Page 15 of Deadliest Throne

“Yes, Sir.” I smile, fluttering my eyelashes.

He gives me a heated look, making me smile harder. “There's the brat we know and love,” he cheers before taking off. My smile falls.

His words get me thinking. Have I changed? Am I no longer the Raven they knew? I mean, obviously things have happened, I had to grow up fast in a small amount of time so things are going to change.

Being a mom takes up a lot of my time and energy. Are the guys feeling neglected? Am I putting Andrew before them more than not? I don’t want to feel like I’m choosing, but Andrew is just a baby; his birth mother sold him to me for drug money, for fuck’s sake. He needs me.

But so do my guys.

A heavy weight weighs on my shoulders, and I sigh, my good mood gone.

“Oh, thank god you're here.” Andy’s voice has me looking over to see her taking the stool next to me.

“Hey to you too.” I laugh. “What's up?”

“What's up? We’re all miserable here. Don’t you hear the lack of music? No laughing? No cue balls clacking together.”

My brows furrow, and I look over my shoulder, seeing for the first time how empty it is in here. It’s usually filled with members. They practically live here.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, turning back to her.

“Home. No one wants to be here unless they have to.”

“Why?” I ask, raising a brow.

“Because their boss is...” She looks around before lowering her voice. “Let’s just say he’s a lot more moody than normal.”

“I’d watch what you say, Andy.” Link’s voice has Andy’s back going ramrod straight, her face losing all color. “One might think you're talking ill about me to my woman?”

“N-no.” Andy shakes her head. “Never.”

“Would you fuck off,” I snap at Link, and Andy sucks in a sharp breath.

“Raven,” Andy hisses more in fear than warning.

“Don’t worry about me.” I flick my gaze to Andy. “He wouldn’t lay a fucking finger on me.” I hop off the stool and walk towards Link, my eyes now locked with his angry ones. “Seems to be his thing nowadays. The man who wanted to live with his cock inside me is now the man who can’t even touch me. Isn’t that right, Link?”

He says nothing, jaw clenching. I’m pissing him off. Good, I want to piss him off, because I’m done. I’m done with him avoiding me. I miss my batshit crazy man, and I want him back. If talking things out with him isn’t going to work, then I’ll make him fucking listen.

Maybe pregnant Raven is more ballsy, maybe I’m just done with the bullshit.

“Don’t you love me anymore?” I ask him, cocking my head to the side.

“You know I do,” he snarls.

“Oh really? Sure doesn’t look like it. Is the reason you haven’t touched me because you're getting it somewhere else?” I ask him, and his eyes actually flash with shock. “Are you fucking some other woman, Link?” I know he’s not. He would never do something like that.

“Fuck no,” he spits.

“Then why won’t you touch me? Do you not think I’m sexy anymore? Is me being pregnant not attractive to you?”

His nostrils flare as he leans down, getting in my face. “You fucking know I only have eyes for you. I’d rather gouge my eyes out than look at another woman, stick my hands in acid than touch another woman. I’d rather fucking die than be with anyone else.”

My heart thunders in my chest as I swallow hard, his words fucking with my hormones, but I stand my ground.

“Then why won’t you fucking touch me?” I shout, chest heaving as I position myself so we’re nose to nose now. The tension in this room is suffocating.

“Because I’m a fucking monster, Raven. These hands kill for a living. I kill for a living. And I’d rather kill myself than ever put you or that baby at risk.”