Chapter 16 Riven
Riven
I pull up to my house and park in my garage before storming into the house.
I’m so worked up from what happened in that parking lot.
I can’t figure out if she ran because of the professional aspect of our relationship, or if she was afraid to open up to me.
I’ll have to back off with my intent, let her warm up to the idea.
That’s going to be really fucking hard, because all I can think about is the way her body felt pressed against mine.
The way her breasts moved up and down with the acceleration of her breathing.
The way the lust took over her eyes, turning the shade a beautiful, bright green.
I walk into my master bathroom, reaching over my head, tugging off my shirt in a single pull, and tossing it in the clothes basket against the wall.
I discard the remainder of my clothing and step into the shower.
I turn on the water as I press my hands into the wall and let my head hang low, and the water pour over me.
I close my eyes and remember the way Sloane’s lips parted when she said, “Like … what?” The pink gloss, begging me to smear it across her pretty face.
My cock twitches and fills as I continue to recall the way she looked at it, pressed against my sweatpants, against her body.
I grab my hard cock and start fisting it slowly while I think about making her get on her knees for me.
I imagine the way those plump lips would look circling my cock, and a low grunt escapes my throat.
I start to move faster, harder, visualizing the gloss smeared across her mouth.
I can see the black mascara running down her face as she looks up at me with those captivating eyes now rimming with tears.
I envision how good she would take it, grunting out to the bathroom tile.
“That’s it, Sloane. Fuck … take it like the good girl I know you are.
” I feel my release start to build, and it’s coming so fucking fast that I barely have time to suck in a breath before I’m finishing with her name on my lips. Fuck.
? ? ?
I’m sitting at the counter of my kitchen island, cleaning up my interview notes to send to Sabel. I read it over once more to make sure it’s up to her standards and hit send. I run my hands over my face and through my damp hair, hoping that this works. It has to work.
It’s been a weird week. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into, playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Sloane.
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up this ruse.
The lines between Professor Riven and Van are beginning to blur, and I need to clear my head.
I know exactly what this situation calls for.
Except, I signed a “no murder” clause in the contract with Sonus.
I’m racking my brain for a way around that stupid detail when my phone rings. It’s Cal.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I say.
“Meet me at Sonus. Now. It’s urgent.”
Before I can say anything in response, he hangs up. I could sense the distress in his voice, so I don’t waste much time throwing on a pair of black joggers and a black shirt. I fold up my ski mask and jam it into my back pocket in case I need to throw it on.
I walk into my garage, scanning over my car and street bike.
I opt for my Ducati Diavel V4 to get there faster.
I hop on, grab my helmet off the handlebar, and put it on as I kick back the kickstand.
I back out of the garage and take off, weaving in and out of traffic while I consider what could be going on that would have Cal this on edge.
I make it to Sonus in no time, parking the bike and climbing off.
I storm right into the building without closing the door behind me.
I’m jogging toward Sabel’s office when I hear it, a scream.
It’s coming from the room toward the back of the building.
The torture room. I take off running toward the room and open the door, practically falling through it as I catch myself with my hands on my knees.
When I stand, I come face-to-face with my brother.
He’s chained to the fucking ceiling by both of his wrists, the trickles of blood running down his chest, a jarring contrast against the white ceramic tiling below him.
The harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast a sickly glow.
His head hangs, dark hair that matches mine, creating a curtain that hides his face.
There are electrodes connected to his back.
His breathing is shallow, and he looks like he’s been here for hours.
Not again. I growl, taking a step toward him.
I stop when he throws his head back, screaming in agony.
He’s being shocked by the electrodes that cover his back.
Sabel doesn’t want me to go to him. Okay, fine. I’ll go to her.
“Hold on, Raithe. I got you, buddy. Okay? Just hold on,” I say to him as I walk over to the wall on my left and grab a steel chair that’s sitting against it.
I look toward the two-way mirror that I know is on the opposite side of the room and pause, a sinister smile playing across my lips. Then, I run.
I run full fucking speed toward the mirror with the chair overhead.
When I reach it, I swing the chair, crashing into the mirror with my entire body weight behind it.
I hear Raithe scream again behind me, and I continue slamming the chair into the mirror over and over and over again.
It doesn’t budge. The fucking thing must be shatterproof.
I figured as much, but I had to at least try.
It doesn’t matter, though, because I know it’s enough to get Sabel’s attention.
I hear the click of heels behind me, turning to face the bitch who’s wearing them.
Sabel’s arms are crossed over her chest, and there’s a smug smile across her blood-red lips.
My heart is pounding, my lungs are burning, and sweat is dripping down my damp hair and face. I’m sure that I’m the perfect picture of insanity right now, but I don’t care. I step toward her, stopping when she holds up a remote with her finger over a button.
“I wouldn’t,” she warns.
“Why?” I growl out. It’s the only word I can manage to get out that wouldn’t escalate the situation.
“Riv,” she tsks, “you didn’t think you could get away with that little disrespectful email so easily, did you? You need to be taught a lesson.”
Is she fucking kidding me right now? Clearly, she’s not. So, I tread carefully in my response. “Let him go. I’ll pay for this myself. My brother doesn’t deserve to suffer for it.”
Sabel walks over to me, pressing the remote into my chest. She runs it up and up before meeting my eyes. “Now, now. You and I both know that the way to hurt you is to hurt the ones you love. And who better than your brother?”
I take a deep breath to refrain from acting on the very violent thoughts racing through my head right now. I fist my hands at my sides.
“Let. Him. Go.” I seethe.
“If you insist.” She peers around me to the two-way mirror, giving a quick nod.
The shackles around Raithe’s wrists snap open, and he falls to the ground.
He doesn’t move, and I run to him. Sabel grabs my arm, stopping me.
