Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Egan huffed and Marcus chuckled. “I’ll put in a word next time we talk.”
Then he focused on me. “You take care of your lady. We’ll make some calls, and you keep digging. We’ll find him. Eliminate the threat, and you can move on to the good stuff.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
I signed off and sighed, grateful for friends in high places. I would call in any favor I needed to in order to help Raven.
In the meantime, I’d been gone a while, and I needed to get back to her.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Damien
Raven was still upstairs, sitting on the lounger, her Kindle open but ignored. She was on the phone and offered me a smile as I approached.
“Sounds good, Deb. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She listened for a moment. “Yeah, I’m excited too. We’ll plan it all out.”
She hung up, dropping her phone into her satchel. I bent, kissing her mouth, then sitting across from her.
“Tomorrow?” I questioned.
“Deb’s plans changed. She asked if I could meet her tomorrow afternoon.”
At my frown, she shook her head. “We’re meeting at a coffee shop I’ve been to with her before. You can check it out first if you insist.”
I chuckled. If I insisted. “What is the name of this place? And what time?”
“The Arbour. Two o’clock. We’ll probably be there a couple of hours.”
I nodded. “I’ll sit a few tables away.”
“No. You can look around and leave. It’s a public place that Andy knows nothing about. It’s down the street from her apartment. I’ll take a cab back afterward.”
“I’ll pick you up when you’re done.” I didn’t add that I would send Egan in to scope out the place before we went. Or that I would hang around for a while. I quickly texted Egan, who informed me that it was no problem and to send him the address.
She watched me, not saying anything. She shut her Kindle and stretched. “How was Egan?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant and failing.
“Frustrated,” I admitted. “Andy seems to be a ghost. And I have a feeling he’s a hacker and deletes every trail he might have left behind.”
“He told me once he was brilliant and could have any job he wanted within the computer world,” Raven informed me. “I wasn’t sure if that was true. He liked to brag a lot.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “In this case, he might have been telling you the truth. So, anything you can remember, tell me, even if it seems insignificant. You think of something, let me know.”
She looked troubled. “I will.”
I reached over and took her hand, wanting to distract her. “Anything you’d like to do today? Go for a walk? A movie? Errands you need to run?”
“Really?”
“Of course. As long as I’m with you, you’re safe, Raven. We don’t have to stay here.” I sat back, ogling her, then winked. “Unless you prefer that.”
Color bloomed on her cheeks, and I laughed softly. “After last night and this morning, I can still make you blush?”
She shrugged. “It—sex—is still pretty new to me. My fiancé was the only guy I had ever slept with, and I had the feeling I wasn’t exactly very good at it.”
I hid my surprise at her confession. “Why would you say that?” I asked quietly, feeling anger start to build.
“Why else would he have an affair with my best friend?”
“Because he’s an asshole with no morals. I don’t think much of your friend either. But that’s not on you.”
“When we fought in the church, he said I drove him to it because I was so indifferent.”
I barked out a laugh. “You are not indifferent, Raven. You’re passionate and warm. He was just turning the blame on you—guys like him do that. She made me unfaithful. She didn’t give me what I needed. It’s all bullshit, but that’s how they rationalize it. It’s not you, though.”
“Is that what Andy does? Does he blame me for his obsession?”
“Probably.”
“That makes him even more dangerous, then.”
I didn’t sugarcoat it. “Yes—which is why there will be eyes on you tomorrow.”
“Wow, I sure can pick them.”
I leaned forward, meeting her eyes, making sure she saw the truth in mine.
“Third time’s the charm, my Ravenna Jade. You got me.”
She smiled, glancing down.
I slid my fingers under her chin, making her look at me. “Listen to me, my beautiful girl. You are amazing. We are fabulous together. Don’t let your ex or his stupid remarks get into your head. He was lacking, not you. I want you so much it boggles my mind.”
“Oh. I was worried…” She trailed off.
I had to chuckle. “What? That I didn’t enjoy myself? Was my constant hard-on not proof enough? Did the loud moans and the way I was all over you not give you a clue?”
Her color deepened. “I’m not very experienced.”
“And that in itself is a turn-on for me. Knowing I can show you, that we can learn together. That you trust me enough to tell me. All of that is such a treasure. You are such a treasure. And you did everything right, Raven. I love how you touch me, want to explore me. What you call your inexperience, I call a gift. Knowing I get to share all that with you? There are no words for it.”