Raven’s sensual tone flowed through the speakers. “Ah ah, I have work to do. You’re going to be a good boy and wait until tonight to claim your prize. I may be the hunted, but only when I say.”
I groaned. “You’re going to make me come in my pants in my fucking car. I’ve had blue balls all week, and now you’re whipping out the good boy? That’s so unfair, babe.”
“When did I ever say I play fair, Mr. Mitchell?” I could see the smirk on her face.
“Fine. I cave. You win. I’m almost to my apartment, and I have activities to prepare for.”
Her tone changed back to playful. “Victory! You really are the perfect man, letting me win all the time. I’m the luckiest lady in the world. I can’t wait for what’s in store tonight.”
I pulled the car into a parking spot. “You’re in for it, baby. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Ryan.”
“Raven, wait.” Apprehension was winding its way back into my chest after her distraction.
“Yeah?” she asked.
I sighed. “Please be careful, okay?”
“Always, babe. Bye.”
The phone beeped, and I gathered the shopping bags, bounding out of my car and to my apartment. Once inside, I threw everything on the counter and raced to my computer. While it was booting up, I tapped my fingers on the desk.
Unease swirled in my gut at what I was about to see. Something wasn’t right. Rick’s call was so strange, and I wondered what I could see in these files that would change my life? Did Rick know how far I had fallen for Raven? Was there something that was going to change my mind about wanting to be with her?
I shook my head. No matter what was in the files, I was in this with her. I planned to tell her tonight that I wanted to be exclusive. I knew she wasn’t seeing anyone else, and I was going to make sure she knew this was more to me than sex.
My email inbox loaded on the computer screen and the first message was from an unknown address. The message was blank except for an unfamiliar attachment. After navigating the encryption, the files began to download.
All too quickly and too slowly at the same time, the download completed. The file explorer window jumped on thescreen, listing a dozen folders. I clicked into the first one and the first document was a police report.
Pushing away from the desk, I paced the living room. Once I saw this, there was no going back—no undoing once I read Raven’s legal documents. Shame surged through me at the thought of the intrusion, but the part of me that was in love with her nagged that I had to do it. I had to see what was going on.
I stopped in my tracks. I loved her. I loved this powerful woman and I would do anything for her. I would stop at nothing to keep her safe. Fear slammed into me, and I knew, I just fucking knew that she was in danger.
I flew back to the computer and pulled up the police report. My heart stopped as I read the words in the boxes and the narrative below. Confusion clouded my brain and realization stabbed me right in the fucking heart. Staring back at me from the screen wasn’t Raven’s name. It was a name I didn’t recognize, Leah Williams, and to my horror, typed halfway down the page, was Uncle Jeff’s name in glaring letters.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Raven
“What are you supposed to be?”I asked Dad as he strode into the living room of my parents’ house. “You look like you’re about to go to a hoedown.”
He was dressed in a flannel button-down shirt and jeans with a cowboy hat on. His usual attire was cargo pants and a white T-shirt with a work shirt unbuttoned over the top. It was the typical uniform of a mechanic.
“Your mom dug this hat out of the closet and said I should be a bull rider. You know she always picks me something to wear on Halloween even though the candy is your thing.”
Mom strode in from the kitchen in a straight black wig and abstractly patterned dress that swept the floor when she walked. “I always wanted to date a bull rider when I was growing up. They were so handsome. I couldn’t get enough of them.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “Alright, Cher. Maybe you should replace me with a bull rider all year instead of just on Halloween.”
Mom threw a candy bar at him which he promptly reachedup and caught out of the air before it hit his head. “I’m sure you can ride better than any cowboy, dear.”
“Oh gross, you two. Please stop. Pretend you still have to be PG around me even though I’m thirty-two.”
Leaving them to their lewd conversation, I walked down the hall to the half bath to check that my costume was perfect. Trick-or-treating would begin soon. Closing the door, I looked in the mirror and wiped a smudge of eyeliner from underneath my eye. I’d laid it on thick that morning for work, and I was happy with how it had held up. I smoothed my hands down my long-sleeved black dress that was cut low. My black hair was draped down my back, not too dissimilar from mom’s wig, and my lips were painted a deep crimson. I looked like a vampire Morticia Addams when I added my teeth. I walked back out into the living room with Mom and Dad just as the doorbell rang.
After two hours and three large bowls of candy, I fell on the couch. The visitors had been nonstop the entire time, and I was beat. I loved the kids, though. There were so many unique costumes, and even Dad had greeted a few. Mom handed me a plate with a slice of chocolate cake.
