CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CLOVER
I hurried to answer the door before any of the guys beat me to it. First I took a second to refill my drink, using the scotch to burn the taste of Daire away.
“Holy shit, girl, you look rough. And I mean that in the best way.” Raina threw her arms around me as soon as I opened the door. “What have these dumb fucks done to you?”
In a short black skirt and a Led Zeppelin tank top, Raina was casual but gorgeous. Her blue eyes were lined in black, her lips a bright pink that I envied.
She shoved inside before I could stop her. I glanced uncertainly at her. “Are you sure that you want to come in? We can talk outside if it’s more comfortable for you.”
Raina’s gaze strayed to the stairs as she remembered the night the Angels abused and assaulted her. Her lips pressed tight together as she shook her head. “No, fuck that. Those dicks don’t have any power over me.”
Havoc, Gage, and Knight strode inside after her. I knew they’d never let her come alone. I still had a pit in my stomach, worried that having them in the same house as the Angels would lead to something violent and uncontrollable.
“Okay, if you’re sure. We can sit in the living room.” I led them into the living room, motioning for them to take a seat.
Raina sat on the leather couch, patting the spot next to her. She ignored the Angels gathered around the kitchen island, turning her back to them. “Come on, Clover. Let me hear it. What’s been going on with you? Did those dicks do something I should know about?”
Blaze scoffed but said nothing further. Daire snickered. Cash stood there silently, his gaze locked on the three Gods.
The Gods didn’t sit down. Instead, they stood near the large TV mounted above the fireplace, giving us space to talk but staying protectively close to Raina.
“No, this isn’t about them,” I said, trying not to look toward the Angels. “It’s about Zane. He’s dead.”
Raina took my hand, holding it between both of hers. “Oh my god, what happened? Tell me everything. I’m here for you, Clover.”
I sucked in a deep breath, hating that I had to relive it already. “He abducted me. Took me to a cabin in the woods and went absolutely mental.”
While everyone listened, I recounted what had happened. Raina’s eyes grew wider by the moment. I ended with how the Angels had found me and what they’d done to Zane.
“Don’t leave out the best part,” Daire broke in. “I cut off that motherfucker’s cock.”
That seemed to get Gage’s attention. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “That happened. I’d rather not remember it though. It was pretty gruesome.”
Despite the animosity between Gage and Daire, Gage seemed to be impressed. It was totally something he would do.
“Wow.” Raina slumped against the couch. “That is wild. I always had a gut feeling about Zane. I had no idea he was that messed up though. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks to us,” Blaze said, drawing everyone’s attention. “That sick fuck planned to take off with her. He got what he deserved.”
Raina turned on the couch to face the kitchen. “What about you guys? What do you all want with Clover? Still planning on keeping her for yourselves? How does that make you any different from Zane?”
My face flushed hot. I hadn’t expected her to call them out, although maybe I should have.
Daire shoved away from the island. He held a beer bottle in one hand, clutching it tight. “I don’t see how it’s any business of yours, but yes, Clover is ours. We’ve saved her ass twice now. I think she owes us that much.”
Cash edged closer to Daire, ready to have his back if a fight broke out. He remained quiet, analyzing the situation rather than mouthing off.
“She doesn’t owe you anything.” Raina shot to her feet.
I grabbed her arm, holding on for dear life. I didn’t trust her not to rush over there and punch Daire in the face.
“It’s cool, Raina,” I said, desperate to keep the situation from escalating. “Really, I’m fine. I can handle it.”
Raina was ready for a fight. She turned to me with fire in her eyes. “If you need help, just say the word. We’ll take you out of here right now. I won’t let them force you into anything.”
“It’s not your decision to make, Raina.” The vehemence in Blaze’s voice made all three Gods stiffen.
I stood up, putting myself in front of Raina. “Raina, please. I can’t handle any more violence right now. I’ve been through enough. Can we cool it?”
Her gaze darted between me and the Angels. Finally, she relented. “I’m sorry, Clover. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“She doesn’t need your protection.” Now Cash spoke up. Arms crossed over this thick chest, he shot Raina a dark glare. “She has us. We can take care of her.”
Tension fell over everyone present. The atmosphere grew thick with it.
“I’m sure you can,” Raina muttered. “For a price, right?”
“That’s right,” Daire confirmed, his attitude cocky as hell. “Clover is ours now. I know how much that must eat you alive. You’ll have to live with it. Just like you all live with knowing your drug business is endangering minors.”
Havoc’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your supply has been making its way to the high school. Don’t pretend you didn’t know that.”
“We only sell to adults. What they do with it is out of our control.” Havoc shrugged. “Not that it’s any business of yours.”
Cash held Daire back from taking another step forward with a hand on his shoulder. “It will be our business when a kid dies. Someone has to stop you guys from destroying the city’s youth.”
Gage let out a bark of laughter. “You’ll concoct any reason to start shit with us, won’t you? Don’t you hear how fucking stupid you sound?”
“You’re right,” Blaze said with a tight smile. “We don’t give a shit about high school kids. We just want to fuck with you and your business. I mean, someone has to, right?”
I gripped Raina’s arm, giving it a squeeze, silently begging her to put a stop to this before it got bloody.
“Why?” Knight asked, his tone calm and even. “Because it gives some sense of meaning to being self-appointed vigilantes? Maybe it’s time for a new identity.”
Cash was also frighteningly calm when he replied, “Maybe we enjoy the violence, and going after people like you keeps the cops off our backs. Nobody cares if a mobster bites it.”
All six guys took a step that brought them closer together. Raina shoved in between both groups, raising her hands.
“That’s enough dick measuring for today.” Her voice rang with authority. “This conversation is over. We’re leaving. Clover, I’ll call you later. We obviously can’t have a rational conversation with these guys around.”
I gave her a brief hug, watching as she and the Gods filed from the house. When they were gone, I turned on the Angels with a scowl. “Is it really so difficult for you jerks to act civil? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Pretty sure Daire has been asphyxiated too many times during sex,” Cash quipped. “Blaze hits the bong pretty hard some days. And me? I don’t know. I suspect I may have been involved in too many fights before my brain was fully developed.”
They laughed amongst themselves. It only upset me further. I started to wish that I’d told Raina to take me with her.