Chapter 24
Raven
I’m standing behind a curtain with my mom as girls my age are being walked past us up to a crowd of people.
I’m not really sure where they are going, but all I hear is a loud man yelling these numbers.
I reach up and put my hands over my ears, because not only is it loud in here, but something feels off.
Like a bad vibe. I always get those around my mom’s new boyfriend Brock.
“Can we leave yet, Mom?” I reach over and tap my mom on the arm to get her attention.
“Not yet. Brock’s not done with his work,” she huffs out in irritation, turning back to look at the crowd.
Turning around and looking behind me, I see another group, except these girls look to be a little bit older.
A man looks at me and grins, causing chills to run up my spine and my stomach to turn, then pushes them towards the stage.
Each girl that passes by looks at me with a pleading look in their eyes.
“Mom, where are they going?” I turn back and ask my mom, who just ignores me and shakes her head.
Suddenly, I’m in a familiar bedroom. A little girl lying down with her blonde hair splayed out on the pillow, a cute little unicorn tucked in beside her. It’s then that I realize I’m standing in Blakelyn’s room. A sinister laugh comes from beside me, one I know all too well.
“She’d look so pretty walking across that stage, wouldn’t she?
” Chills run up my spine, and I feel like I’m frozen in place as he walks up closer to me.
I didn’t know what that place was when I was a little girl, but now?
Now I know the horrid things that go on there!
I’ll never let that happen to her, or anyone else, if I can help it.
“So much started for you there, Raven. You just gotta’ open Pandora's box and remember.” He chuckles repulsively.
Jolting awake, I reach up and grab my throat, gasping for air. Crawling over the mound of bodies in my bed, my feet hit the floor and I take off running for the bathroom. As soon as I make it to the toilet, I spill my guts. What the fuck was that dream?
“You okay?” Both guys ask as they come barreling into the bathroom at the same time after me.
“The worst nightmare of my life! We need to make a trip to the safe houses today. After the threat on my birthday and everything else that’s happened, I need to see with my own eyes that everything is okay.
Especially with my little blonde bestie,” I reply, bringing my legs up and resting my head between them for a second.
“Whatever you want to do, Babygirl,” Reyes says, squatting down in front of me and handing me a glass of water. Taking a big gulp, I swish it around my mouth and spit it into the toilet. Putting the glass up to my lips, I drink down a few sips, letting the cool liquid soothe my throat.
Damien holds out his hand for me. Reaching up, I grab it, and he helps me up off the floor. “Let’s try to get some more sleep, Angel. As soon as morning hits, we will take you to the safe houses. Promise.” He grins and kisses the top of my head.
Nodding, I walk to the sink to brush my teeth. Reyes leans against the wall and just watches. Rolling my eyes, I spit the toothpaste out and walk back to bed. “Come on, Loverboy. Sleep is calling my name.” I chuckle and pat the bed.
Climbing into bed, I’m once again sandwiched between the two of them. Such cavemen. My heart is yearning for the third missing piece. Reyes is all the way up against my back, and Damien is as close to my face as he can get. No such thing as personal space. Ever. Again.
Opening the front door with the guys hot on my heels because I forgot to tell them I’m having my cast removed today. Possibly on my own terms, because fuck what the doctor has to say. I’m not keeping this shit on for another day. I’m fine, everything is fine.
“Hello, Raven, I see you just couldn’t hold out any longer, huh?” Roberto asks, and I open the door more to allow him to walk in.
“It was either call you, doc, or take a hacksaw and try to cut it off myself.” Everyone’s head swings in my direction, and I just chuckle. “I’m also not kidding, that was really my first thought.” I wink and walk into the kitchen.
“I would have a few things to say about that, Babygirl. Like ain’t no fucking way you’re putting a saw that close to your arm without help,” Reyes says coming up beside me as I sit at the table.
“I mean I know we have a thing for pain and blades, but that’s extreme, Angel. What if you would have cut too far?” Damien says, standing off to the side as the doc stands in front of me.
Laying my arm across the table, I watch as he takes the little saw and cuts across my cast, the shield not letting it go too deep.
Ah, it already feels good. Like when you take your bra off and everything just falls and can breathe.
It feels free. Yeah, that’s how this feels as it’s getting cut.
I watch as he goes through the motions of finishing up with the cast saw, then using the spreaders to help bust it open.
The smell, however, is awful. I highly do not recommend, now I just need to scrub a layer of skin off.
“Alright. There you go, all done,” Roberto says as he starts putting some of the tools back into his bag.
“Mmm, I think you should wash your arm first,” Reyes tries to joke, and Damien starts to laugh with him. Picking up the cut open cast, I throw it in their direction. It flies through the air, hits Reyes in the face, bounces off and lands right where Damien has his arms crossed over his chest.
