Page 47 of Echoes of Desire

“Not necessarily,” I say. “But it’s someone who knows the system. They bypassed all the protocols.”

Blaze pulls out his phone. “I’ll call Knox now. You handle the others in the video. We owe them transparency about this. They’re going to be pissed.”

I nod grimly. “And they should be. This is a violation of everything we promised them. Trust is everything in this world, Blaze. If we lose that, we lose everything.”

“And Raven?” he asks, his voice softer but no less intense.

“We’ll go over and tell her together,” I say. “As soon as we make these calls, we’ll head out.”

Blaze steps out of the room to make his call, and I refocus on the screen. The video plays in a loop, a sickening reminder of what’s at stake. My hands tighten into fists as the weight of it all settles over me.

I glance at the timestamp on the video. The scene with Raven is near the end. My blood boils at the thought of anyone watching her, analyzing her,objectifyingher.

“Dead,” I mutter under my breath, echoing Blaze’s words. Whoever did this is already living on borrowed time.

Raven

“You guys make my tiny apartment feel smaller,” I laugh. “What was so important that you couldn’t wait until I got to work in an hour.”

“The club’s closed tonight, sweetheart,” Jaxon says, his voice softer than usual but weighted with tension. “We have a problem.”

My smile falters. “That doesn’t sound good. What kind of problem?”

Jasper steps forward, his broad shoulders making my cramped living room feel even more stifling. His voice is low and measured, but the edge is unmistakable. “Someone recorded scenes at the club and posted them online.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What?” My voice is barely above a whisper. “But… that’s not allowed. No one’s supposed to…”

“They broke the rules, sweetheart,” Jaxon cuts in, his tone sharp but not directed at me. “They used a burner account to post it. Knox is already on top of things, but this is going to take time to fully clean up.”

I set my coffee mug down on the counter with trembling hands. My mind races and a sick feeling settles in my stomach. “Am I in it?” I ask, my voice small.

Jasper hesitates, his gaze flicking to his brother for a fraction of a second. That pause alone makes my chest tighten. “Am I in it?” I demand, louder this time.

Jasper takes a step closer, his expression torn between anger and regret. “Yes,” he says, his voice steady but gentler now. “But your face isn’t visible. You’re safe in that sense.”

The words offer no comfort. My breath catches, my pulse pounding in my ears. “This… this can’t be happening.

Jaxon reaches out, his hand brushing my arm. “We’re going to fix this, sweetheart,” he says firmly. “Whoever did this is going to regret it. I promise you that.”

“Promises don’t change what’s already out there!” My voice breaks, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “How many people have seen it? Do you even know?”

Jasper’s jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. “Not yet,” he admits, his voice filled with quiet fury. “But we’re containing the damage as fast as we can. No one will be able to tell it’s you, baby.”

“I don’t care who knows it was me,” I admit. “It’s the fact that someone violated the privacy of your club. I feel violated, and I was fully clothed. Those others were not, were they?”

“No,” Jaxon admits.

Jaxon’s admission hangs heavy in the air, and the weight of it feels suffocating. My chest tightens as the reality of the situation settles over me. Someone had done the unthinkable, not just to me but to the people who trusted the club as their sanctuary.

“I know there are evil people out there,” I say quietly, more to myself than to them. “But I never thought... not like this.”

“We didn’t either, sweetheart,” Jaxon says, his voice thick with regret. “That’s why we’re going to find whoever did this and make sure they understand just how badly they screwed up.”

Jasper’s fists clench at his sides, his normally calm demeanor cracking just enough for me to see the storm brewing beneath. “This isn’t just about rules being broken. It’s about trust, Raven. Someone betrayed all of us, and they’ll pay for it.”

I nod, swallowing hard. My hands feel restless, so I rub them together, trying to dispel some of the nervous energy coursing through me. “What can I do to help?” I ask, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice.

Jaxon and Jasper exchange a glance, silent communication passing between them. Jasper steps closer, his gaze softeningjust enough to reassure me. “Right now, we need you to stay out of it. Knox and the rest of the team are working to track down the source, and we don’t want you getting tangled up in this mess.”

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