Page 22 of Wicked Revenge

“She fell into the water and the current pulled her in. She hit her head on the rocks then washed up on the shore. I don’t think it's too bad, but she is unconscious. We need to get Doc,” Royal tells us before I can say anything. Alek pulls his phone out of his pocket, undoubtedly to text Doc to meet us. “Do you know her?” Royal questions me, clearly knowing something is up.

“Kinda. I’ll fill you in later. Did she fall, or did she jump?” Worry fills my stomach as we walk as quickly as we can without jostling her around too much.

“I don’t really know what happened for sure. I couldn’t find her, and then when I was on my way back through, I heard her screaming bloody murder. She was hiding in the roots of that old tree on the cliff's edge. I called out to her, but it was like she was panicking and couldn't hear me. She was thrashing around and crying out, then she was falling into the water.” He looks down at her as we walk, and I see something I’ve never seen before on his face.

I can’t quite pin down the emotion he is showing, but it seems to me like my little siren enchanted him too. I don’t know what it is about this girl, but whatever it is, I know I can’t stay away from her.

“Doc will meet us at Twisted. I texted Ella to pick us up at Jackson's house. We can get the bikes tomorrow,” Alek blurts, interrupting my thoughts as he shoves his phone back into his soaked pocket.

“Are you sure we need to involve Ella in this?” Royal asks. “She doesn’t know who we are.”

“I don’t think we have much of a choice unless you want to try to move her on the bikes. Ella is closest and stands with the Shadows. We will figure out the rest later, just keep your masks on,” Alek demands as we walk down the hill onto Jackson’s property.

Honestly, I didn’t even remember it was on my face until now. It had become like a second skin to me.

Ella lives with her mother a few houses over, and when we make it around the house, she is waiting in her Dad’s truck that now sits on the curb.

When she sees us, she jumps out of the truck, running the short distance, panic on her face and tears in her eyes. “Rae, fuck!” She comes to a halt in front of Royal. “What the fuck happened?”

“Wait, you know her?” I ask.

“Yes, this is my friend that I told you was using my truck today.” Her voice breaks as she runs her hand gently down my girl's hair, her hand coming back bloody. “Fuck, what happened? She was fine a few hours ago when she left Twisted. Did King do this to her?” Her tone changes from broken to pissed off as her questions come out, and the last one causes me to pause.

“Listen, El, we gotta get her to Doc. She fell into the river and hit her head, and she hasn’t woken up since. We’ll explain everything later, let’s just get her some help,” Alek takes over, always the level-headed one of us.

I’m still over here reeling at the mention of King’s name where my girl is concerned. We all know who and what King is, but the way she said it sounded like there was a history there.

That is something I will be finding out, right after I make sure she is okay.

Chapter 13

“Get her in the truck where it's warm,” Ella barks, jumping into action.

She opens the passenger side door for me before closing us in. Coming around to the driver’s side, she slams the door shut while Maddox and Alek jump into the bed, and we take off towards Twisted.

“I know the Shadows have protected me this last year, but if Raena isn’t okay…” she trails off, wiping her tears in a rage, trying to be brave. She’s scared for her friend, I get it.

“Ella, we are going to take care of her,” I promise her as I look down at the sleeping angel in my arms. I know I’m promising it to both of them.

“She’s been through enough. I just got her back. I can’t lose her again,” Ella rambles.

It makes me wonder what this girl has been through.

It doesn’t make any sense– the feelings I am having for this girl I don’t know. I do know, without question, that I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm her. I don’t give a fuck if it doesn’t make sense. It’s just a feeling I can’t explain.

I’ve had similar feelings three times in my entire life: when I met Alek, when I met Maddox, and when I met Emma– my brothers and sister. I didn’t question it then, and I won’t question it now.

Looking down at her, I hold her tighter to my chest and push the curls that have fallen onto her face back. “You said her name is Raena?”

“Yes. Raena LeRoux. She grew up here before…” she trails off again, a look of panic flashing across her face before she schools it. But I saw it. “She just moved back into town.”

I have more questions, but we’re pulling in behind Twisted into the alley. Doc is waiting at the backdoor, so those questions will have to wait.

When we stop next to him, Doc opens the passenger door for me to slide out with her. Ella runs to unlock the door while Maddox and Alek jump out of the truck bed to stand beside me.

“Thank you for coming, Doc. I know it's late,” Alek says, shaking the old man's hand.

He is the only doctor in Shadow Forest, and he is paid well for his discretion, both by the Shadows and King. He knows how to keep his mouth shut, and he is always on call for us. He doesn’t know who we are though, so on the rare occasion we need him, Ella lets us use the basement here. With it being underground, it keeps people from just walking in, and it keeps the sound controlled.

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