4. Raven #2
"After trying two other cities first. He found me in Milwaukee, then Cheyenne. Both times, right when I'd started to settle, the texts would start. Then he'd show up at my work, my apartment building, the grocery store. Never doing anything technically illegal. Just... being there."
"Stalking."
"According to the police in both cities, 'attempting to reconcile with an ex-girlfriend.' He's careful. Knows exactly how far he can push without crossing legal lines."
"Legal lines don't mean shit if someone feels threatened." Wraith pulled out his phone. "What's his full name? Derek Martell what?"
"Derek Anthony Martell III. Why?"
"Because he needs to understand that you're under protection now." He was already typing, probably texting his brothers. "I need to go to the clubhouse, talk to Viper about this."
"I'll come with—"
"No." He stood, energy crackling around him like electricity. "You stay here. Lock everything. Don't answer the door for anyone except me or Blade."
"Wraith, you can't just leave me—"
"I'm not leaving you unprotected. Phoenix will be here in ten minutes to watch the building." He paused, something shifting in his expression. "This is club business now. We handle threats properly."
"You can't just—"
He moved into my space, backing me against the wall—almost the same spot where we'd kissed, but this was different. Protective fury radiated from him, controlled violence held in check by will alone.
"Listen to me." His voice dropped low, intimate despite the topic. "I've been trying to keep distance between us. For Blade. For the brotherhood. For all the reasons that matter. But if you think I'm going to stand by while some entitled prick threatens you, you don't know me at all."
"This will complicate everything."
"Everything's already complicated." His hand came up, thumb brushing my cheekbone with devastating gentleness. "The second you walked into that clubhouse, my life got complicated. This just gives me an excuse to stop pretending otherwise."
"Wraith..."
"I'll be back in an hour. Two max. Phoenix will be outside, and I'll have Tank swing by too." His hand came up, thumb brushing my cheekbone with devastating gentleness. "Trust me. We're going to handle this properly. No more running."
I wanted to argue, but the relief of not facing this alone, of having someone willing to fight for me, overwhelmed pride. "Okay."
He headed for the door, then stopped. "Raven?"
"Yeah?"
"Anyone knocks, anyone calls, anyone shows up—even someone claiming to be maintenance or delivery—you don't open that door. You call me immediately."
Twenty minutes later, I stood at the window watching Wraith's bike disappear down the street. Phoenix had arrived exactly when Wraith said he would, parking across the street with a clear view of the building's entrance. The sight of the enforcer should have made me feel safer.
Instead, dread coiled in my stomach.
My phone buzzed again.
Baby, we need to talk. I'm staying at the Mountain View Inn. Room 237. Come alone, or things get messy.
My hands shook as I read it. Derek was here. In Pike Creek. Close enough to show up at any moment.
I called Wraith immediately.
"What's wrong?" He answered on the first ring, already knowing something had happened.
"He's here. At the Mountain View Inn." I read him the text, hearing his bike engine rev in response.
"Don't move. Don't answer the door. Phoenix sees everything from his position. I'm heading back now with Viper."
"Wraith—"
"Twenty minutes, Raven. Give me twenty minutes."
The line went dead. I paced the apartment, checking locks, peering through blinds. Phoenix hadn't moved from his spot, solid and reassuring. Tank's bike pulled up ten minutes later, parking at the other end of the street.
They were protecting me. The club barely knew me, but they were protecting me because Wraith had asked them to.
Fifteen minutes later, I heard bikes approaching. Multiple bikes. Not just Wraith and Viper, but what sounded like half the club. They didn't come to the apartment, though. The engines faded in the direction of the Mountain View Inn.
My phone rang. Wraith.
"We're handling it. Stay inside. Phoenix and Tank stay on watch."
"What are you going to do?"
"What needs to be done. Derek Martell is about to understand that Pike Creek isn't Denver. And you? You're under our protection now."
"Blade—"
"Will be told everything after this is handled. No arguments."
The line went dead again. I sat on the couch, wrapped in one of Wraith's hoodies that smelled like leather and motor oil, and waited.
An hour passed. Then two. Phoenix never moved from his spot. Tank had gotten off of his bike, leaning against it with casual alertness that said he was ready for anything.
Finally, as the sun set behind the mountains, my phone buzzed one more time. A text from an unknown number—different from Derek's.
He's gone. Flight leaves in an hour. He won't be back. - V
Viper. Short, efficient, final.
Twenty minutes later, Wraith's key turned in the lock. He stood in the doorway, knuckles bruised, a small cut on his jaw, but his eyes were calm.
"It's done."
"What did you—"
"Does it matter?" He moved into the apartment, closing the distance between us. "He's gone. He understands that coming near you again would be... inadvisable. That's all you need to know."
"You're safe now," he said quietly. "I need you to understand that. Whatever Derek was to you before, he's nothing now. Just a bad memory that won't be bothering you again."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because Viper made it very clear what would happen if he tried. And trust me, Derek believed him."
I thought about asking for details, then decided I didn't want to know. The relief of being free, of knowing Derek wouldn't appear around every corner, was enough.
"Thank you."
"Don't." His thumb stroked over my knuckles. "This is what we do. Protect our own."
"I'm not—"
"You are." The intensity in his voice stopped my protest. "You became ours the minute you walked into that clubhouse. Became mine even if I can't..."
He trailed off, jaw clenching.
"Can't what?"
"Can't act on it. Can't take what I want. Can't betray Blade." He released my hand, stepping back. "But I'll always protect you. That's not negotiable."
Before I could respond, his phone rang. Blade's ringtone.
"Yeah?" Wraith answered, expression carefully neutral. "No, everything's fine. The Derek situation? Already handled... Viper will fill you in... She's here, safe... Yeah, I'll tell her."
He hung up. "Your brother's coming over. Wants to make sure you're okay."
"What do I tell him?"
"The truth. Most of it anyway." His gaze held mine. "Everything except how badly I want to put my mouth on you right now. How this whole thing with Derek made me realize I'd kill anyone who tried to hurt you. How I'm about ten seconds from saying fuck the consequences and taking what we both want."
"Wraith—"
"Get ready for Blade." He moved toward his room. "I need a shower. A cold one. Maybe I'll finally get the image of you against my wall out of my head."
He disappeared into his room, leaving me standing there, body humming with want and frustration and the sweet relief of safety.
Derek was gone. The threat was over.
But the tension between Wraith and me? That was just beginning to burn.
And we both knew it was only a matter of time before it consumed everything in its path—including my brother's trust.