Page 78 of Dark Bonds

“It’s going to take me about twenty-five minutes to get there. I think Chase is closer if you’d like…”

“No!” I cut in. “It has to be you. Don’t tell the guys where I am. Promise me, Raven.”

“Okay, fine! You’d better start talking the second you get in my car because you’re scaring the shit out of me. I’m just backing out of my driveway. I’ll be there soon.”

“Thank you.”

I hung up the phone and, realizing I’d been crying, took a Kleenex out of my purse and tried to fix my face. I went into the bar, keeping my head down so no one would see how upset I was. I ordered myself a double shot of Jameson and found a table near the front so I could watch for her. I downed half my drink and tried to convince myself that I hadn’t just fucked up my life. When she pulled up a while later, I finished my drink and went out to the car.

“Oh, Leah. You’ve been crying!”

She leaned over to hug me and then pulled away from the curb. I sat quietly, leaning back in the seat and looking out the window.

“What the fuck is going on?”

“Raven, I know you want me to talk about this, but I’m going to need alcohol for this particular conversation.”

“Fine, let’s go back to my place.”

“I don’t think…”

“Shut it, Leah. The guys are both out for the evening. It will just be us there.”

“Okay.”

When we got to her place, she headed straight for the bar and poured us both a drink. She took a seat beside me on the couch, tucking her legs up under her, and looking at me expectantly. With a deep breath, I recounted what had happened with Jason.

“Fuck. That’s not at all how you planned to talk to him.”

“No, it’s not. He just kept pushing and pushing until I lost it. The stupid thing is, I believe he is actually in love with me. We could be happy but he had to feed me a bunch of bullshit and now I don’t have my life anymore.”

“What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean you don’t have your life anymore?”

“Raven, there’s no way I can go back to the club,” I cried. Everything and everyone I have in my life hinges on me going there.”

“Oh, fuck right off. First of all, just because you’ve decided not to be with Jason anymore… which, for the record, means you’re just as big a dumbass as he is… doesn’t mean you can’t go to the club. Secondly, I’m fucking insulted that you’d think that I’d bail on you just because you’re not at the club. We were friends long before Inhibition. Sasha would kick your ass and, frankly, I would let her!”

I stared at her with widened eyes and my mouth hanging open. I had never heard her speak that way and, most definitely, not to me. Tears sprung to my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. My heart had been shattered into a million pieces tonight and I was having a hard time processing it. My breathing quickened to the point I could hardly take in a full breath. The room started spinning and then the world went black.

“Leah! Leah!! Leah, wake up!”

“Fuck, honey, we need you to wake up,” Sasha said.

“Raven, maybe we need to call 911,” a male voice said.

“Maybe you’re right, Seb.”

Seb. I should have known his voice. I could hear every word they were saying, I just couldn’t seem to wake up.

Wait. When did Seb and Sasha get here?

“Chase, maybe you should call Jason.”

“No!” Raven and Sasha cried together.

“Why the fuck not?” Chase asked.

“Not my story to tell, but he is what caused this,” Sasha snapped.

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