Page 81 of The Collector
Raven shifted and rolled to his side. His face turned to her before he answered.
"The first time I saw you was at Cover Girls. It was before—I knew who you were, who your father was. You came onstage looking hesitant, like you weren't sure you belonged there. But only for a second. Then you lifted your eyes, stared off into the distance, and began to move. Soft. Effortless. It wasn't dancing—it was gliding. Like your body knew something your mind hadn't caught up to yet. You were bold. Beautiful. Even if you were afraid. You would do what you needed to, until the moment you could escape your cocoon. That's why I call you, my Butterfly."
Mynx swallowed the lump in her throat. There was so much she needed to learn about this man. Raven was so deeply thoughtful, complex. Nothing like she'd expected him to be. Not just a ruthless killer or thug. He was unapologetically Raven, and that was what she loved most about him.
She kissed him softly. And whispered, "Thank you— for seeing me, Raven."
Chapter 23
Collector
The Collector felt like the walls were beginning to close in on him. His chest was tight, and his pulse was racing. Time was running out faster than he wanted. He had a plan, but he needed to act quickly. There were so many moving pieces in motion that he was going to need to pull in some extra hands to make it all work. It would make him more vulnerable, but at this point, he wasn't sure what other options he had left. The trick would be not letting them know the real master plan. They needed to think what they were doing was for the Kings and not him. In the current state of the organization, he didn't think it would be too hard to pull off the illusion. And if anyone asked too many questions, he would take them out permanently; no one would question their losses. Problem solved.
For an added twist of fate, he'd utilize Thomas to do some of the heaviest lifting in the next part of the plan. The beauty of it was that he wouldn't even know he was helping kidnap his daughters.
The cabin looked quiet as he pulled into the secured driveway. Gravel crunched beneath the tires, but nothing else stirred. Wildlife scurried around, running from the beams of his lights. There were no signs of intrusion. He hadn't had time to monitor the place in the last twelve hours, and that fact had been gnawing at him. But now, seeing it untouched, the tension in his chest loosened—just a fraction. Enough to think clearly.
He couldn't get ahead of himself. That was how plans unraveled. Step by step, he'd make the plan work. No emotion.
He had two reasons for being here. Elanah. And the prisoner.
Neither posed a threat. Not physically. The prisoner was weak, even if he was leery of him. He couldn't wait until he saw his face, realized who'd been holding him prisoner. But he'd dose them both— which was his standard protocol. There would be no resistance from either of them. No noise and easy transition to the next temporary cage that would hold them until they both spent the rest of their lives in prison. Or dead. Either worked for him as long as they both lost any chance at a happy ever fucking after.
By daybreak, they'd be in the trunk. Quiet. Contained.
The mausoleum was ready.
"Two years—Two years of precision, silence, sacrifice. Of watching allies rot in the ground and enemies rise. Of playing the long game while the Kings chased success and expansion."
It'd been excruciating. Just not murdering the King's all in a horrific display of vengeance.
But tomorrow—Tomorrow he'd have everything he ever wanted. And then some."
The "then some" was the part no one saw coming.
Not the Kings. Not Raven. Not his father.
The mausoleum wasn't just another holding cell. It was the beginning of the end for Raven, