Page 128 of Raven

“That you are in love.”

I stall and stare at him, but he pretends to inspect the nails of his right hand like we are discussing something trivial, like the weather. But hearing from someone else what I can’t say out loud is like being in the spotlight.

“I have all this shit, money, investments that I accumulated,” I say. “And I might never get a chance to do anything for anyone. I want Sonny to have a future. And her. And if Tsariuk wants my entire life savings for her, I’d give that up, too.”

“Is that why you called the attorney and set up a trust fund for them?” Archer asks.

How the fuck would he know that?

He nods. “Yeah. I know about it. Milena, Sonny, and Mac. I’m surprised she was in it.”

Despite it being my job to know everyone’s business, I fucking hate when people stick their noses in mine.

“Why?” he asks.

“I just explained myself.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Raven. You tell me this is a good deal, and everyone is safe, and things will work out. Yet you set up a trust fund in case of your death. What is it that you think will happen? Is this about Butcher?”

My intuition never lets me down. And I know that this, whatever is happening with me, and Maddy, and Butcher, and Tsariuk, will not end well. Hence, the trust fund. Hence I paid Ali’s father’s medical bills in the Arabic Emirates and transferred some money to pay for Nilanski’s daughter’s college fund on the mainland. I had a talk with them. Because guess what? If I’m gone, they will be in charge of Maddy’s safety.

“I don’t know, Archer. It’s just a precaution.”

“Precaution,” he repeats slowly. “That night at the medical ward, you and Maddy, I knew she would be involved with you, Raven. I could fucking sense it. You two were like water and lightning. I just never knew it would lead to this.”

“Which is?”

Scandal? Fighting? The mob’s involvement? That’s the problem. I wanted to find the cracks in her armor. And now I’m falling through them.

I exhale through my nose, trying to control my anger. “It’s just a deal. Isn’t everything?”

I walk away from the Center, from the upcoming meeting with them and Maddy, because there will be one, but now it’s all in her hands, and I don’t need to aggravate her there with my presence.

We have a lot more to worry about than the Tsariuk business.

A new surveillance perimeter was established after the riot during the hurricane—pushed back away from Port Mrei and toward Ayana, right in the middle of the jungle between them. Butcher’s thugs patrol it with guns and heavy artillery. Makes me wonder where he got that. We don’t control Port Mrei anymore. To be exact, Port Mrei, with Butcher in charge, creeps toward us.

There is a package delivered to my house. It’s a present for the one person on this island who can cheer me up. Take a guess. Yes, Sonny. Who would’ve known that a kid would be my comfort zone?

For the first time ever, I text him to come over if he has nothing else to do.

He knocks on my door with the speed of lightning. He’s quiet when he walks in. He doesn’t shout in excitement, doesn’t tell me what he learned today. He walks around the living room while I order Thai food delivery.

He stops by the big bookshelf and tilts his head, his body following until it’s bent almost forty-five degrees. His lips move as he tries to read the titles.

Pride swells in my chest. Two months ago, he couldn’t read.

“Books give you everything you missed in school and more,” I say, quoting Mac.

The only good things that come out of my mouth are probably courtesy of Mac. Everyone should have a Mac in their life.

“What’s your favorite one?” Sonny asks.

I walk up to the shelf and pull out Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Bach. The cover shows a seagull over the sea with a little patch of land.

“Is it about Zion?” Sonny asks, tracing the seagull with his forefinger.

“No. It’s about a rebel,” I say, and his eyes instantly snap at me with that typical kid’s wonder. “Oh, cool.”

---