Page 68 of Pretty Monsters

Sin

I thought knowingRaven could defend herself would put me at ease. In a way it does, but it also terrifies me. When I first saw her she appeared like an apparition in her white nightgown, backlit by the moon. It’s as if the night itself birthed her from the sky, hair black as night and skin pale as the light of the stars. She's so small it gives her an air of fragility, but it's a ruse.

Her spine is made of steel, and despite her size she's a weapon. I've no doubt someone at the school she attended had an inkling what she would face someday. Teachers can impart more than facts. True, some of them don't go above and beyond, but a good one makes sure to impart the tools their students will need beyond the knowledge they were hired to deliver. I've mostly taught myself, but there was one trainer who took extra time and showed me more than how to be a killer. Those skills are proving themselves invaluable now.

The ride to the apartment is quick. Raven yawns in the back, and I'm looking forward to something I've never done before. I want to make use of the television Lucien bought while we were gone, turn on a movie, and hold her close to me.

The idea should freak me out. Emotions make you vulnerable, but I wouldn't say that my feelings for Raven make me weak. I'd burn down the world to protect her. If anything I'm more dangerous now than I ever have been, because now I have a reason to live.

Ford and I walk upstairs behind Raven. I signal her to stand back while I sweep through the apartment before letting her in.

I kiss her forehead. "Why don't you go take a shower to ease your muscles. I'm going to talk to Ford a minute."

She covers her face to fight another yawn. "Yeah, that sounds like heaven actually."

Once she's inside the bathroom and the water kicks on, I go grab my laptop from the bed where I left it. Booting it up I scan through the communications between Damien's soldiers. Without Lucien they don't know enough to look for the spyware I installed.

"What are you searching for?" Ford asks.

"The location of her father's army. We made sure to go to a place none of us had any ties, but I don't think we'll be able to hide forever. He's got to be desperate to get her back. There's emails between the family he was trying to marry her off to and him. Apparently, they needed a marriage for the son as badly as her father wanted the political alliance. It won't be too much longer before they plaster her face all over the news."

"What about going to the police? Surely you're far enough out of his reach here to find someone to help you," he suggests.

I shake my head. "No, he has bribed officials all over the country. His empire isn't local, it's global. There's not a place on this earth we can hide he can't reach."

"So then, what's the plan?"

I drop my head into my hands, scrubbing my palms against my face. "Right now they are searching the places Raven has lived. Going after anyone she knew. It won't take long before they realize those are dead ends. Short of killing Damien, I'm not sure we can do anything but stay on the move."

"Why don't you do that then?" he asks.

"Which, stay on the move or kill him?"

"Kill him." He shudders, like even making the suggestion has blackened his soul. "I don't like advocating violence, but if there's no other option, what else can you do?"

I look up at him. "See, that's the problem. I'd have to get to him first. He's never alone, and I'd have to fight my way to get to him. We need an ally more powerful than he is. Right now, we need to stay out of his reach long enough to have him lose the election. Getting dirt to the current governor to help him win is also a must. Then we have to leverage our help for a favor."

"This thing Lucien is involved in puts her at risk, doesn't it?" he asks.

"Yeah," I confirm. "But, he won't leave women to be victimized. It's the only thing keeping him human, playing avenging angel. I can't take that from him."

"Could you walk away from it?" he pushes.

"Only to protect Raven. I'd come back when she was safe, but no. I know what it feels like to be owned."

I open a file full of pictures and start to show him. "Anyone could be on Damien's payroll, but if you see one of these men around, I need time to get Raven out."

He studies each face. "Email them to me. I'll make sure everyone studies their faces. Shane can rig up the apartment to create enough of a distraction to get out. Meanwhile, we should get the living quarters of the warehouse ready and install security there too. Living here might be too much of a risk."

"We aren't the only ones at risk if they find out you know us. Can Ted hold up against torture, because they will stop at nothing if they think you have information they need."

"Ted seems easy going on the outside. I think he even believes it sometimes, but of all of us, those tactics won't work on him," Ford replies.

I raise an eyebrow. "It isn't my story to tell. Let's just say the three of us bonded for a reason."

"What about Shane?" I ask.

"Ever notice he doesn't talk about his parents? Only his grandfather?"

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