Page 158 of Raven

Traitor. How did I not see him for what he is? Ali did, of all people.

“Stop…” The soft plea breaks my thoughts, right away lighting every cell in my body on fire. “Please, stop. Tell me what you want for his freedom.”

It’s Maddy, who grabs the guard’s arm around her neck and pulls him with her in a step toward us. One step.

I shake my head. Don’t.

She takes another one, her eyes not on me but on Skiba.

“Stop hurting him. I am Milena Tsariuk. Let him go, and my father will give you what you want.”

Skiba cocks his head at her, studying her up and down with curiosity. If they worked for Tsariuk, like O’Shea said, he’s trying to match her face with her older pictures. Or he knew all along and is trying to figure out how to work this to his benefit.

Fucking scumbag.

“You don’t look like a mafia princess,” he drawls. “Pretty, though.”

That pretty makes my insides twist. As does the way he looks at her, assessing, with lust.

I can’t have this, not her, not bargaining with a thug, not even fucking considering doing some type of fucked up favor to help me.

“She’s just a girl,” I say sharply, cringing at the words of betrayal.

I make a move, but the guy behind me jerks the chain around my neck, keeping me in place.

Skiba turns to me. “Just a girl? Your girl. That’s… something. Siena said no to me, that fucking bitch. This one is offering herself. I’m in.”

He scowls. I don’t respond. He sucks his teeth. “I watched you, Raven. Watched your every step. Was angry when you shot Cunningham, wanted to shoot you on the boat and dump you in the fucking ocean. But this”—he nods toward Maddy—“might just be a good bargain.”

I’ll tear his face off. I’ll fucking come back from the dead and rip him into pieces. If there’s a chance he believes she is Milena, he wouldn’t dare to even touch her, afraid of the consequences from Tsariuk. But a degenerate like him with nothing to lose can be stupid enough to try.

“Let her go,” I rasp. “Please. And then the guards will go too. You won’t have a problem. I’ll stay.”

Skiba raises his stupid eyebrows. “Oh. Please, huh? That all it took?”

“It’s a promise.” I turn my head and, through the blood that trickles into my eyes, I see Nilanski in the distance, at the front of the guards who stand waiting. “Get Nilanski here.”

Skiba motions for him to come over. “Drop the gun.”

Nilanski is slow and careful, but he obeys and walks over, stopping only twenty or so feet away.

Skiba zeroes in on him. He can’t hate everyone. He’s worked with all these guys for months. Nilanski is already jeopardizing his life by coming close disarmed.

“I give you the girl,” Skiba says to Nilanski, “you turn around with all your pals and leave. That clear? Or like I said, a certain house at Ayana will go up in smoke.”

“Understood,” Nilanski says with a nod, approaching.

So, Skiba is afraid of Tsariuk. Good.

Skiba motions to the guy holding Maddy, and he pushes her toward Nilanski, who grabs her and, right away, pushes her behind him, protecting her.

But she yanks herself out of his grip and runs up to me, falling onto her knees before me.

“Rave, we can’t do that. We can’t. We can’t,” she pants, her hands palming my face.

This is why men like me don’t get close to people. This is why we don’t form connections. One little woman can become our weakness and destroy dozens of lives.

Instantly, the chain tightens around my neck, pulling me back out of her hands. A gun is pressed to Maddy’s head.

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