t hold that against me. He sure is a bastard.” Her gaze shifted to her brother, distaste clear in her expression. “It’s time you paid for your sins, Duncan. And the pain you caused your family.”

Raven followed her eyes to the man River had by the throat.

“You!” Her voice was rough, her eyes full of fury. “You monster!”

Despite his predicament, Duncan showed no fear. “She should have never kept my daughter from me,” he sneered.

“I’m not your daughter!” she screamed hysterically. “You are a monster.”

“Then so are you,” he taunted. “We all know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Her eyes lowered, locking on the gun I still held and then reaching for it. But I refused to let it go.

“No,” I said firmly.

She wasn’t a hardened criminal, and yes, she and her friends had hacked at Angelo Leone like he was on a butcher block, but they’d done it with tears in their eyes.

I cupped her face and forced her to look at me. Anguish, hatred, and pain reflected in those beautiful eyes that usually glimmered with defiance or lust.

“When we met,” I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers, “I promised to be the one to deliver your karma. Today will be one of those days.” She didn’t move, her sorrow-filled eyes locked on mine. Fuck, I didn’t want her to do something she might regret. Something that would eat at her for the rest of her life. “Let me be your weapon. I don’t want this staining your soul.”

She swallowed, her eyes darting to her mom, then nodded slowly.

“Consider yourself lucky,” she told Duncan. Hope flared in his eyes, but he didn’t know his daughter or her allegiances. “Your existence tortured my mom for over two decades. You deserve to die a long and painful death, but instead, you’ll get a quick one. Rot in hell.”

She stepped away from me and turned to her mom, shielding her from what was about to happen. I aimed my gun at his skull and pulled the trigger.