Chapter Twenty-One
Raven
I wake up the next morning in Remy’s bed, alone. I don’t panic because he held me all night long. A glance at the nightstand tells me it’s after eleven a.m. I can’t remember the last time I slept so late. Normally, staying in bed is a luxury I don’t afford myself.
But I got home late, then had to call Caleb and fill him in. His main concern was for me but I’m worried about him and how his twin’s actions affect him.
I yawn, immediately feeling the pain in my face and the back of my head, both reminding me of last night’s events. I still, letting the episode roll through my mind like a horror movie. Except the ending is anything but.
I’m free.
Lance won’t be bothering me again. No need to worry about what will happen years and years down the road. With any luck, he’ll screw up while in prison and get even more time added to what’s destined to be a decades-long sentence.
Smiling, I stretch, enjoying the last few seconds of what to me, feels like decadence before sitting up and getting out of bed.
Once I’m in the bathroom, I finish up my morning routine, and a thought strikes.
One I’ve never considered because I never believed Lance would truly be out of my life.
Being free means I can go where I want. Do what I desire.
Live wherever I choose. Tears fill my eyes at the thought. To me, that’s real luxury.
The question remains, how do I want to define my new life?
Footsteps in the bedroom jar me out of my thoughts. I wipe my eyes, open the door, and join Remy in the other room where he’s setting his iPad on the charger.
“Morning,” I say.
He stands tall, facing me. “Morning. How are you feeling?”
Surprised by the urge but unable to control it, I grin. “Like a million bucks.” For a woman on a bar manager’s salary, I can’t help but laugh at my words.
His lips curve upward. “Good. No residual pain or headache?”
I catalogue my minor injuries. My knees are raw and bandaged, my palms hurt from where I hit the pavement, and sure, my face and head hurt.
I still feel amazing. “Nothing I can’t handle,” I assure him.
“Good.” He shoves his hands into his jeans pockets.
I walk to him and tip my head, meeting his gaze. “How about you? How are you feeling?”
“Sometimes it feels like my adrenaline is still running strong. Looking for you and not being able to find you took twenty years off my life.”
I can’t imagine his fear. “I’m so sorry. I was searching for you when Lance found me.”
“Not your fault. Even I have to admit that bomb threat phone call was pretty smart.” His self-deprecating smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “He outsmarted me. On the positive side, I called Garret this morning for an update since the hospital won’t give me any information.”
“And?” I hold my breath.
“Some broken ribs, a fractured leg, but no internal injuries. The bastard’s been arrested for a host of charges, many of them federal. Let’s just say no matter who his mother hires to represent him, he’s screwed.”
I let out a long breath. “Good.” Though I figured as much, it helps to hear Remy assure me it’s true.
His cell rings, interrupting us. He pulls it out of his pocket, glances at the screen, then puts the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He listens and says, “Send him up. Thanks.” He disconnects the call. “Caleb is here.”
I nod. “He didn’t mention coming by but I know he was worried.”
“Can’t say I blame him,” Remy says. “I’d want to see you in person, too.”
We meet him at the elevator and he steps inside the apartment, immediately pulling me into a long hug. I return the gesture. This is my family. Caleb and Owen. And I’m damn lucky to have them both.
He releases me and I step back, waiting as the two men in my life shake hands.
“I need to hear what happened last night,” he says.
I glance at Remy and we exchange what I think is silent dialogue.
I don’t want to talk about the details and relive it, I think.
But he’s your brother and deserves to know. Remy’s golden eyes hold mine.
“Sure,” I murmur to Caleb. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” I offer. Stalling.
He shakes his head.
“Why don’t you two go talk in the living room?” Remy suggests. “I’m going to go take care of some things in my office. Give you two time alone.”
Caleb shoots him a grateful glance, then wraps an arm around my shoulders. Together we walk to the big room and take seats on the sofa.
I curl a leg beneath me, facing him. “Don’t you have to work today?” I ask.
“Took the day off when you called and before you give me a hard time, don’t argue about it. It’s fine. I’m a partner, remember?”
I grin. “Did I ever tell you how proud I am of you? My brother, the real estate mogul.”
Instead of smiling back, a crease forms between his eyebrows. “Is it that hard to talk about?”
My shoulders slump at being caught deflecting. “It’s the reliving it. For all my pushing to make myself bait… I wasn’t as prepared as I thought.”
“Hey. Are you kidding? You are here, alive, unhurt… for the most part.” He runs a finger over the bruises on my cheek I saw in the mirror earlier.
“I’d say you handled yourself and Lance just right.
” He winces as he says his twin’s name. “But I’ll give you a break and go first. There’s another reason I didn’t go into the office. ”
“Lance,” she murmurs. Because… what else?
He blows out a rough breath and nods. “I agreed to go with Mom to see Lance at the precinct.”
I lean forward, covering his hand with mine. No way will I be angry with him for being there for his mother or sibling.
