Chapter 23 Revan
Revan
I’m leaning against the concrete wall, arms crossed, watching Brody work. He’s got the witness strung up by chains, wrists bound above his head, toes barely scraping the floor. The guy’s face is already a mess—nose broken, eye swollen shut, blood dripping from his split lip onto the drain below.
“I didn’t see nothing,” the witness whimpers for the tenth time.
Brody cracks his knuckles. “That’s what I like to hear. But let’s make sure your memory stays that way.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, ready to decline, but the name makes me pause.
Jasper.
I answer, putting it to my ear.
A girl’s voice comes through. Shaky. Uncertain.
“Jasper? Jasper?” she calls out again, voice rising with panic. “Jasper, please!”
I hear the line click. Jasper dropped off, leaving me alone with whoever this is.
She realizes it a second later.
“Who am I talking to?” I ask.
“Hi, uh. I’m Lexi.”
I glance at my phone. A text from Jasper appears.
A photo. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Pretty in an unpolished way—no makeup, no filters, just raw.
Jasper: Lexi. 18 years old. West Pointe University. She’ll fuck you if you’re nice enough.
I type back immediately.
Revan: I don’t want your sloppy seconds.
Jasper: I meant if you’re useful enough to help her.
Jasper: I never fucked her. I’m too soft for a girl like her.
That gets a smile out of me.
Jasper is too soft for a girl like her? Now that has my attention.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?”
She takes a breath. I can hear it through the phone—shaky, like she’s trying to hold herself together.
“I made a deal with a monster, and I need protection.”
I laugh. Can’t help it. “A monster?”
“He’s the biggest dealer across three counties.” Her voice hardens, defensive. “He has connections, money, power. He’s—”
She pauses.
“My brother is wrapped up with him, so I got involved, and now I’m...” She exhales. “Fucked.”
“You’re fucked?” I echo. Then I glance at Jasper’s text again. She’ll fuck you if you’re useful enough. ”So, this monster… he helped you, you fucked him, and now he wants seconds?”
The line goes silent.
Behind me, Brody punches the witness in the ribs. The guy gags, spits blood onto the concrete.
“Here’s what I’ll do for you, Lexi,” I say, voice smooth. “Where are you?”
“West Pointe.”
I click my tongue. “You’re on the wrong side of the tracks.”
“Did I mention that I stole his car?”
That stops me. I straighten up, suddenly more interested. “You managed to steal his car?”
This girl—this eighteen-year-old college freshman—stole a car from the biggest dealer in three counties?
“Yeah. So tell me where you are so I can come to you.”
I laugh. Actually laugh. “Jasper said I’d help, huh?”
“That’s what he said.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the car,” I say, still grinning. “But what do you think he’ll do when he finds out you’re running straight to a Reaper?”
“A what?”
Innocent, I see. She has no idea she’s running from one monster and into the hands of another. I stare at her photo again, trying to decipher if she’s worth the trouble. “A Reaper, baby. I’ll be his worst nightmare.”
“I’m not making any deals or any promises.”
My grin widens. “No promises?”
“None.”
That’s my kind of girl.
I pull up the address of the mansion and text it to her. If the dealer wants to follow, let him. He’ll die before he reaches the gate.
“Got it,” she says. “Thank you... what did you say your name was?”
“I didn’t.”
“Sorry. I guess I should’ve started with that. What’s your name?”
“Revan.”
“Huh?”
“Ask for Rev when you arrive.”
“Wait... this is near Blackridge. Do you go there?”
“First year. We’ll see how long I last.” I glance at the witness, who’s slumped forward now, barely conscious. “I have to go.”
I end the call and look over at Noah, who runs this place. He’s standing by the chamber door with Brody and Caleb flanking him, all three of them wearing their Reaper masks—red, meant to terrify.
Atticus is beside me, silent as always, watching everything with those dead eyes.
“Someone interesting is heading our way,” I say. “Ever heard of the biggest dealer in three counties?”
Atticus lifts a brow.
Noah’s mask tilts toward me. “Fresh meat.” He jerks his chin at the witness. “Dump him. I don’t care where. Just don’t get caught.”
“Noah,” I start. “Got a family matter coming here.”
Before I can finish, his hand is around my throat. He slams me against the wall, concrete scraping my back through my shirt.