“Keep talking shit, boys, and I’ll leave the smell,” I sass, walking over to the sink. I absolutely will not be leaving the smell.
“Thank you, doc. I really appreciate it. Here take this.” I hand him an envelope of cash that I got out of my safe earlier. Thanking me, he turns and walks out the door.
“Alright, we going to race there?” I ask, grabbing my keys, but Damien yanks them from my hand.
“Oh, you got jokes today, huh?” He chuckles, holding my keys in the air just out of my reach.
“I will fucking stab you, give me my keys.” I raise a brow and jump into the air to reach them. He just tosses them over to Reyes, then looks down at me and grins, then leans in.
“Don’t forget, Little Viper, I love when you get stabby. Seeing you bleed is my favorite thing. Maybe I should let you make me bleed next time,” he whispers, moving my hair away from my face and sucking the sensitive spot on my neck. Fucking Christ. No panties are safe anymore.
“Fine, you can drive.” I roll my eyes and walk to the garage door.
“I knew you’d see it our way, Babygirl.” Reyes chuckles, hot on my heels as we walk into the garage.
“You know I will drive again, right? For fuck’s sake you guys, I’m okay. I can still shift gears, especially now that the damn cast is off. I don’t see the big deal,” I say and slide into the passenger seat of my own fucking car.
“We know you CAN, baby. It’s just the fact that we can drive you too, so just let us. Please?” he says, shutting my door as Damien gets in the driver's seat, starting up the car and rolling the window down.
“See you there?” I ask with a raised brow as Reyes leans into the window.
“Always, Babygirl. Anywhere you are is where I’ll be.” He smashes his lips to mine and immediately pushes his tongue past my lips. Sucking his tongue into my mouth, he groans and pulls away. “Be safe. I love you.” And hearing those three words again gives me butterflies.
“I love you too, Loverboy,” I reply, and it puts the biggest grin on his face. He pushes off the car and walks to his truck.
Looking over at Damien, he has the cheesiest grin on his face.
“What the fuck is that look?” I smile over at him.
“I know we’ve said this time and time again, but it’s just nice to see him happy. See you happy, and fuck, it’s just nice to be happy for once in my life,” he replies, putting his hand on the top of my thigh and squeezing as he backs out of the garage and pulls down the driveway.
“It is, huh! I feel guilty because Luis isn’t here. Surely he knows we’re doing everything we can to save him though, right? I wouldn’t ever leave him behind, or any of you for that matter,” I say, looking at him while he drives.
“We all know that. One day at a time, Angel. Today safe houses, to put your mind at ease, and if you want to talk about those nightmares, just know you can always talk to us,” he replies, glancing over at me.
“I know. I just need to make sure everyone is safe first. Then maybe we can talk about it,” I say and turn to look out the window, watching the lines on the road as we drive, not wanting to think about the nightmares.
Before I know it, we’re pulling through the gated compound, and the same ole’ security guard Ramone is standing at the gate. Damien rolls down the driver's window. The guard looks over at me sitting in the passenger seat and doesn’t even say anything. Just waves us through with a smile on his face.
“You just are VIP wherever you go, huh?” Damien chuckles, pulling through the gates as they open, Reyes pulling in right behind us.
“Duh,” I sass, then flip my hair and laugh.
So far, everything seems normal here, and the kids are out playing like always. The coming and going doesn’t seem off. Maybe it was just a nightmare, nothing to stress over. Damien parks the car, and Reyes parks his truck next to us. Before I can open my door, he hops out and opens it for me.
“Chivalry isn’t dead.” I chuckle, and he just rolls his eyes, grabbing my hand and helping me out of the car.
“Never for you, Babygirl.” He smiles as Damien walks around the back of the car.
“Alright, you lead the way, Angel,” he says and laces his fingers with mine. I look down, and each one of my hands is holding theirs, and I know I’m safe. That all three of them will help me battle every demon I have. And I’ll help rip apart every one of theirs.
Walking up to Lilly’s house, I can already hear Blakelyn laughing, and it makes my heart melt.
Reaching up, I ring the bell and wait for the door to open.
Her small feet come pitter-pattering across the floor, the door creaks open, and as soon as she sees me standing there, she pushes past her mom, runs and jumps into my arms. I twirl her around, her blonde hair flying around us before squeezing her tight against me in the biggest hug. The hug I needed most.
“I missed you,” she says, pulling back to look at me, and gah, I missed her smile.
“I missed you so much too, sweet girl,” I reply and kiss the top of her head.
“Mama said you were in the hospital. Are you okay?” She tilts her head, and the smile drops from her face.
“Yes, I’ll be okay. I just had a small wreck, but everything is all good.
” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue, but she doesn’t need to know the truth.
She’s just a kid. The guys clear their throats, and Lilly invites us in.
Walking in, we all go into the living room and sit.
I have a lot to catch up on, and I know Lilly can help give me the answers I need.