“I understand,” I tell him. “Lance isn’t just your brother, he’s your twin.” As much as I love Caleb, I’ve always known there’s a chance that one day, Lance will get to him. Make him feel guilty and…
“Hey.” Caleb’s voice interrupts my flow of thought. “Whatever you’re thinking, that’s not it. I’m with you, Raven. I always told you that. I told Lance he was dead to me.” He dips his head and his voice is sad and resigned.
I gasp. “You did that for me?”
“I did it for all of us. You, me, and Owen.” Especially Owen.
I hear the words he doesn’t say and that I understand. He needs to protect his precious boy. But I’m still shocked. For all Lance did in the past, Caleb didn’t cut his brother off. He might not have spoken to him that I know of, but the connection, the relationship, existed. Apparently, no longer.
“What about… Mom? I mean, Cassandra?” Old habits die hard, I suppose. The woman did raise me, after all. “I’m sure she pressured you to stand by your brother and turn your back on me.”
In fact, I assume I’ll be hearing from Cassandra very soon and she’ll find a way to twist last night and blame it on me.
“Mom tried but I laid down the law. If she wants to see her grandson, she needs to lay off you. No contact, no threats, nothing.”
I part my lips as Caleb deals yet another surprise. “You did that for me?”
“I did one better.” A soft smile lifts his lips. “I told her that she couldn’t support Lance, not with a lawyer or any other way. He’s a sociopath who deserves to rot in jail. If I find out otherwise, she’s out of mine and Owen’s life. For good.”
As his words settle, I study him, the bloodshot eyes and sorrowful lines around his mouth. They’ll pass and he’ll be happy again. I intend to make certain of it.
“Did she agree?”
He answers with a curt nod of his head. “I said it all in front of Lance and she walked out of the room beside me. I watched her get into her car.”
Wow. “Are you okay?” I ask.
“I am. I can’t even say I love my brother because he tormented anyone in his vicinity from the time we were little.”
Yes, he did, I think, feeling worse for Caleb than I do for myself.
“Your turn.”
After all he’s said and done, I draw a deep breath and tell him last night’s story, not surprised when I fall apart doing it. Being held at gunpoint by a man who’s capable of such evil and pain finally catches up with me.
I realize Caleb has pulled me into him and let me sob out my trauma. When I’m finished, I wipe my eyes with the hem of my shirt.
“Sorry for losing it.” My eyes burn from crying and now I have a throbbing ache in my temple.
Caleb frowns. “I’ll ignore that apology. You have every right to be an emotional mess.”
I treat him to a grim smile.
A few moments of easy silence pass until Caleb speaks again. “So? What are your plans now that you’re free?”
“I thought about that earlier. Being free to make my own choices about where I’ll go, live, what I really want to do with my life.” Though I didn’t answer those questions earlier, I know the answers.
“And?”
I lift my shoulder in a little shrug. “I choose Remy, whatever that means.” He loves me and I’ve never said it back.
He’s helped me, given me shelter in more ways than a roof over my head, and I owe it to Remy, and myself, to be honest about my feelings for him.
I can do that now, without the worry of any repercussions.
Caleb grins. “It means happiness, Raven. Now go and live the life you’ve always deserved.”
I plan to do exactly that.
* * *
Remy
I don’t mean to eavesdrop but as I step out of the office with the intention of going to my bedroom, their voices carry.
I choose Remy.
My heart beats a rapid staccato in my chest as she says the words I’ve been hoping to hear for too long. I hear the sound of footsteps and Raven walking her brother out.
I join them in the foyer by the elevator and exchange a few words with Caleb before the doors open. The siblings hug with promises to get together for their weekly dinner with Owen on Wednesday.
Raven turns to me, an easy, relaxed smile on her face. One I’ve never seen before. “We’re free that night, right?”
She’s automatically including me in her family dinner. Not because I’m her security or protection but because… I’m one of them and she wants me there.
“Yeah, baby. We’re free.”
Caleb steps onto the lift. “Take care of my sister,” he says as the doors shut, leaving us alone.
I glance at Raven and hold out my arms, catching her as she jumps into my embrace, spider monkey style. I wrap my arms around her and walk through the penthouse, heading for the bedroom, where I plan to lower her to the bed.
Instead, she holds on tight. “I need to tell you something,” she says softly.
“I’m listening.”
Her arms still wrapped around my neck, she leans back and looks into my eyes. “I realized something this morning.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m free to do anything I want. Go anywhere, do anything. Love anyone without fear of them or the people they care about being hurt.”
I wait, heart pounding, as she speaks. “And I love you, Remington Sterling.”
I’ve been waiting too damn long for those words and now that she’s said them, she’s mine. I’m never letting her go.
“I love you, too, Raven Walsh.”
Someday Sterling, I think. But there’s time and isn’t that the beauty of this new day? With that in mind, I press my lips to hers and she melts into me, as the kiss goes on.
Eventually, I lay her on the bed, undress her, and make love to the woman I intend to keep in my home and my heart. Forever, I think, that one word settling in my soul.