Page 52 of Draven

Unsurprising. He’s probably too afraid of what will happen to him if he blabs.

“Do you think Shala will go underground now?”

He shakes his head. “He’s too narcissistic. Men like him believe they’re above the law and untouchable. I should think he’ll lay low for a few days, regroup, then begin again.”

An ache moves down my throat. “The futility of it all exhausts me.”

He draws his knuckles down my cheek. “Gotta keep going, though, Lola. Imagine how much worse it would be if we didn’t.”

I nibble on my lower lip, the desire for revenge burning hot within me. “I want them to pay, Draven. I refuse to allow Kiera’s death to be in vain.”

“They will.”

He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, the tender touch so out of character with the brutish man I know that hot tears spring to my eyes, and I have to blink them away.

“I’m sorry about the demotion.”

I hitch a shoulder. “It’s done. I just have to suck it up.”

“That doesn’t sound like the feisty woman I know.”

I offer up a wry smile. “Oh, don’t misunderstand me. I’m pissed off, but there’s nothing I can do. Getting angry won’t help. I have to put my head down, work hard, and wait for my chance to come.”

“Bullshit,” Draven says. “Where’s your fire? Your fight? You take that anger I know you’re capable of, you hold it in the pit of your stomach, and use it as fuel to fight the injustice. Have you spoken to your union rep?”

“Not yet. I will, though. Tomorrow. I doubt they’ll have the power to reverse the decision, but I guess it’s worth a try.”

“Lola, your boss informed you that you’d been demoted at your sister’s funeral. The man’s a fucking cunt. He didn’t even call you in for a proper hearing. Tomorrow, you go in there all guns blazing. If you don’t, I will.”

My eyes prickle again at his willingness to fight my corner and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me. I break into a faint smile. “You trying to play the knight in shining armor, Draven?”

He chuckles, nudging my shoulder with his. “Sweetcheeks, my armor is far from shining, and I’m no knight, but what they’ve done to you isn’t right. You’re hurting, and they’ve used that to further whatever the fuck their agenda is, with you as the scapegoat while you’re feeling raw. They’re hoping you’ll push papers and stay quiet like a good little girl. My advice, for what it’s worth? Do the complete opposite. Make a nuisance of yourself. Demand a full hearing. Get your ass in front of the captain and force him to explain his decision.”

His words and his unwavering support light a fire beneath me, and steel strengthens my resolve. I square my shoulders and nod. “You know what? You’re right. I am going to fight this. They want a battle? Well, they’ve fucking got one.”

He unleashes a laugh, the wonder of it doing strange things to my insides. Draven isn’t a man who smiles often or laughs easily, yet he seems to be doing more of both with me. Pride tickles my chest because I did that. Me.

“There she is. That’s the Lola I know. That’s the fighting spirit I’ve had personal experience with.”

This time, it’s my turn to laugh. “Unfortunately, I’m going to need to apply different tactics. If I knee my boss in the balls, a demotion will be the least of my worries.”

He grimaces. “Yeah, even I don’t recommend that approach.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “Are they safe? The women. I’ve been so busy since… I didn’t think to ask.”

Draven plays with a lock of my hair, feeding the strands through his fingers. It’s oddly tender for such a bearish man. Just one more thing that’s softening in my presence.

“They’re safe. Like Kiera, they were all pumped full of drugs, but thankfully, the doctors were able to detox them. They’ll make a full recovery. Physically, at least.”

A ragged breath is evidence of my relief. At least some good came out of something truly catastrophic, though I can’t help a bite of resentment that my sister was the only one who didn’t make it. My good, honest, wonderful, amazing sister, who’ll never marry, never have kids, never fulfil her dazzling potential.

“Do you think they knew Kiera was my sister? That maybe they OD’d her on purpose?”

His hand trails down my neck, causing goosebumps to pebble my skin. “I don’t, no. Everyone reacts differently to drugs. You could give two people the same dosage. One would OD, one wouldn’t.”

An ache flames my chest. In other words, my sister had simply been unlucky. “I’d like the chance to talk to the women about Kiera. What’s the likelihood of any of them agreeing to meet me?”

He tilts up my chin. “Are you sure you want to know the details? Some things are better left in the past.”

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