Obsession (Raven’s Vale Psychos #1

Chapter Sixteen

Riot

I dragged Hollis through the streets of Raven’s Vale, my fingers biting into her flesh. I’d likely leave bruises, yet another mark to show she’s mine. The moon was a sickly sliver in the sky, casting just enough light to dance with shadows on the cracked pavement. Every building loomed as a silent witness to our midnight prowl.

“Riot.” She yanked hard on my arm. I damn near stumbled, her sudden defiance a surprise I hadn’t anticipated.

“What?” I asked, following the jab of her finger. There, cloaked in the ink of night, stood our next plaything -- a silhouette marinated in potential terror.

“Another kill,” Hollis murmured. Her eyes sparkled, reflecting the hunger that gnawed at my gut -- a relentless beast that craved the scream, the chase, the kill.

“Looks ripe for the taking,” I admitted, feeling the familiar pull of darkness coiling inside me, eager to strike.

My gaze sharpened, zeroing in on the shadowed figure like a hawk. But something was off -- the stance was too casual. The air around him seemed too calm. A liability. Something inside me twisted -- a warning. This one wasn’t for us, not for our game. A gut instinct screamed at me to steer clear, but there was no easy way to make Hollis understand without spilling secrets that were best kept in the dark.

“Riot?” Hollis prodded, her voice tinged with impatience. I could feel her eagerness radiating off her like heat from hot coals, ready to ignite at the slightest whisper of violence.

“Change of plans,” I muttered, my words clipped as I pulled her away with a force that brooked no argument. My hand clamped down on her arm, an unspoken command that we were moving on. The prey before us didn’t fit the bill tonight.

“Hey!” Hollis snapped, her heels digging in as she tried to resist. “I thought --”

“Thought wrong.” My tone left no room for debate. The dominance I wielded over her was as tangible as the blade I kept sheathed at my side. She was a wild thing, but even wild things bowed to the alpha’s will.

Hollis glared up at me, fire and fury swirling in the depths of her eyes. But she followed, matching my brisk pace with reluctant steps. Each stride I took echoed with authority, a reminder of who ruled over Raven’s Vale. And it sure as hell wasn’t her.

The mansion loomed before us. A fortress of madness and luxury entwined, it squatted on the outskirts of Raven’s Vale like a spider at the center of a web. I shoved open the front door.

“Home, sweet hell,” I said, as Hollis trailed behind me, her presence a silent challenge to my authority. The air was thick with the scent of old blood and fresh anticipation.

Without pausing to savor the tension knotting the heavy atmosphere, I grasped Hollis’ wrist and dragged her toward the grand staircase, the marble steps cold and silent beneath our boots.

“Riot, what now?” she asked.

“Time to clean up,” was all I said.

We reached the master bathroom, a sanctuary of sorts where the horrors of the world could be washed away, if only for a moment.

“Strip,” I commanded, watching with a predatory grin as she complied. Her clothes fell to the floor.

I shed my own garments with mechanical precision, the fabric parting from my skin, revealing the ink and scars that mapped my history. The shower’s glass doors shuddered open at my touch, and we stepped into the spray together. The water hit us hot and steady.

Her eyes closed as if in worship, the water tracing rivulets down her curves.

The hot steam enveloped us, a temporary veil separating us from the filth of our deeds. But even as the water sluiced over our bodies, it couldn’t wash away the sins etched deep within our bones.

Steam fogged the air as I gripped her hips, pulling Hollis against me with a possessive snarl, my hands branding her skin.

“Riot,” she gasped, her nails raking down my back, marking me as I marked her. Her pain was her pleasure -- and I reveled in every scratch she wanted to give me.

“Mine,” I said, claiming her lips in a bruising kiss. My tongue traced the contours of her mouth, delving deep, tangling with hers in a sensual dance. I tasted the sweetness on her tongue and groaned against her lips.

“Do you like it when I call you ‘mine’?” I asked, pulling back to look into her eyes. The answer was written all over her face -- she loved it.

“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely. “I belong to you.”

My cock throbbed against her belly, a heavy ache that demanded release. I wanted nothing more than to bury myself inside her tight pussy.

“Tell me what you want,” I said. “Tell me how bad you want my cock.”

She swayed toward me, her breath hot on my neck. “I want you to fuck me hard. I want you to make me yours.”

I pushed her against the wall, my fingers entwined in her hair. “You’re mine already. Don’t you ever forget it.”

She nodded, her eyes wide with submission. I leaned in and captured her lips again, my tongue exploring her mouth. I nipped at her bottom lip, making her gasp.

“You like that, don’t you?” I asked, my voice rough with desire. “You love it when I take what I want.”

She nodded eagerly, arching into me. “Please, I need you to fuck me now.”

