Page 16 of Raven

So, he remembers.

“My friend is a no,” I say.

He pouts, making me laugh.

But… I’m not sure if I’m about to answer for Maddy or me, and suddenly an idea comes to my head. An idea so desperate and crazy that it takes my breath away.

I can’t possibly do this, can I?

Maddy will only laugh at it.

My dad will kill me. I might as well sign my death sentence.

But if I pull it off. If only I could… If only…

My chest tightens at the dare. This promise of the last bit of freedom is so tempting that suddenly I don’t care for the consequences.

“I am,” I say.

Patrick’s eyes light up. “Yeah?”

“Fuck, yeah!” My heart thuds in my chest.

“Doll, okay, listen up. Give me your address. I’ll pick you up tomorrow?—”

“No, listen, let’s do this.”

I keep talking, already having a plan mapped out in my head. For one night, I’ll be a fugitive, pay with cash to stay in a crappy motel. If I can keep up the game until tomorrow, I can get on that jet and have the vacation of my lifetime. Do I care that I just met this dude? No. Does he care for me? No. There’ll be plenty of pretty girls on that jet. I know how things work. Been there, done that. Again, zero fucks given.

When I give him instructions and cut the call, I do things methodically and slowly, trying to calm my trembling hands.

I find Maddy’s passport in her closet and a stash of cash that she keeps for me for when I don’t want my card to be tracked by my dad. I change into better clothes, stuff a couple of Maddy’s dresses and a pair of heels into her travel bag, and put a baseball hat and sunglasses on.

I write down Patrick’s number on a piece of paper—I can’t bring my or Maddy’s phone with me. My cards are traceable too, so that’s a no-no. But I have a secret crypto-currency account online that I can access from any burner phone.

I stuff my belongings under the bed and creep downstairs.

I walk out the back door and into the backyard.

My heart pounding, the baseball hat low over my face, I take quick thievish steps toward the neighbors’ fence.

I’m scared shitless. My father’s anger has no bounds. But I can taste freedom, laced with adrenalin, on my tongue. And I’m ready to face the wrath of the man who knows over a hundred ways of slow torture.

If I am to live my last days of freedom, I’ll go out with a bang and a weekend in paradise.

Zion, here I come.

7

RAVEN

I got ahold of Maddy’s work schedule. She rarely takes time off. In the last two days, she’s hardly been home. Busy girl.

I am not a dick. I don’t intend to harass her. When she and I get down to business, I want her full attention. But “business” requires certain terms. And I still haven’t told her exactly what I want from her.

So, I make an appointment at the medical center and request her as a nurse.

It’s hot and humid outside despite the breeze and the heavy clouds that block the sun. When I park my bike at the entrance, Bo walks out. Dark-blue pants, polo shirt, and sunglasses perched on his head above the tightly gathered together dreadlocks. He slows when he notices me standing by my bike and keeps staring as he walks toward his golf cart.

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