“What’s your name?” he asks her.

“Cindy.”

“Look, Cindy…we got off on the wrong foot, but you better get used to seeing me. As long as she’s in here, I’ll be here, too.”

Sighing, she shakes her head in resignation. “Fine.”

She starts with my shoulder, and I flinch at her touch. I don’t know why, but I don’t feel comfortable with her touching me. She moves to the foot of the bed and lifts the sheet to inspect my legs. The moment her fingers graze my skin, I freak the fuck out.

“Don’t touch me!”

Startled, she releases me and steps back. “It’s okay. I just need –”

“Don’t touch me. Get away from me!” I turn to Gage in a panic. “Please, don’t let her touch me. Get her away from me!”

“I got you, babe.”

He wraps his arms around me gently as I sob into his chest. I vaguely hear him tell the nurse to get Dr. E, and then he whispers in my ear that I’m okay. This is not the behavior of someone who’s okay.

What the fuck just happened?

CHAPTER 2

***Gage***

She’s shaking in my arms and I don’t know what the fuck to do. I do what I can – hold her and try to comfort her. By the time E gets here, she’s calmed down enough to lie back on the bed.

I stroke her hair and kiss her forehead. “I’m going to talk to E, okay?”

“Please, don’t leave me.”

The desperation in her voice almost breaks me. I squeeze her fingers lightly and give her a reassuring look. “I’ll be right outside the door, doll.”

She nods, but the frightened expression lingers on her face. I close the door behind me and take a deep breath.

“What happened?” E asks.

“Nurse came in to check her bandages and Raven freaked out the moment she touched her.”

“Well, it’s common for rape victims to not want to be touched.”

“By anyone, right? But I’ve touched her…Ellen, Nita…her friends have touched her and no problem.”

“So have I, but…she trusts us. We’re familiar.”

“I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem right.”

He nods and grips my shoulder. He’s been my best friend for most of my life and knows me better than anyone. I know he’s worried about me; I see it in his eyes. I know all my brothers care, but E is the only one who would even think about my feelings right now. The others will know and understand my anger and need for revenge. They’ll expect it. What they don’t know is how much this is killing me inside. But I can’t show weakness, not even to E. Who am I to feel sorry for myself? Raven’s the one who was attacked.

I glance over E’s shoulder and notice some of the guys are here. Fuck. I take one last look at Raven’s door and head over to them. They all stand as I approach.

“How is she?” Rico asks.

“Physically, she’ll be okay. She’s just a little messed up right now.”

“That’s understandable.” Razor nods in agreement.

I turn to him. “You talked to Glenn?”

“He wasn’t there. Neighbor said he took off to visit his sister in New Orleans about two days after his accident.”

Fuck. He was the only one on my list so far. “Shit. Call everybody, call in every favor. I need information. I want this fucker found.”

“In what condition?”

“Nobody touches him. He’s mine.”

“Got it, Prez.”

“Uh…boss?” Ron approaches carefully.

“What is it?”

“There’s a guy here to see Raven. Says he’s her lawyer.”

He motions to a guy sitting in the corner and the man steps forward, hand outstretched.

“Mr. Hunter, Drake Santini. I’m handling Mr. Alvarez’s estate on Raven’s behalf.” I shake his hand and acknowledge him with a nod. “I need to speak with you and Raven in private.”

“Sure. Come on.”

The panic drains from her face when I walk through the door. Her gaze flicks to Santini momentarily but comes back to rest on me.

“You’re back.”

“Of course, babe. Mr. Santini here wants to talk to you.”

“Hi, Raven. It’s good to see you again. I’m sorry about the circumstances.”

I watch her shake his hand without flinching. She raises her good shoulder in a shrug then slides her hand back into mine.

“How are you feeling?” Santini asks.

“Not too good. But thanks for asking.”

“I stopped by your house and a neighbor told me what happened. Do the police have any leads?”

“Not yet,” I answer.

“I see. Well…I have the papers, Raven, along with the ones you asked for. Given the situation and the fact that no one can find your sister, I think we should get on them right away.”

She nods and he removes the documents from his briefcase, placing them on her overbed table.

“These are for your inheritance, to transfer everything over to you. Lonnie already got the lump sum amount your father left her.”

She takes his pen, signs in all the designated places, and then he presents her with more papers.

“These are for changing your beneficiary.” He glances at me quickly then focuses on Raven once more. “And also putting Mr. Hunter in charge of any decisions regarding your health and safety.”

“Wait a minute,” I interrupt. “What’s going on, Raven?”

She casts a pleading look at Santini.

“Raven and her sister don’t get along,” he explains. “She has no other family. She’s named you as her beneficiary and is also basically giving you next of kin rights.”

“Babe, you know I’d take care of you no matter what,” I say, stroking her hair.

“I know. I just don’t want Lonnie making any decisions for me.”

“I got you, doll. Always.”

She smiles and signs the papers then more appear out of the briefcase. What exactly does this estate entail? Her dad was a cop. Whatever it is, it sure involves a lot of paperwork.

“These are for the apartment. I don’t know –”

“She’s coming home with me. Forget the apartment,” I say sternly.

We haven’t talked about it, but there’s no way I’m letting her out of my sight. He waits for her consent then places them back in his briefcase when she nods. However, another set of papers come out.

“These I’ll have to explain. Once you sign them, you’ll gain control of a trust fund that was set up when you were a baby,” he tells her.

“Trust fund?” she asks in a confused tone.

“Yes…cash, property, stocks, and bonds. It was stipulated that it be released to you on your eighteenth birthday.”

“Stipulated by whom?”

Santini pauses then squares his shoulders and meets her stare. “Your mother.”

CHAPTER 3

***Raven***

My mother? Bullshit. That bitch doesn’t give a fuck about me. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, Raven. This is something that both your parents have been working on since before you were born. I know you think she gave you up without a second thought, but that’s not true. Your father kept her updated, sent pictures. She wants to meet you.”

My heart flutters. After all these years…she’s been checking up on me? “Why now?”

“You’re an adult now. The agreement she signed doesn’t bind her anymore. In fact, she’s here, in a hotel in Atlanta, waiting for me to call her. She’s giving you the choice. If you say yes, she’ll come. If not, she’ll leave.”

I don’t believe my ears. This woman, who I’ve hated my entire life, is waiting on my say-so to come and meet me. The woman I thought gave me up without a care could be here in a few hours if I wanted her to. Tears threaten as I stand at a crossroads. Do I tell her to fuck off and run back to Mommy and Daddy, or do I give her a chance? A chance to explain her side…to try and mend what was shattered by her parents before I was even born?

Gage swipes a tear from my cheek and I look to him for advice. He smiles down at me and nods.

“I think you should meet her.”

“Why?”

“Don’t you want to hear her side?”

“She left us. That’s all I need to know.”

“Don’t you want to know why?” he prods. “I know you have questions.”

He’s right, as usual. I just don’t know if I can face her. How can she face me after what she did? She’s got some balls; I’ll give her that. Maybe I should hear her out.