I took her hand and led her out of the shower. Not bothering to dry either of us off, I took her over to the bed, my cock begging for release. I pushed her down onto the mattress and climbed on top of her, kissing her neck, her shoulders, her collarbone. She writhed beneath me, her nails raking my back again.

“Please,” she begged. “Take me. Fuck me.”

I groaned and positioned my cock at her entrance. She was so wet, so ready for me. I thrust into her, feeling her tightness squeeze around me. She moaned loudly, arching her back off the bed.

“Fuck! You feel so good.”

I pounded into her, my hips slapping against hers in a rhythm that echoed through the room. She met every thrust with a moan, her nails clawing at my back, leaving trails of pain. I loved every second of it.

“You like that, huh?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “You like being claimed by me?”

“Yes.” She whimpered. “Please, don’t stop.”

I picked up the pace, slamming into her harder and faster. She was all mine -- body and soul. As I felt the familiar tingle of an impending orgasm, I gripped her hips tighter and plunged deeper into her, claiming her completely.

“Mine,” I gritted out. “You’ll never belong to anyone else.”

And with that, I released myself inside her, filling her with my cum. We collapsed together in a heap, panting heavily.

“You’re perfect,” I murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “Absolutely perfect.”

She smiled up at me, and I knew that somehow, I’d found the one woman meant to belong to me. She could be every bit as violent and as savage as me yet had a tender side that was a nice counter to my darkness.

I carried her back to the shower, and we quickly washed. “Need to get dressed.”

“Okay,” she murmured, hastening to obey. Once we were both presentable, I knew it was time.

“Let’s go downstairs,” I said. “There are things you need to know.”

“About Raven’s Vale?” she asked, eyes sharp and knowing.

“About everything,” I replied, leading her out of the room.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, and quickly dialed the mayor. The beast in me was tired of skulking in the shadows -- it was time Hollis knew the depth of the darkness she’d willingly stepped into.

The moment the call connected, I barked out my orders. “Get your sorry ass to my mansion. Now. And bring the sheriff with you.”

“Crash! Kane!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the grand halls of the manor.

“Here,” came a voice from the shadows, and the two figures emerged like wraiths. They knew better than to keep me waiting.

“Good,” I said, my eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. “We’ve got a lesson to teach.”

* * *

“Raven’s Vale isn’t run like other towns. You’ve already figured that much out. But now it’s time for you to learn exactly how this place works.”

Crash leaned against the wall, arms folded, an unreadable mask on his face that didn’t fool me one bit. Kane fidgeted like a mutt needing to piss, but he kept his trap shut. The mayor and sheriff shifted uneasily.

“Scattered around this cesspit, there are eyes and ears -- my eyes and ears. They’re the lifeblood of this place, keeping the chaos just shy of anarchy.”

“Maintaining the population, enforcing the rules,” Mayor Rawlins added, his voice barely above a whisper, the resignation etched deep within it.

“Exactly.” I stalked closer to Hollis. “We’ve got our own brand of justice here. And there’s shit we don’t tolerate. No rapists. No other killers. That’s our domain.”

“Other criminals, though,” Rawlins continued. “They roam free, some under Riot’s wing. That shadow you pointed out, the one slinking in the alley? He’s one of Riot’s hounds. It’s why you couldn’t kill him.”

“He sniffs out trouble before it festers. Reports back to me,” I said. “There are a few like him lurking around. It keeps everyone else in line.”

“So you knew who it was when I pointed them out?” she asked.

“I did and mentioned it to the sheriff and mayor before telling them to come here.”

Hollis, her eyes wide but not fearful, nodded slowly. The veil lifted from her gaze, and she began to see the perverted tapestry of Raven’s Vale, woven with threads of blood and terror.

“Understand now?” My voice was low. “This is my kingdom, our kingdom. And these are the rules you play by.”

I watched her, the realization dawning, and something feral uncoiled within me -- a mixture of pride and possession. She was truly becoming part of my world, part of the very sinews that held Raven’s Vale together.

“Beyond these streets,” I said, “there’s a world that doesn’t give two shits about the poor bastards with no direction. But they’re mine. They work for me. They breathe because I allow it.”

I leaned forward, elbows on knees, hands clasped together as if in prayer -- though I’d never once believed in any god. “They scout the gutters, the dark corners of nowhere towns. Find the lost ones, the hopeless. Offer them a ticket to Raven’s Vale. A second shot at life, or the closest thing to it.”

My eyes flicked to Dalton and Rawlins. “The sheriff here, mayor too, they play good Samaritan. Jobs, roofs over their heads, all the things people want. Some bite the hand feeding them and end up on the streets again. Their choice. Our rules.”

