Page 16 of Shadowed By the Alien
“You didn’t kill him, did you?” she asks, her voice shaking slightly.
“No.”
She breathes a sigh of relief. “No matter what he’s done, he’s still my cousin. I wouldn’t want to break my aunt’s heart by hurting him.” She walks to where I tied him up. “Why, Noah? You have a good life. Why get mixed up with something criminal?”
“How do you think I afford this place? I don’t have a rich daddy to pamper me.”
“My dad doesn’t pamper me.”
“Yeah, sure.” Noah’s laugh grates on me.
“You’re going to need his help if you want to avoid prison for setting all those fires.”
“Screw you, Raven.”
I punch the male in his face. “Watch your mouth.”
Noah spits out blood. “I didn’t set any fires.”
“You hired that guy, Noah. I smell the ash and smoke on him. Why terrorize all those families?” Raven pushes.
“They failed to listen to us. Examples needed to be made, to keep others in line.”
“Us?” she asks.
“The Brotherhood,” I provide the answer she seeks. It’s clear Noah is part of the criminal organization that works to topple entire worlds.
Raven’s mouth opens in shock, so I put my arm around her waist which I realize is a mistake when a smug expression crosses Noah’s face.
“She means something to you,” the male says. “Release me and I’ll keep your secret.”
Raven faces me. “What is he talking about?”
“She doesn’t know who you are, does she?” Noah says. “But I do. The full truth. Release me, or I’ll tell her.”
“Tell me what?” she asks so innocently.
RAVEN
Silence fillsthe house as neither Ren nor Noah says anything. Silent exchanges leaves me in the proverbial dark. If I could see right now, I’d be able to better assess what is going on between Noah and Renikk. This silence only encourages my imagination to run wild. And that puts me on edge.
“Someone tell me what’s going on,” I demand, my voice full of impatience and fear that I can’t squash.
“Your boyfriend here is an alien,” Noah pipes up, that braggart voice daring me to prove him wrong.
“An alien? You’re mistaken, Noah. You’re trying to hurt me like always,” I say, sure he’s lying.
But Ren hasn’t denied Noah’s claim.
“Raven,” Ren’s deep voice says my name with such emotion that I can’t turn away. He steps in front of me then takes my hands in his and places them on his face to read his expression.
Concern. Worry.
“You’re not an alien,” I repeat, not ready to accept that I’ve been falling for an alien.
Ren moves my hands higher, through his thick hair, until I touch something hard jutting out from both sides of his head.
His hands fall away, leaving me to explore the structures. The smooth surface reminds me of bone, except with minor gouges, maybe scratches, as they taper to sharp points a good foot and a half from his scalp.
