Page 161 of White Raven
Wren went still.
The unicorn headphones…she loved those.
All eyes were locked on her then, and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. What were the odds of one of those vamps coming back to claim Leigh, because they’d slaughtered them all the night Foley was killed?
“Security feeds?” Athan asked from the couch.
“Dom…is the camera out back still fucked up?” Wren asked, trying to hide the shake in her voice.
“Sorry, but it is. It’s on my mile-long list of things I have to do, thanks to you. And her.”
Her eyes slowly closed, and dread filled every limb. They felt heavier. Sluggish. She didn’t let the prick have another word, reaching down to hang up in his face.
“Wren, don’t panic,” Brent urged, gripping her shoulders.
“I know what you’re thinking. That was my first thought too,” Athan added, raising with Sarah from the couch while Denver flopped over onto his side. “It’s the middle of the day. It wouldn’t be vampires. Not Poe’s, anyway. The only ones that can be out this time of day would be the ones Sarah helped, and they have no reason to hurt Leigh.”
“No,” Sarah stilled, glancing at Athan. “There isone.”
Wren’s eyes popped open, and rage started to boil. “FuckingSykes.”
“Rhaena told her not to come back here. She wouldn’t offer herself up on a platter like that just to get to Leigh, would she?” Brent asked.
“She did!” Rhaena piped up, barely clothed, and sweating as Brandon followed her out of the spare bedroom shirtless. She held her phone out in front of her. “Sykes and Leigh are both at the 12th. Foster just told me to get there. Now.”
“Oh, we’re coming,” Sarah ground out. “I’ve got quite the bone to pick with that cunt. Whether she helped me or not.”
“We’re all going,” Athan added, and Wren could almost feel ice in his tone.
“Everybody saddle up. She doesn’t leave Boston this time.”
Rhaena’s eyes were hard. She was a woman on a mission as she stormed back into the bedroom to dress. Brent fetched Denver and brought him upstairs to lock him in while Wren cleaned herself up and changed.
“If Leigh’s with her, then you know it’s not because Sykes forced her. She’s been looking for any reason to stick her neck out for her. Leigh’s been waiting for a blip on the radar for days.” Wren knew he was trying to help figure the situation out, but it only led her to the same conclusion.
“She’s not coming with us to Denver,” Wren said sadly.
There was no telling what kind of conversation was going on in that truck as Athan followed close behind on the bike. It was a little warmer out today, and the telltale scent of spring was beginning to taint the air. Boston would have a little longer to wait for short sleeves, and bare legs, though. Sarah’s arms were tight around his middle as he tried his best to unclog his heavy mind. What does one do or say to the woman responsible for breaking your neck, and burying you alive? Even if therewasa lot on the line? Rhaena braked up ahead at a light, and he lowered his feet to the asphalt, gripping the brake with one hand, and reaching the other down to Sarah’s arms. She was tense too. Probably wondering the same thing.
We’re whole. We’re alive. Revenge only keeps us at war, love.
Her chin rested on his shoulder, and he could hear her harsh sigh over the motor.
It’s still a dish I’d like to serve her sorry ass. Cold and fucking rare.
Athan huffed a laugh, revving his bike and moving forward with Rhaena’s truck as the light turned green. Rhaena had told them all to ‘saddle up’…and to be honest, it felt good to be back in this particular saddle. This feeling of freedom, even in busy Boston, was a welcome one. One he needed more of.He needed more of her arms around him while they burned a road to nowhere, and justenjoyedlife. Chasing the sun—instead of racing it. Breathing…instead of holding it for the next raw blow. All these years he’d lived. All the yearsshe’dlive now…he was so exhausted with the constant stench of death, and chaos…misdeeds and bullshit. Maybe being as stony as he’d always been would only take him this far. Sarah said it was time for some changes. And changes they’dmake. Starting with whatever happened in this room when they got there.
The elevator ride was silent. Rhaena’s inner wolf seemed like it was dying to free itself, and Athan wondered if she’d be able to handle herself in front of the rest of their fellow officers—officers that still had no idea that a whole different world existed. The precinct itself was eerily quiet. Nobody was saying much, all of them still heavy with their grief over the empty office with the lights turned off, and a huge red, white and blue wreath hanging on the closed door. It was like an iron fist to the gut seeing it. He wasn’t sure how the hell they’d all get through that funeral tomorrow afternoon. Agent Foster appeared from around the corner of the hallway where the holding cells and interrogation rooms were. Following close behind her was a really young-looking kid that seemed ambitious—probably for a lot more reasons than one. They both dipped their chins in greeting as everybody approached each other in front of Foley’s door.
“Damn…everybody wants a piece, don’t they?” Foster smirked. “This is Danny,” she introduced, pointing a thumb over at her partner. “He’s one of the best on my team. He’s been briefed on literally everything, and trust me, you’ll be grateful for his skills…if you catch my meaning.”
Rhaena crossed her arms. “That’s great, but where’s Sykes?”
“We moved her and the girlfriend to separate interrogation rooms,” Danny answered, gesturing for them to follow them down the hallway. Athan took Sarah’s hand and filed behind Rhaena and Jenkins. “Uh…we won’t be able to hold her long, as you probably already know…she’s a person of interest, but there’s a lot lacking where it pertains to the captain’s case. What other things we have on Ryan Sykes puts her in a whole different jurisdiction.”
“You mean you have no evidence,” Brent added from behind them. Danny and Foster both nodded. “So, what happens then? You take her back to Seattle?”
“Don’t know just yet,” Foster huffed, sliding a card through the slot to open the door to observation.
