Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“Finish it,” Gideon growled. “They’re finally gonna feel our pain.”
Dusty spat a curse, and she almost breathed out in relief when he edged back, until she saw the flash of metal when he pulled something from the back of his jeans.
A knife.
Horror raced through her when he came forward, going for her throat, and she flipped around just in time to deflect it, trying to push up from the floor to get away.
“You bitch.”
She clawed at the slick tile.
Desperate.
Praying for one more second.
For River and Otto to bust through the door.
Only a scream tore from her when that relief didn’t come, but instead, a hot blade was thrust into her side.
FIFTY-EIGHT
RAVEN
Okay, fine, so maybe sleeping on the hard floor in the back of my shop wasn’t the best call I’d ever made.
My body was stiff as all heck as I blinked my eyes open to the gauzy morning light that filtered in through the small window on the door that led to the alley at the back of the building.
I lifted my head, scowling at the drool that soaked a small spot on the scratchy embroidered pillow that I’d snagged from the gift display out front.
Awesome.
But at least I’d had it and the matching throw blanket. They’d been my only saving grace—that and the tee and shorts I’d had stored in a drawer for emergencies.
The accommodations might not have been comfortable, but at least I hadn’t had to sleep in leather and lace.
Not that there’d been a whole lot of sleeping.
The entire night had been fraught with anxiety. Tossing and turning on the unforgiving ground as my mind had played through the way things had unfolded last night.
The accusations River had thrown out.
Ones that Otto had received as if he were deserving of them.
He’d warned that River was going to kill him when he found out, but I’d chosen to believe that on some level River would understand. That he’d accept us.
But what had hurt the most was that Otto had just stood there mute.
Head slumped with shame between his shoulders.
As if loving me was a sin? A mistake he’d made? As if I were some crime that he’d committed?
A brand-new scar marked on his heart when I was supposed to be helping heal the ones he’d already had inflicted.
Standing, I rubbed my palms over my face to break up the conflicting emotions as I shuffled barefoot into the tiny bathroom. It didn’t help much at all, so I splashed cold water on it, instead, praying for the clarity I couldn’t find.
Blowing out a sigh, I grabbed a hand towel and blotted my face, then I looked up to my reflection in the mirror.
“Look at you, Raven. Look at who you are. If you could only see the way I see you. You are brave and strong. So goddamn beautiful. A bloom in the middle of the darkest night.”
But I didn’t want to only be his in the night. I wanted to be his in the light of day.
For him to stand for me. Beside me. Love me in front of everyone.
So much of my life had been secret. Hidden behind my fears and traumas.
I wanted to soar, and I wanted to soar with him.
I tossed the hand towel to the sink and padded back out through the door and into the main area of the shop.
Dawn was barely breaking, and I moved to the bank of windows and peered out at 9th Street. There was very little activity this early on a Sunday morning, though the little coffee shop next door and Sunrise to Sunset Café across the street would be open.
My chest squeezed when I noticed who stood on the other side of the road.
Kane was there, casually leaned against the wall with his hands tucked in the pockets of his jeans. Barely moving as he watched my shop.
Of course they would have sent someone to watch over me.
It was just their way, and I had a feeling he’d been sent by Otto.
Otto who was likely at his house, stewing in regret and guilt.
Dropping my eyes closed, I attempted to clear it all. To break myself from the hazy pain that threatened to suck me under.
Blowing out a sigh, I forced myself to move. Millie would be here soon, and I didn’t want her to find me an emo mess. I might as well get busy and get everything ready for her.
I dipped back into the backroom of the shop, going for the ribbon I’d need for a couple orders that had come in, then I slowed to a standstill when someone rapped at the back door.
Apprehension rippled through me.
It was too early for a delivery, wasn’t it?
Carefully, I edged up to the small window, keeping myself to the side of it so I wouldn’t be seen when I peeked out. A grin took over the unease when I saw Sienna on the other side.