Page 96 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)

Foster smiled. It was equal parts cocky, and soft. “You don’t have to thank me. But I’ll take the sweetener for the bitter taste that’s probably lingering in that snout of yours. That’s thanks enough.”

“There’s the twat I thought had died with my captain,” Rhaena snorted.

“And now I’ve officially heard it for myself,” she snickered. “So, we’re all set, then? I know this sucks, but…in a couple days, the hardest part will be over. Then you guys can rejoice over my absence.”

“Not yet,” Rhaena said, glancing towards Brent’s impressive view. “There’s one more thing I have to do first.”

Brandon looked at her knowingly. “You want me to go with you?”

“No. No, this…I’m doing on my own.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Foster tossed a salute from her brow, and Rhaena grabbed an old box, and her keys off the kitchen island as she left.

From the outside, this house looked so cozy.

So warm and inviting. But the closer she got to the door, even the sound of her heels against the walkway made her teeth scrape.

It was like nails on a chalkboard, and the chilly air seemed heavy…

unwelcome. Rhaena straightened her spine and lifted her chin as she rang the doorbell.

Charming. Such a solid glamour over this place.

Any unsuspecting passerby would almost mistake it for the American dream, and the white picket fence.

Even the doorbell was unnervingly soothing.

She could see the outline of a woman through the lacy door curtain and a young girl opened it, immediately scowling at her.

Well…that had to be Brynn Trainor.

“Miss Trainor?” Rhaena asked, not bothering to smile. “My name is—”

“I know who you are,” she snapped, stepping out of the door. She left it open behind her. “You’re Foley’s protege. I heard the bastard—”

“Finish that sentence, little girl…I fucking dare you.” Something like surprise flashed across her young, freckled face, and Rhaena dropped the box to the porch.

The lid nearly flew off with the impact.

“I came here to give you back your mother’s things.

Out of courtesy . Don’t make me regret that decision.

I could have had them ripped wide open and expose Lindsay Traitor , for what she really was.

I didn’t. Purely out of respect for you and your father.

But you will not disrespect my captain. Not ever.

And if you even think of showing up to that funeral, I’ll make sure my first act as captain will be to make both your lives a living hell. ”

To be as young as she was, she was as brave as they came. Brynn faced off with her, inching forward, back straight, and eyes on fire. “How dare you…” she seethed, the tips of her ears shining red with boiling anger. “My mother was not—”

“Brynn? Who was at the—” Heavy footsteps broke their heated stare, and Scott Trainor stepped out of the front door, looking every bit as triumphant as he was pissed. “Well…you’ve got balls. I would ask why Malcolm didn’t bring these back himself, but…”

Rhaena cocked her head. “Something else you need to say, Trainor?”

“I dunno why you insist on coming here with hostility, detective. Foley was the one sticking his nose in a grave the day that he dared to come up here and ask for that key. If it wasn’t bad enough that my wife died for nothing, I knew dredging shit back up wouldn’t do a damn thing but have him follow her right to his own grave.

It’s not like I didn’t warn him, and I can’t say I’m that sorry. You know why, so don’t play stupid.”

Brynn stepped in front of him, cutting him off. “She called mom a traitor. She’s no frickin’ better than he was.” Scott’s eyes lit up with fury.

“Get off my fucking property.”

Rhaena dug the brass key from her pocket and flicked it into the air like a coin.

Brynn caught it. “Gladly. And I know you’re in school to practice law,” she directed her focus to the testy youngster.

“You seem like a smart kid. So, do one better than your mother, and make sure you’re on the right side of it.

You think me a liar, then study the contents of that fucking box. Have a great day.”

“Leave,” Scott growled through his teeth. Rhaena smiled, flashing the irises of the wolf beneath, and they both flinched as it disappeared just as quickly as it came.

“I hope you both heed my warning. Case is closed…but I have no issues with prying it back open and stretching it as far as it’ll go. Ta-ta, now .” She turned on her heel and walked with purpose back down the walkway towards her truck. She swore she felt her captain’s presence around her shoulders…

And a slow smile crept across her face.

It was odd to think that as long as she’d worked here, everything that usually surrounded her at this glass counter barely filled a box. Leigh wound the cord around a set of unicorn headphones—a Dirty Santa gift from Wren a few Christmases ago. She smiled as she lowered it into the box.

“Did you get the rest of this month’s invoices ready for the guy that does the books—what’s his name?

Greg? Griff? ” Dom slung his forearms over the side of the counter and peered down at the box of shit on the floor.

He extended a tattooed finger at it and knotted his brows. “What’s that? Lost and found?”

Leigh rolled her eyes and sighed. “His name is actually Austin…for God’s sake…and no, it’s my stuff. I’m leaving.” Dom’s brows couldn’t have squeezed closer together. “Why the hell do you look so surprised?”

“Why the hell do you …think I’m just gonna let you walk out without notice? You’ve been here for…what, two years?”

“Five,” she spat, slapping her palms to her thighs. “I’ve been here five years , Dom. And you don’t really have a choice. Nothing you can say is gonna change my mind. Today’s my last day.”

His face was hard, but the edges looked as soft as his growing gut. “You’re the best I have, Leigh. What the fuck?”

“No… Wren was the best you had. And you didn’t have any problem pushing her out the door.

You’re an amazing artist, Dom. And this place is thriving.

But you’re a piece of shit, and I hate it’s taken me this long to finally tell you to go fuck yourself.

” She stood up and shrugged on her jacket, grabbing her keys and bending over to get the box.

“The invoices are in the same place they always are. If you don’t know where that is, then I suggest getting more acquainted with the front counter.

It’s been fun. Wish you the best.” She strode for the door, not giving the parlor a second look, and shouldered the door open.