I look at her hand and consider snapping her wrist right there.
It takes every last bit of self-control I have left to stop myself.
“Let this be a lesson, Riven.” She starts walking toward the entrance door as she calls back to me. “Meet me in my office in an hour. Do not be late.” And then, she’s gone.
I run over to Raithe, dropping to my knees on the blood-soaked floor, brushing his damp hair from his face. I turn his head to look up at me, placing my ear next to his mouth to make sure he’s still breathing. And although it’s shallow, I find that he is.
“Look at me, Raithe.” I lightly tap on his cheek. “Open your eyes.”
He flutters them open just a bit, and relief pours through me, allowing me to truly take a breath for the first time since walking into this room. I’m about to pick him up when Callum comes running in.
“Where the fuck were you?” I spit out.
“I’m sorry, Riv. Sabel overheard our phone call and locked me in her office.
She wouldn’t let me come to him or you. Here …
” he says, grabbing Raithe from me. “Let me carry him. You look like shit. Cool off.” I follow him out of the room, picking up my cell to dial Caleb. He answers on the second ring.
“Caleb,” he says.
“Hey, man. Can you get to Sonus as soon as possible? It’s Raithe. I need you to bring him to see Brian.” Brian is our physician. I found Brian early on in my vigilante days. He’s one hell of a doctor, and he knows how to turn a blind eye to it all, as does Caleb.
“Of course. I’ll be there in five,” he says back without hesitation, hanging up.
I dial Brian now.
“Hey, Riv. What’s up?”
“Brian. It’s Raithe. He’s hurt. I’m sending him your way. He should be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Okay. What can I expect?” he asks, needing to know some details to prepare.
I sigh. “He’s been electrocuted a few times … I’m not sure how many. Um, he’s got several cuts across his chest and abdomen. Some of them look kind of deep. He’s lost a decent amount of blood. He looks pretty weak.” I choke up on the last few words.
“Fuck, okay.” Brian sighs. “I’ll have everything ready. I got him, Riv,” he says, trying his best to reassure me. I know he does. I wouldn’t have hired him otherwise.
“Thanks, Brian. Update me on his progress.” I hang up, pocketing my cell as I help Cal get Raithe into the back of the Sprinter.
“I’ll go with him. Don’t do anything stupid, Riven,” Callum warns, climbing into the back beside Raithe. I watch as they drive off.
I turn around and head right back into the building, right down the long hallway, and right into Sabel’s office.
She’s standing with her back toward me, looking out of her window.
I fight the urge to run her head straight through the glass.
Instead, I take a seat in the chair on my side of her ugly ass desk.
“You wanted to see me?” I snarl.
She takes her time walking to her ugly ass chair and sits, pulling out a printout of the fake interview between Sloane and me that I sent her earlier this morning.
“This is good,” she says, looking up at me. “Could be better. But … good. She admitted to you that she thought something was going on with the music to draw in the fans?” Sabel asks, going on as if she didn’t just have my brother chained up and bleeding in her torture room.
“Yes, and as you can see, I steered her away from that theory. I assured her that our fan base is just passionate.” I bounce my right leg, running a hand through my disheveled, slightly damp hair. I need to do something with this rage building up inside me.
“Yes, I can see that.” She narrows her eyes at me in question. “But I do find one thing odd.” Great. What the fuck is it now?
“Go on,” I grumble, barely holding it together. She smiles knowingly. She probably loves how much control she has over me right now.
“Her data from the meet and greet was unremarkable,” she states, staring into my eyes like she’s searching for the truth in them.
“And isn’t that a good thing?” I ask, my skin growing itchy and hot.
“Don’t you find it odd that she was an outlier for the concert, and now suddenly her results are 100 percent favorable?” she questions, eyeing me with skepticism.
“No, I don’t. A stronger frequency was used, so that makes sense.” I deadpan. Why is she pushing this?
“Hmm, I suppose so.” Sabel never takes her eyes off mine. That look of suspicion is still etched into her features. I don’t like it. She’s hiding something. I’m about to question her motives when she snaps out of it, standing from her chair.
“Good. I’m glad that’s cleared up. I hate to see what the panel would have done to her had she remained an outlier.
” A half grin appears on her smug face. She’s baiting me, but I don’t bite.
I do a quick once-over of the room, noting where she might keep classified documents. I pocket the information for later.
“Good thing we’ll never have to find out,” I say, standing. I have to get the fuck out of here, now.
“You’re dismissed.” She waves a hand at me, walking over to her filing cabinet to store the interview notes. I’m gone before she can turn around.
? ? ?
Too much.
Too much has happened today, and I’m too wound up.
I have to do something. I have to get it out before it consumes me entirely.
Before giving it a second thought, I pull up my database to see what lowly criminals have been on the radar these last few months.
I need to find one that I can quietly target.
I’m done abiding by Sonus’ rules, and I won’t get caught.
I check in with Callum to make sure Raithe is doing okay, and he lets me know that Raithe is stable.
Cal sends a text that Brian is suturing Raithe’s lacerations and giving him fluids for muscle exhaustion from the electrocutions.
He’ll check back in with me a little later and also lets me know that Kai showed up to his first therapy session and it went great.
I make a mental note to check in with Kai soon.
I grab my helmet, throwing it on as I climb onto my bike, and race back home.
Once I make it back to my place, I take a quick shower and watch as Raithe’s blood on me mixes with the warm water, runs down my skin onto the shower floor, and swirls down the drain.
This is my fault. It’s always my fault. I feel the guilt gnawing at my insides as I finish up showering and get dressed, throwing on a pair of black sweatpants and a black pullover with the hood up.
I make it to the slums of Hollowcrest in perfect timing, just as the sun is setting over the horizon.