Page 1 of Lethal

Chapter 1

Raven

Six piercings. Six of those exquisite bars of delight. His Jacob’s ladder runs along the bottom of his shaft, glinting as he turns… It’s an even better sight in person than how I imagined it. Each one spaced out the perfect amount to ensure you feel its presence. I’ve replayed the memory of Ravenmaster fucking me a million times. It’s not even a close comparison. I stare at it long enough to count every rung before it’s ripped from my view.

It feels like a lifetime ago when Ravenmaster sent me a picture of his dick. It was hard and angry with the shining metal decorating it. In the background was a computer screen where a video of me was playing as I got fucked by who I thought was my stalker. His method of proving that it wasn’t some random picture he stole off the internet.

All the clues were there this whole time. I even suspected him. And yet, that one minor detail kept me from believing it, especially because he didn’t have those piercings when he fucked me. How the hell did he pull that off?

Cole has a Jacob’s ladder… Ravenmaster has a Jacob’s ladder…

What the fuck is going on?

Can it really be true? Is it possible my damaged nerd is also my stalker? Or is it more likely I’ve entered an alternate reality?

Memories spiral through the forefront of my mind. It’s like a flipbook of polaroids showcasing every interaction I’ve had with Ravenmaster compared to the ones I have of Cole. How the first one came before I even spoke with the sweet nerd from the coffee shop.

How did he even know I killed someone?

Right when I think I’m getting past my men keeping secrets, even more are unearthed.

By the time I’m able to focus past the scenes flashing across my mind, I find Cole is now dressed and running through the bedroom door with a bag in hand.

Where the fuck does he think he’s going?

“Cole!” I call after him, shock momentarily holding me immobile. He doesn’t stop, doesn’t even glance over his shoulder. There’s no sign he even hears me. Motherfucker.

I move to go after him, but the cool air conditioning blowing across my nipples quickly reminds me I’m naked. Knowing there isn’t a second to waste, I pick up his discarded towel from the floor and wrap it around me, tucking the corner into the top as I make it past the door frame.

Cole’s brown head disappears out of sight where he descends the stairs. Shit, he’s fast. “Cole! Stop. Don’t you fucking leave without us!” My scathing shouts fall on deaf ears, but I won’t be swayed. If he won’t listen to me, then I’ll find someone else who will. “Somebody stop Cole.” My men are here, not to mention my brother and his guys. One of them is bound to get in his way.

A door slams closed as I reach the halfway landing on the staircase, and I can only hope it’s one of the guys, and not Cole himself, already having left. “What’s going on?” Vander asks, popping his head out of the living room.

“What’s the ruckus?” my brother yells from the kitchen.

It’s like they don’t fucking listen. “Someone needs to stop Cole!”

“He just grabbed a set of keys and darted out,” Matteo says.

Jasper comes up behind me from the staircase. “What’s the problem?” he rumbles.

We don’t have time for this. Cole isn’t in his right mind. Or maybe he is… but there was a recklessness in his gaze. There’s not a single doubt in my mind that he’s on a warpath, and anyone standing in his way will be blown to pieces. He needs someone who’s thinking clearly by his side, because soon enough there’ll be a trail of bodies in his wake. He’ll need someone to make sure he doesn’t get caught. Not to mention, I want to support him in finding his sister.

My exasperation gets to be too much at the whole situation, and I run my fingers through my hair, forgetting I’m only covered by a towel. I quickly drop my hands to hold it in place as it slips. “An alarm went off on his computer. I guess he had a search running for his sister, and it suddenly came up with footage of her. He ran from the room without telling me anything. We need to get to him before he does something stupid,” I tell them. None of them move, and I feel the need to repeat myself. “We have to go after him before he disappears.”

If I’m right and he’s Ravenmaster, I doubt we’ll find him until he wants us to. Images of him leaving behind evidence flash through my mind. He’s emotional right now, and emotions lead to carelessness. I can’t let him throw everything he taught me out the window. Rule number four and all.

“Any idea where he was going?” Jasper asks, his hand landing on my hip. The warmth of his body closes in against my back.

“I didn’t get a good enough look at the location as it whirred across the screen. I was too busy trying to figure out what the fuck was happening in that club. Shit, I think it was something like LA. Doesn’t matter. First place he’ll go is the airport.” I roll my eyes, annoyed with the newfound Ravenmaster identity. “Fucking asshole with a private jet.”

“Shit,” Vander growls. “Jasper and I will go after him. You get dressed and meet us at the airport. If anything changes, we’ll call you. There are go bags for all of us in my room. Bring them with you.” He grips me by the chin and smacks a hard kiss on my lips before striding for the kitchen. “Enzo, I need a set of keys.”

Jasper spins me to face him. “How badly do you want him stopped?” he asks, a serious set to his jaw.

“Would you let me leave without you?” I question back with a raised brow.

A deep menacing growl erupts from him, and he takes a step closer, like the thought alone makes him want to shackle me to him. “Absolutely fucking not.”

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