Chapter Fifteen
Raven
Back at Remy’s apartment in New York, I pace the floor in the family room, pausing to stare out the windows overlooking the city.
It’s snowed lightly overnight, the powder dusting the few green spaces I can see.
I wish I had had time to enjoy the grounds of the Sterling family compound, take a long walk outside in the frigid air, with Remy by my side.
But of course, Lance ruined that for me, too.
I don’t know how much longer I can live with my psycho brother’s schemes. Especially without knowing his end game. I have good reason to fear him, I think, recalling how I found Emily, battered and bruised. But I have better reason to stand my ground and get my life back.
The elevator into the apartment opens and I hear voices. Turning, I see Caleb walk toward me, followed by Zach who is already in deep conversation with Remy.
“Caleb!” I run to my brother and hug him tight. “Is Owen okay? Where is he? He’s safe, right?” If my adorable nephew is the least bit shaken up I’ll throttle Lance.
“He’s fine and he’s in class,” Caleb says, slinging an arm around my shoulder and leading me to the sofa.
“He doesn’t know anything happened. Lance spoke to someone at the school’s front office and they turned him away, threatening to call the police if he didn’t leave. The school called me immediately.”
I nod, letting out a long breath filled with relief. “Okay, good.” I turn to Zach. “Hi. I didn’t realize you were coming over today?” I say it more as a question than a statement.
He shoots Remy a curious glance and waits for him to reply.
“Because the four of us should talk,” Remy says.
“Why?” I ask, feeling defensive because he didn’t include me in his thought process. This whole situation is about me.
Remy runs a hand through his hair. “Because this mess can’t go on. He’s ruining your life.”
I’ve been thinking the same thing. “Well, next time I’d appreciate it if you’d include me in whatever you’re planning that involves me.”
He inclines his head in acquiescence. “Why don’t we all sit down?” He gestures to the family room.
I lead the way across the apartment and lower myself onto a couch cushion. Caleb takes the seat beside me, Remy and Zach across from us in the oversized club chairs.
“Where do we begin?” Caleb asks.
Remy’s gaze falls to me. “Tell us what you’re thinking, because you tossed and turned all night.”
Yes, I did.
I immediately see how this will go. Zach will be in charge because Remy assumes I’ll cave faster if he, too, is against my idea. I have a feeling Remy knows exactly what I want to do, so I cut to the chase.
“I want to use myself as bait to draw Lance out. Though I hate playing games with a sociopath, and I’m aware it’s a risk, we all know Lance won’t be able to resist if he sees me alone.”
“No!” Remy explodes, in a tone indicating he won’t give in. He pounds his hand on the arm of the chair for emphasis.
“I’m with Remy.” Caleb folds his arms across his chest and shakes his head at me, using his disappointed big brother look I saw often growing up.
“Tell me more,” Zach says, his gaze on mine.
Remy’s eyes open wide. “You son of a bitch. If I thought you’d take her side, I wouldn’t have asked you to come.”
“Relax,” Zach says. “I’m here to help you all end this mess. I want to know what Raven has in mind.”
Doing my best not to smirk at Zach’s acknowledgment I might have a valid idea, I speak. “All we need to do is allow me to go back to living my normal life.” I hold up a hand before Remy can argue, which from his opened mouth, he intends to do.
“I’ll still stay here,” I say, doing my best to give him reasons to understand why I’ll be safe.
“You can watch me at all times. Put cameras up outside the bar, I don’t care.
Just let me do everyday things like taking out the trash from the bar, have my coffee break in the back alley, go to poetry slam, and let it seem like I’m alone.
Give Lance the opportunity to come after me. ”
“I don’t like it,” Remy mutters.
“What happens when he grabs you?” Caleb asks. “What then?”
I shake my head. “Isn’t anyone paying attention? Remy will be watching me from the bar or you can hire one of the bodyguards you mentioned who can blend in with the crowd. Lance won’t realize I’m being protected.”
“If he lays a hand on you, I’m going to kill him.”
I rise and walk over to where he sits and kneel down, putting my hand over his.
“We need him to violate his parole without it seeming like he was set up. But you’ll be there to make sure nothing serious happens.
A violation gets him back behind bars for the duration of his sentence.
I just wish he could be put away for a lot longer. ”
Caleb clears his throat.
Uncomfortable in my kneeling position, I stand and glance at my brother. “What is it?”
“What I didn’t mention yet was that after I took Owen to school this morning, I drove to Mom’s to talk to my brother.” Caleb rubs his hands together in a nervous gesture. “I hate this because he’s my twin. But… I think he’s on drugs.”
Remy leans forward. “Why do you say that?”
“Because his eyes were like pinpricks, and he was antsy, and unable to remain sitting or standing in one place,” Caleb says.
Silence follows his statement. I catch Remy and Zach exchanging glances. “What is it?” I ask. “No silent mental telepathy, you two.” I point back and forth between them.
Zach rises to his feet. “It’s just that if Lance is on drugs, and he’s caught carrying, and if he’s on hard-core drugs like meth or blow… he’ll get himself slammed with a longer sentence. It’s even better if he’s carrying a weapon at the time.”
I wince at the thought of Lance with a gun.
