Page 153 of White Raven
“If whatever you’re in there cooking isn’t burnt to a husk, then I’llactuallymurder you, Stratford.”
“Why? Because there might beonething I’m better at than you?” Brent grinned. A sharp gasp, and a clunk of plastic against the floor broke the soft greetings, and Brent turned to see Rhaena leaping over the kitchen island right before she pushed past him and tackled Kane. A blur of red hair came next, and Wren checked him with a shoulder while she dove for Sarah. “Jesus…I feel so appreciated.”
“You stupid,reckless-asswhore!” Wren choked, fighting back emotion as she wrapped both arms around her best friend. Sarah rocked her from side-to-side, saying nothing as she squeezed her.
Kane’s usual repellent of affection was replaced with stunned silence as Rhaena clutched him and whispered tearfully into his ear. Brent didn’t have to wonder what she was telling him. The grief and shock nearly knocked the detective on his ass. His stark blue eyes went over Brent’s shoulder, and Jenkins stood there, sharing a knowing look with his comrade. Rhaena pulled away, and silence ensued. Tight and uncomfortable.
“Come inside,” Brent ushered softly. “Shitty situations run a lot smoother over casseroles.”
“Cringe,” Wren warned, holding up a finger as she and Rhaena led them inside. “First warning.” Brent’s face flushed assnickering sounded quietly behind them as he let them in and closed the door.
Rhaena couldn’t stop staring at her partner as bodies hovered over bowls of steaming casserole with ungodly amounts of cheese. She sat across Brandon’s lap, occasionally feeding him globs of her dinner from her spoon. Wren and Brent were sitting with their legs dangling off the kitchen island. Sarah and Leigh had taken up the rest of the couch, and Kane…Kane was his ever-broody self, leaning against the massive windows, and poking through Brent’s slightly impressive culinary feat.
“So…yeah,” Rhaena sighed, spooning another mouthful. “You’re caught up. We’re just waiting on Foster to give us the all-clear, and then…I guess we plan our captain one hell of a funeral.”
“He gets military honors,” Athan started, lowering his bowl. “Gun salute. Pipers. He gets everything.”
Brandon offered a solemn nod. “You’re damned right, man.”
“I can’t believe there were that many vampires scoping out one girl,” Sarah said. She shook her head in disgust. “Makes me wish I’d never hugged the fucking prick.”
“Ican’t believe he was the one that killed your mother,” Wren added. Brent only stared forward, chewing silently. “Had to feel good to go allBuffy the Vampire Slayer, once you figured that out. It felt good tome.”
It got quiet, and Rhaena continued to keep her eyes on Athan, who stared down at his feet. “Are you alright, Kane?” He nodded once, but didn’t look up at her. “Look, I don’t care what was on the line, or how deep she was in a boiling pot of shit,but…she buried you alive. She’s the reason our captain is dead. She’s gonna answer for her part in all this.” Leigh glanced at her, but quickly changed her mind and averted her eyes to the muted television. “When the smoke clears…if she’s still alive, she has to know I’m coming for her.”
“It seems wrong. Even after all that was lost. Everything that happened. Sykes must have been fighting for her life for years. There was a time I’d doanythingjust to figure out who killed my mom…if it came down to protecting her? There’s no telling what I’d do. Foranyof you,” Sarah finished.
“Be that as it may,” Rhaena snapped. “For somebody that posed as a fuckingcop, she knew where to draw the line. And there’s no way in hell I’d ever use one of you to get what I needed. There’s always another way. Look at what it cost us. Whywouldshe care? We were all just disposable pawns. She’ll pay. They’ll all pay.”
“And your mother?” Athan asked, settling his eyes on hers. “You wanna ask Sarah how she’s feeling about settling the score with her dad?”
“I don’t have to know,” Rhaena said. “She offered me up to a deranged vampire who wanted to breed me like a bitch in heat. She shames our kind by calling herself a wolf.”
“I’m not sorry,” Sarah said. “I stand behind you on that front, Rhae. I won’t say it didn’t hurt. But I told you once that I know myself best when I’m going through absolute hell. I made the right decision, and I’d fucking do it again. And tonight, when I lay my head down? I’m gonna sleep like a cherub.”
“Look,” Leigh interrupted, pointing with her spoon towards the TV. A reporter was covering the scene of a completely obliterated grave. The headline on the red marquee read: LEGENDARY POET’S BODY STOLEN; GRAVE VANDALIZED.
“Turn that up!” Brandon begged, smirking. All eyes searched for the remote.
“Next to the fridge, Stratford,” Rhaena called over her shoulder, remembering that Wren had tried to take his head off with it. The sound popped in a few seconds later.
“Like something straight out of one of his renowned tales. Baltimore Police are keeping the details quiet, but have stated that so far, no suspects have been named. Forensics teams are scrubbing for any possible lead, but the question remains: what would one do with such a gruesome theft? Enthusiasts around the nation are speculating that the famous writer has risen from the grave, others mourn as if it were his first burial. Donations from all over the globe are pouring in for the restoration of the historical monument—and for the figure…that has once again captivated the world.”
“Booooo!”Wren hollered, pointing her thumb down, and shaking it. Brent chuckled as he took another bite of his food and hit the mute button again.
“It’s gonna take them forever to pull DNA from that shit,” Brandon crooned, snatching the rest of Rhaena’s dinner, and helping himself to it. He spoke through a wad of chicken. “I feel sorry for whoever has to deal with that.” That got her thinking.
“Athan, doesn’t that mean—I mean, you were in there for a while. There’s gotta be a ton of your DNA in that box. Sarah’s too.”
“And Tony’s,” Sarah added, forking a bite into her mouth.
“Where is Tony, anyway?” Wren asked.
“We took him to the airport on our way back home,” Athan answered. “It’ll be fine. Tony wouldn’t be in the system, anyway. Even if he was, they’ll never find him. He’s decided todo some traveling. Wants to go see the world. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.”
“Yeah, but…you both are in the system, Athan. It’s only a matter of time before they figure you out. How the hell would somebody explain that? The truth is absolute insanity,” Rhaena frowned.
Brent set his bowl down next to him and eased off the counter to lean against it. “I could represent you both, but…it’d be the toughest case of my life.”
