Chapter 31 #2
“It’s fine.” I chuckle. “I’m not really sure what civilized even looks like. And just saying, I think shooting people sounds kind of fun.”
“I’ll take you to the range. You’ll like it,” King tells me.
I don’t tell him I’ve been a few times now. I have a feeling it will be a whole new experience going with King.
“Like what?” Ambros asks, walking over with a brown bag in his hands.
“Shooting people,” Six tells him.
Ambros looks between the three of us before shaking his head. “You know what, I’m probably better off in the dark. Come on. Let’s head out before it gets too late.”
I stand up and take Ambros’s free hand when he offers it and wait as Six and King head for the door. He holds it open for us to pass through before heading over to his bike.
“I thought we were walking?” Six says, confused.
“I know a spot. It’s too far to walk there, though,” King tells her as he climbs on, offering Six her helmet. Ambros and I follow suit. I climb on behind him and hang on tight.
Riding like this is one of my favorite parts of the day. Nothing else matters but us, and for one tiny moment, I feel untouchable.
Unfortunately, the ride is over before we know it.
But when the bike stops and I see the view, I don’t care so much anymore.
I tug off my helmet and look around at the lush scenery of sweet gum trees, flowering dogwood, and box elders.
It’s like a little piece of heaven on my doorstep, and I had no idea it was even here.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
Ambros takes my helmet from me and helps me off the bike before climbing off himself. “I’ll admit I’ve ridden past here a million times on the way to the hospital, but I never stopped.”
“Life has a funny way of getting in the way of living.” King sighs as he and Six come to stand beside us.
“What is this place?” Six asks.
“Locals call it Haven’s Peril, but it doesn’t have an official title, not one I could find anyway.” And if King couldn’t find it, it likely doesn’t exist.
“Isn’t that an oxymoron? Haven’s peril?”
King looks at me and winks. “That’s the point.
This place is where people come to propose and start a new life together.
It’s also the place where they end it. It has both a Lover’s Lookout and a Hangman’s Cove.
This place has seen more proposals than any other spot in Raven’s Fall. It’s also seen more suicides.”
“Beautifully tragic.”
King nods. “Such is life. Either way, it’s a beautiful spot to explore.”
“I’m game,” Ambros says, wrapping his hand around mine.
“I’m always up for an adventure,” Six agrees. King shakes his head, but I don’t miss the smile on his face.
And so that’s what we do for the next hour. We wander around, taking in the sights and smells as peace seeps into my bones. When we end up back in the spot we started from, I tip my head back and close my eyes, feeling the fading sun on my skin and the gentle breeze moving through my hair.
“I think I know what hobby I want to try. Well, apart from shooting.”
“Oh yeah?” Ambros asks, tugging me into his arms. I open my eyes and look up at him.
“Yeah. I want to plant things and watch them grow. I want to dig my fingers into soil and reconnect with the world a little.”
He swallows, a strange look passing over his face.
“Ambros?”
“I think it’s a great idea.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I’m about to argue with him, but he slides his hand around my jaw and slips his mouth over mine, stealing my protests. By the time he pulls back, I forget about the look on his face.
Sensing King and Six approaching, I turn to ask if they want to come over to the house for dinner after we pick up Star when King’s cell starts ringing.
A moment later, Ambros’s phone rings too.
I look at Six and frown as both men pull out their phones, a sense of foreboding stealing the comfort I had felt in this place just moments ago.
They both step away from us, so I move closer to Six and pretend everything is fine, and she pretends right back.
“What did you think?”
“It really is beautiful. I can’t believe this is where Delphi was hurt. It looks untouched by something so scary.”
“What?” I ask in shock.
“Yeah, King was telling me this is where she brought the grenade.”
“Oh wow.”
I look around, trying to spot signs of what happened that day, but I can’t see anything that stands out.
“We’ve gotta go.”
I jolt at the sound of Ambros’s voice. I turn to look at him and see matching blank expressions on his and King’s faces.
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to head back to the clubhouse.”
“Is Star okay?”
“She’s fine, I promise.”
“Nevaeh?” I feel myself panicking, and try as I might, I can’t catch my breath.
“Hey, she’s good. Everyone’s okay.”
“Not everyone,” King mumbles, making me look at him sharply.
Ambros curses, running his fingers through his hair.
“Dad?” Six whispers.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Well, you did. Just tell us. Who’s not okay?”
“I don’t know. All Blade said was that a body had been found. A Jane Doe.”
“Jane Doe? I don’t understand.”
“It means they don’t know who she is,” Ambros fills in.
“Okay, so what does that have to do with the Ravens?”
Ambros and King look at each other before King sighs. “Whoever she is has a tattoo of a raven on her wrist.”
“What does that mean?” Six asks, but I already know.
“It means she was a club girl.”
And only one club girl is missing right now.
Lil.