“And who the fuck said you could do that?” he snarls.
I lift my hands in surrender, keeping my expression neutral. Calm. This isn’t the first time he’s choked me, and it won’t be the last.
“Just because daddy’s name got you in doesn’t mean you get all the resources.”
“I’ll make it worth your time.”
He studies me for a long moment. Then he releases me, shoving me away.
“Take him. Out. Now!”
I’m used to being thrown around like a punching bag. Used to taking orders. Comes with the territory when your father is who he is.
I walk into the chamber, grab the witness—still tied, still blindfolded—and haul him over my shoulder. Atticus follows without a word, opening the door to the black sedan outside.
We drive in silence through the city, then out into the woods. When we’re deep enough that no one will hear him scream, we stop.
I dump him on the ground. “Count to one hundred. If you move before then, I’ll break your legs.”
He nods frantically, blood still dripping from his face.
We get back in the car and drive.
We’re halfway back to the mansion when I see headlights in the rearview mirror.
Fast. Aggressive. A black Charger coming up behind us like it’s trying to run us off the road.
I turn around in my seat, squinting at the driver.
I tap Atticus on the shoulder. “Slow down.”
He glances in the rearview mirror and eases off the gas.
The Charger’s horn blares—long, obnoxious—then it whips around us. As it passes, the driver sticks her middle finger out the window.
I catch a glimpse of her face.
Lexi.
I have to laugh. “Floor it!”
Atticus doesn’t hesitate. The sedan roars to life, engine growling as we chase her down the two-lane road.
She sees us coming. Speeds up. Swerves between lanes like a maniac.
“Are you up for it?” I ask Atticus, grinning.
“What?”
“Drive off to the side and then stop her in the middle of the road.”
Before I finish the sentence, he’s already doing it.
Atticus is fucking insane. That’s why we’re best friends.
We veer off onto the grass, tires kicking up dirt and gravel. We’re moving faster now, parallel to her, the sedan bouncing over uneven ground.
She looks over at us, confused. Terrified.
Then Atticus launches back onto the road, cutting her off.
She swerves hard. Brakes screaming. The Charger skids to a stop inches from our bumper.
“WHOO!” I shout, adrenaline spiking through my veins.
I step out, walking toward her with my hands up. Non-threatening. Just want to talk.
But she burns rubber, whipping the Charger around the sedan and taking off.
“Fuck! Get her!” I shout, diving back into the car.
Atticus is already moving, the sedan fishtailing as we chase her again.
She’s good. Better than I expected. Weaving through lanes, taking sharp turns, using every trick she’s got.
But Atticus is better.
He pulls alongside her, matching her speed. I roll down my window, lean out.
“Lexi!”
She glances over. Eyes wide. Panicked.
“Pull over!”
“Fuck you!”
I laugh. I can’t help it. This girl is absolutely insane.
“I’m trying to help you!”
“You’re trying to kill me!”
“If I wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead!”
She swerves again, nearly clipping our bumper.
Atticus matches her move, staying right beside her.
“Revan!”
That makes her hesitate. Just for a second. Her foot eases off the gas.
“Jasper?” I shout.
She slows. Finally. Pulls over onto the shoulder.
We stop behind her.
I get out slowly, hands still up. Non-threatening.
She gets out too. Arms crossed. Glaring at me like she wants to rip my throat out.
“You’re Revan?”
“Yeah.”
“You tried to run me off the road!”
“I was trying to stop you before you got yourself killed.” I nod toward the Charger. “That the car you stole?”
She doesn’t answer. Just keeps glaring.
I step closer. She doesn’t back up.
“You’ve got guts, Lexi. I’ll give you that.”
“You scared the shit out of me.”
“Good. You should be scared.” I tilt my head. “Because any girl who steals a drug dealer’s car and drives it straight into Reaper territory is either insane… or brilliant. I haven’t decided which yet.”
Her expression softens.
“Come on,” I say, jerking my head toward the mansion in the distance. “Let’s get you somewhere safe before your boyfriend catches up.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Right.”
I turn and walk back to the sedan. Atticus is already waiting, engine idling.
Behind me, I hear her get back into the Charger.
And I can’t stop grinning.
This is going to be fun.