Remy nods. “With his record, that’s another return-to-jail card. But it’s not like we can set him up to make it happen. He’d need to be playing fast and loose and be totally out of control.”
“It wouldn’t shock me if any of those things were true,” Caleb mutters, head in his hands.
I feel sorry for my brother and wish I knew how to help him, but I don’t even know how to help myself.
“I say we take some time to think,” Zach says. “We can regroup soon and see if you can live with Raven’s idea.” He glances from Caleb to Remy. “Because making her seem available to Lance is the best way to draw him out.”
“I can do this,” I assure them, not wanting them to think I’ll cave out of fear.
Even if just the thought of Lance spiraling on drugs and carrying a gun scares me to death, there’s no way I’ll give up on my plan. I need to draw him out if I want to regain my life.
* * *
Remy
I let the guests out of the apartment, knowing Raven and I need to talk. I stride back to the family room but she’s not there. I find her in the bedroom, sitting on the bed, a lost, dazed look on her face.
“Raven?” She jumps at the sound of her name.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She nods. “I know. Come here?” She pats the space on the mattress beside her and I slide onto the bed, joining her.
“What’s up?” I ask, not knowing where her mind is after that meeting. True, she reiterated her desire to play a target but I’m not sure she’s thought things through.
“I need you to trust me,” she says. “There is no way I can even think about having a future unless Lance is gone. I want to see my nephew and not worry that Lance will devolve to the point where he’d hurt a child.
Don’t I deserve to be able to go out and have drinks with a girlfriend like Stevie without worrying she’ll end up like Emily? ”
“You deserve all those things and more but I don’t want to lose the woman I love like I lost my mother!” My shout comes as much of a surprise to me as it does to Raven, who jerks at my tone.
I blow out a calming breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
She crosses her hands over her stomach and blinks back tears. “I know. Just like I know I want to say it back to you, but I can’t.”
My heart stops beating in my chest. I was more aware of nearly losing control than I was of the words I’ve been holding in for so long. I know damn well she’s not ready to hear the depth of my feelings and I never meant for them to come out.
“I know.” I grasp her hands in mine. “Forget I said it. I understand where your head is at. We can table all relationship conversations,” I say, hoping I don’t regret not pushing her now.
“Remy, if I can’t lure him out, I have to leave, and if I go, I won’t tell anyone where I end up.” A lone tear drops down her cheek and I brush it away with my knuckle.
I shake my head, ignoring the jolt of panic racing through me at the possibility of her disappearing forever.
“You’re not going anywhere.” I clasp her hands tighter. “I’ll give your plan some thought and I’ll talk to Zach and even Garrett.” I didn’t invite the detective over today because my old friend has rules to follow that I don’t.
But when it comes to putting any plan into action, Zach and I will figure out how to protect everyone by including the NYPD. The goal is to have Lance arrested and put away for a long time.
“Thank you.” She throws her arms around me and crawls into my lap. “I’ll be careful and I won’t let him take me to a second location.”
Pulling my head back, I meet her gaze and catch her amused grin.
“Watching those true crime shows again?” I’ve caught her up at night in the family room watching TV when she can’t sleep.
But she always ends up back in bed with me come morning. And that’s how I want things to remain. Which means I’ll give in to her plan. I have to trust her and the people I’ll strategically place around her to keep her safe. I have no other choice.
After coming to an understanding, we arrive at another one.
She already called me out on telepathy with Zach, but Raven and I also know how to read each other’s mind.
In tandem, we rise from the bed to strip off our clothes.
Once we’re naked, she returns to her position on my lap but this time, she raises herself over me.
My cock stands at attention and she easily drops down, coating me in her wet heat and taking me deep. And despite the fact that she won’t say the words back to me, I know it’s out of fear. Fear that she’ll have to run.
And it’s that fear inside me now that has me arching my pelvis and fucking up into her as she rocks her body, her clit rubbing against my pubic bone. We’re both needy and desperate and it isn’t long before she stiffens.
“Oh,” she moans, the heady sound reverberating in my ear. “I’m coming so hard.” She trembles and shakes, grinding her pelvis into me as her pussy clasps my dick over and over.
Once she begins to relax, I know her orgasm has finished and I lean back on my hands and lift my hips until I come, feeling my come spurt inside her.
A while later, we’ve showered and collapsed into bed. No more words are spoken about Lance or love but as I hold her, I know that’s exactly what we both feel.
The next morning, we’re both ready for work, about to head downstairs to my SUV, when my phone rings.
Raven pauses in front of the elevator, waiting for me to take the call.
I check the screen and see Dex’s name. “Hello?”
“Rem, you need to get to Glen Cove Hospital. Dad’s been admitted. They think he had a heart attack.”
My own heart squeezes in my chest. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I disconnect and shove my phone into my back pants pocket.
“What is it?” Raven asks.
“My father had a heart attack. I need to get to the hospital.”
Her eyes open wide, concern obvious as her gaze softens. “I want to come with you. Is it okay if I get Stevie to cover?”
I immediately nod, grateful for her presence. True, her coming along saves me from having to drop her off at the bar and make sure someone watches over her, but that isn’t the main reason.
I cannot lose my dad and I definitely don’t want to find out how bad things are alone. I need Raven and without me asking, she wants to be there.