Page 83 of Carver’s Crusade

Shield points at Raven. “The poison. The dead predators. It was her.”

Every muscle in my body locks. No fucking way. The series of murders Shield mentioned. Men poisoned by an unknown assailant. Raven? My Raven? No. Just no fucking way.

Raven lifts her chin, her green eyes shining with emotion as she looks directly at Shield.

“Yes.”

The single word detonates inside my skull.

Min curses under her breath.

Caitlin gasps.

Ashlyn just stares.

And I want the damn floor to disappear beneath me.

Raven swallows hard. “I murdered those men. I admit it.”

My chest caves inward. Jesus Christ.

Shield exhales sharply and drags a hand over his face. “Raven…”

“He deserved it,” she says, voice trembling now. “All of them did.”

The women murmur in agreement.

I barely hear them.

Because one thought keeps hammering through my brain. The police taking Raven from me and throwing her behind bars. Panic crashes through my chest so hard I can barely breathe.

Before I even realize I’m moving, I cross the room and grab Raven, hauling her against me. She stiffens in surprise before melting into my chest.

I wrap both arms around her like I can shield her from the entire fucking world.

Shield looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Carver—”

“No.” My voice comes out savage. “You’re not arresting her.”

“Jesus Christ,” Shield snaps. “She just confessed to murder. Multiple murders.”

“She killed monsters.”

“She killed people.”

“She protected women!”

The words explode out of me so violently the room echoes with them.

Raven trembles as she clutches my kutte tightly.

Shield looks furious now, but underneath it I can see the conflict tearing him apart. He’s a cop. One of the good ones. He believes in the law even when the law fails.

But this?

This is Raven.