Page 60 of Broken Promises

“The house?” I parroted, making Raven nod.

“Yeah. Dad claimed the electricity was cut, so we went to see if Cruz could check for us. It’s fine, so Dad must have tripped the circuit or something. That’s how we found out about the mortgage.”

“Let me know if you need help?”

“I will.”

I hated this. I should’ve been going with her to check, but I knew it would only make her push me away again. Was I the only one she was still mad with?

“Have you heard from Logan?” I asked carefully, and Ander shot me a look that said I was an idiot. I wanted to punch myself for bringing him up when I noticed Raven’s face fall a fraction as hurt spread across her eyes.

“Heard from? Yes. Spoken to? No,” she said bitterly, and as much as I should’ve been happy about the fact I wasn’t the only one on the outs, it made me feel worse. Zavier would keep her safe, and it seemed like Ander would too, but not having Logan with her made me worry.

I needed to talk to him so we could work together in getting Raven back, but the chance of me punching him was too high still.

Ander was deliberately trying to force me to make a move when he draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “We’d better go. Good seeing you, Barron.”

She swatted at him, but if she really wanted to get away from him, she could’ve.

I followed them outside and had no choice but to watch Raven climb into his car, my eyes falling to her feet and making me frown.

“New shoes?”

“Yeah. Ander gave them to me,” she grumbled as if she was mad about it, but she couldn’t meet my eyes, telling me she liked it.

I glanced across the car to Ander as he slid behind the wheel, and he gave me a small nod that I returned. I’d been wanting to find her new shoes for so long, so I was grateful that he’d managed to convince her to accept the gift.

“See you later?” I said, sounding more like a question, and Raven smiled.

“Later.”

I stepped back as Ander started the Supra and backed out of the driveway, my chest tight as Raven held my gaze until they were out of view. Demanding she stayed here would’ve just caused another fight, but fuck, I really wished she’d stayed.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

RAVEN

“You okay?” Ander asked as he drove, glancing over at me with a small frown.

I wasn’t. The urge to tell him to go back to Reid was strong, but I couldn’t just forgive him and pretend like nothing had happened.

“Yeah,” I answered, watching the scenery change from fancy houses, to modest, and once we drove into the Heights, burned down or boarded.

Josh had always said one day we’d live in one of the fancy homes in Ashburn, but I knew he was only saying that to give us all hope. I never wanted a big home, just one that had windows and didn't get shot at regularly. Food in the fridge and being able to sleep without worry was more important to me than anything else.

“I can call him to meet us at the house, if you want?” he offered, knowing exactly what I was feeling down about.

“He ruined everything.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to forgive him.”

“You don’t have to. If you feel better having him around, he’d respect your boundaries. Unless he takes my advice, I told himto back you into a corner,” he said with zero hesitation, making me turn to glare at him.

“Excuse me?”

“If he backed you into a corner and just kissed the angry demon out of you, it would help,” he smirked, laughing when I swatted at him.

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