Page 57 of Carver’s Crusade

I frown. “Why?”

“To watch the house.” His gaze cuts toward the hallway Raven disappeared down. “If Tony’s friends kidnapped those women, they probably took them to the house. Chances are that they’ve already disposed of them. However, I still want eyes on that house. Just in case.”

He’s right. I hate that he’s right, but I learned a long time ago that paranoia keeps people alive.

“I’ll call them now.”

Shield nods and starts talking the second Dante answers.

I pull my phone from my pocket, but my eyes drift once more toward the bedroom.

Raven comes out of the bedroom with a black duffel bag slung over her shoulder. The strap keeps slipping, but she barely seems to notice. Her face still looks drained, her eyes shadowed from everything we uncovered tonight.

The second I see the bag, I step forward and take it from her without a word.

“You don’t have to carry that,” I mutter.

Her fingers brush mine as she lets go. “Thanks.”

Babe lifts his phone to tell me he’s calling Axel and Simon for me. He’s freeing me up so I can focus on Raven.

Shield is still on the phone with Dante when I glance toward him. He lifts two fingers in acknowledgment, already deep in whatever strategy discussion they’ve started. He steps outside with Min and Babe right behind him—the three head for the stairs.

“We’ll see you back there,” he says.

I nod once, then reach for the deadbolt.

The apartment suddenly feels too exposed. Too vulnerable. Like danger already seeped into the walls while we weren’t looking. I wait for Raven to step out first before pulling the door shut behind us. I test the knob after locking it to make sure it catches.

The stairwell smells faintly like cigarette smoke and old concrete as we head downstairs. Raven stays close beside me.

Outside, the night air hits cold against my skin.

I unlock Raven’s car and toss the duffel carefully into the back seat before shutting the door. My gaze sweeps automatically across the parking lot, checking shadows, parked vehicles, and movement.

Old habits.

“You ready?” I ask quietly.

Raven nods.

I kiss her softly before she slides behind the wheel. “We’ll surround you, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting close.”

I hop on my bike and follow her.

By the time we make it back to the clubhouse, Raven looks exhausted down to her bones.

The tension she carried out of her apartment hasn’t eased during the ride over. If anything, it’s settled deeper beneath her skin. She stays close beside me as we walk through the clubhouse.

Normally the noise feels familiar, but tonight it feels far away.

I rest my hand against Raven’s lower back and guide her toward the stairs. “Come on.”

She follows without protest.

The hallway upstairs is dim, lit only by the wall sconces spaced between doors. When we reach my room, I push the door open and step aside to let her enter first.

“You can take one of the guest rooms if you want,” I tell her quietly. “Probably more comfortable than dealing with my snoring.”