Page 105 of Debt of My Soul

Fleur says she ran away, but I see something different. I see a woman who ran toward a new life. One without a cheating boyfriend. I see a brave woman, intent on making over a run-down farmhouse because she wanted to teach herself something new. A selfless woman who will do anything to keep her parents safe. This isn’t a girl who runs away.

In fact, I’m grateful she wasn’t able to confront her ex. Men are notorious for manipulating women. Gaslighting them and making them feel as if somehow their disrespect and inability to remain loyal was their fault. Fleur running out of that house and never looking back gave her two things she needed immediately: distance and Ruin, Mississippi.

I’ll admit it worked to my advantage as well.

Pulling into the tiny-ass driveway next to the cabin, I say, “Darrin texted and needs to meet. Hopefully, I won’t be long.”

She turns from where her gaze is out the window and offers the biggest smile to me.

In my line of work, nothing fazes me anymore. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected, roll with the punches, and never freeze up in a stunned reaction—but Fleur chucks it all out the window.

Her smile, so different from the terror in her eyes in the cell, punches me in the gut. I don’t care what Wilson says, this woman is mine.

“I’m going to make some chili. If that’s okay? With the weather changing slightly, I’m itching to hurry fall along.”

I chuckle. “This is the South. True fall is a ways off.”

She pouts and I reach over to pull her lip down with my thumb. Her eyes darken, which instantly makes me want to say screw Darrin and his cryptic meeting text.

“Hurry back,” she says, grabbing her bag of jerky, and hops out of the truck.

After watching her enter the cabin and close the door, I pull back out of the driveway and head to the clubhouse. All is quiet,and I stomp through the dining hall and down to the break room.

I’m not prepared for what I walk into.

The tension in the room is palpable. I can taste it in the first breath I take. My eyes widen at the sight of the three men standing in front of a seated Darrin, Blitz and Trip off to his side.

Raven, his second Drake, and …

And …

Adam.

He stands tall, flanking the other side of Raven, his dark hair tussled and longer than how he normally wears is tightly trimmed. Instead of his usual attire of flannel or polos, he sports tan cargo pants and a black tee.

What the hell is going on? Mentally, I calculate how I’d fight my way out with my brother in tow. Are they using him to get to me? Why is Raven even here?

Adam lifts his chin and sniffs, diverting his eyes when he sees me come in. Raven, on the other hand, watches me like a predator sizing up his prey. Except the bastard doesn’t know who I am and what I can do.

“This must be the well-known Liam,” Raven spits, glancing between Adam and me. “I dare say, you two look nothing alike.”

“What is this?” I ask Darrin.

“Raven wanted to stop by for a meeting. Apparently, he has some new employees.”

It’s then I notice it—the raven tattoo newly inked on his forearm, the skin red around it. Lovely. The first ink little bro gets is under the employ of this drug lord.

This is where he got his money then. He ran to Raven’s crew. After all I’ve done to keep him out of this mess, to settle the score placed against him with Darrin, he turns and climbs up Raven’s ass.

Part of me wants to pummel him right here. My family’s relationship is strained because of him—my mother can’t stand me, and he’s thrown all I’ve done for him in my face. The other part of me wants to shoot Raven between the eyes for getting his hands on my little brother.

“Wrong move,” I say, staring at the bird.

“Oh, please. It’s not like you aren’t enjoying your position here,” Adam snorts, his voice shaky. “You talk like this life you have is intervening for me, but your soul is as good as tarnished now.”

He might be right about my soul, but the idea I’m only here for him at this point has sailed years ago. I’m here for a bigger purpose, and Darrin looks at me, the eyes I’ll never get used to boring into my skull. At least Ihopeno one truly knows.

“Brotherly spats. Invigorating.” Raven speaks like he’s from another time and it’s eerie as f?—

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