Hollis watched me. I could almost hear the cogs turning in her skull as she pieced together the grim mosaic of our world. Her eyes began to harden with the same resolve that coursed through my veins.

“Riot --” she started, but I held up a hand, cutting her off.

“Listen, Doll. This is the belly of the beast. You’re in deep now. And there’s no crawling back out. Not for you. Not for anyone.”

I saw it then -- the shift. The moment her spirit snarled and snapped into place beside mine. She understood the game, the unspoken creed we lived and bled by. And she’d stay by my side, helping me keep the status quo.

“Got it?” I asked, gauging her, testing the mettle I already knew was there.

“Got it.”

“Welcome home, Hollis.” My lips twisted into something that might’ve passed for a smile in another life. “To Raven’s Vale -- where the damned find their calling, and the wolves run free.”

“But how does no one find out what’s going on here?” she asked.

“Those who live outside and know of me and this place are loyal. Some of them I saved by killing the monsters hurting them. It wasn’t intentional, but the end result was nice. They make sure no one speaks of this place, and no one comes searching for the three of us.”

“And people willingly come here, even knowing they may die?” she asked.

“Hollis, people die all the time. If they stayed out there, living in the filth, then they would find their end soon enough. At least here, they have a chance.”

She pressed her lips together in a tight line. “I didn’t. I was born here, abandoned here, and never hurt anyone. So why was I chosen as a sacrifice?”

I grinned. “Because I asked them to choose you. From the moment I saw you, you caught my eye. Something about you called to me. It was the first time my initial reaction wasn’t to slit someone’s throat. Call me curious, but I decided I wanted to play with you a bit. See if I could figure out what made you special.”

She paled a little and glared at me. “I’m not a toy, Riot. I know you often talk about me like I’m one, but I’m a living, breathing human.”

I leaned closer to her. “Oh, but you are one, Hollis. You’re my toy. If you’ve already forgotten, I can take you upstairs and remind you.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she narrowed her eyes at me. I loved seeing that fire in her.

“Now you know how things work,” Kane said. “And because of how we run things, your baby will always be safe here. Whether they’re like you or Riot won’t matter. There will be a spot for them in Raven’s Vale.”

Her shoulders sagged and she nodded. “All right. I get it. And thank you for explaining things to me.”

“Did you say baby?” the mayor asked.

“Yes. Hollis is pregnant with my child.” I stared at the two men. “Which means you are to protect her at all costs. Anyone says something rude to her, looks at her wrong, or so much as bumps into her, I want to know about it.”

“Riot, I think that’s going a little far,” she said.

“I don’t. You’re mine. No one is allowed to hurt you except me.”

She gave me a slight smile, and I noticed the exchange of glances between the sheriff and mayor. I hoped I wouldn’t have to visit them individually and make sure they didn’t cause trouble. It would be a hassle to put new people in their places, but I’d do it if necessary. And they damn well knew it.

“I understand, Riot. We’ll make sure she’s safe and comfortable,” Sheriff Dalton said.

“Good. I’d hate for either of you to cause problems for me,” I said, making sure they understood the underlying message. Both men nodded.

“Now get the hell out of my house,” I said.

The mayor and sheriff left. Crash and Kane watched Hollis. I didn’t see animosity in their eyes. Only questions. I knew there was a lot they didn’t understand about my relationship with her. I didn’t either for that matter.

“Did the two of you consider what I brought up before?” I asked. They both seemed confused. “About finding your own women?”

Crash shrugged. “I’m not actively looking. Maybe I’ll run across someone who piques my interest like Hollis did with you.”

“Same,” Kane said. “Although, I like the idea of each of us starting families.”

Hollis had a startled look on her face. “You do?”

Kane nodded. “The three of us can’t live forever. We’ll need to turn this town over to someone else one day. Might as well be our own flesh and blood.”

Her jaw dropped open. “Are you saying you need heirs like a royal family or something?”

“Can’t think of another reason to need a kid running around,” Kane muttered. “Noisy pains in the ass, if you ask me.”

“Do me a favor,” Hollis said. “If you do approach someone, you might want to leave out the part where you intend to turn her into a broodmare.”

Crash scratched his neck. “I don’t know. Might make her fight more. Could be fun.”

Hollis rolled her eyes. “I give up. The three of you really are psychos, you know that?”

I leaned in and nipped her ear. “Yes, but you seem rather fond of this particular psycho.”

She smiled and kissed me. “Yes, I am. And I suppose the other two may grow on me. I’ll just think of them as your pesky brothers. I’ve heard siblings can be quite annoying.”

Crash reached for the gun tucked into his waistband and I shot him a hard look, freezing him in place. He slowly put his hand down. If he hadn’t, I’d have beaten the hell out of him. However many times it took until he learned his lesson.

Hollis was off-limits to everyone but me.