“Can’t say the same for you. Nobody’s gonna give you an opportunity as good as you had it here, Leigh. You’re making a fucking mistake.”

Leigh smirked as she turned around, holding the door open with her back. “Your dick isn’t as big as you lead people to believe, Dom. I make more money selling tree. I’d say see you around, but you definitely won’t. Later.”

She was only a few strides away from the shop, heading for her car around the corner in the alley, a light chuckle on her lips before a voice stopped her dead.

“If that’s a box of kink, I definitely don’t deserve it.”

The box dropped from her hands, and she sprinted towards Ryan, who opened her arms up for her as she leaned against the car.

“You fucking idiot,” Leigh choked out, slamming into her and planting a harsh kiss to her mouth.

“You can’t stay here, Ryan…you’ve gotta go.

You shouldn’t have come back to Boston.” Ryan gripped her by her pink hair and kissed her back…

they may as well have started ripping each other’s clothes off in the back alley.

“I told you, you’d be the only reason. I’m not going anywhere without you. Unless you tell me you don’t wanna go. Say the word, Leigh…I’ll leave you alone. You won’t ever see me again, but if you want me as bad as I want you…”

She did…and she didn’t. She’d once told Wren that she’d run off with Ryan—but…that was before Wren’s offer to tell Dom to blow it out his ass and come with them to Denver. It was a fresh start. A possible career, and a new life. This would be too…but they’d always be running.

“You already know the answer to that,” Leigh whispered, roving her hands over Ryan’s body.

“Northwood told you…she told you that you’d better be hard to find.

She’s always gonna be looking for you, Ry.

Those people that came for me…Rhaena’s captain died that night.

She’s never gonna let that go, you know?

You didn’t just poke the bear, you shoved a cattle prod up its ass. ”

“I know about it. Did you think I’d risk coming back to Boston without some kind of peace offering?”

Leigh broke away, that last kiss still lingering on her mouth, and she slowly stepped back, drawing her brows. “Peace offering? What the fuck is this, Ryan? Some tender goodbye before you turn yourself over? Tell me you didn’t come back to Boston just to make me feel like shit again .”

“Don’t be stupid, Leigh.” Ryan crossed her arms and leaned back against the door. “How many times did we fuck? Five? Six times?”

“I guess that depends if you’re counting how many times in one night. What does it matter?” Her stomach started to hurt a little. This felt like a bad breakup…for some reason letting her go this time, seemed like something she wouldn’t get over.

“Sure. But it doesn’t make you wonder why you feel like ‘shit’ every time I leave? I’ve certainly wondered about it. I like to fuck, Leigh. I always have. I enjoy it…it’s a nagging side effect of being what I’m sure you’re aware I am by now.”

“What’s your point?” Leigh asked, planting a hand on her hip. Her middle went tight, and uncomfortable, and she palmed over it, trying to shake it off. Ryan smiled at her.

“You feel it too…don’t you…”

“Right now? All I feel is unwell. Maybe sick. Definitely fed up. Slightly pissed. Utterly confused.” She paused and stared into Ryan’s eyes. The look she had in them drove her insane. “Completely ruined by you.”

“Unlock the car, Leigh.” Ryan’s pupils went pinpoint small, and Leigh’s body reacted to it.

She clicked her button and hadn’t even realized she’d done it.

Her body trembled, and every warning about this woman being dangerous sent alarms blaring in her head as Ryan opened the back door and closed the distance between them.

It wasn’t until she felt her tongue against her neck, that she realized—she didn’t want any distance anymore…

and whatever happened after this…so fucking be it.

Leigh melted into her touch—melted into the hand that slid over the fly of her jeans and between her legs.

Her head fell back, and Ryan sucked the skin of her neck until that uncomfortable pull in her belly became downright painful.

“You feel that, Leigh? You feel me? ”

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. The combination of pleasure and pain left her breathless. “If that’s you…then you hurt,” she whispered, half-moaning the last word as Ryan’s fingers moved up, popping her button, and sliding her zipper down. “And you hurt good .”

“If you want it…then tell me. Otherwise, I need to go, and never come back.”

Her chest ached, and her middle felt like it was on fire. She felt like she could come, and cry all at the same time, and Ryan was barely touching her.

No…don’t go…

“What are you asking me, Ryan?” she gasped, lifting her head to meet her burning stare. “Ask it, or leave me alone. You’re fucking killing me.”

Ryan backed her into the wall…only a few steps away from the car.

Her heart was pounding, and Leigh could swear she felt hers too.

Their breath mingled, and Ryan’s eyes lowered to her parted mouth.

“I know why I feel this way about you. I think I’ve known it for a while.

I’ve never considered it before. Didn’t even really want it…

but I do now. I came back to Boston to ask you if you love me.

Your answer is gonna be the deciding factor on how the rest of this goes.

If you want me, then I deliver a parting gift to Rhaena, and I take you away from here.

If not, then I leave the gift…and I disappear. For good.”

Leigh panted and pulled Ryan’s jacket down her shoulders. “If I tell you the truth…I get all of you, Ryan. No more secrets. No more bullshit. No more disappearing acts. If I do it, you gotta swear you’re not hanging my ass out to dry again.”

“I swear it,” Ryan whispered against her mouth.

“Then I fucking love you.” She ripped the red coat down and tossed it to the ground as their mouths crushed together.

Their hands were everywhere, and something felt like it snapped in her middle.

Ryan flinched too, and a rush of every single kind of emotion flooded her veins.

The next thing she knew, she’d been picked up by the thighs, and she coiled them around Ryan’s body as she took her to the car, laying her down in the back seat.

That door slammed shut, and as far as they were concerned, the rest of the world could go fuck itself…the decision for their future had been made, and that final staple was happening…

Right fucking now.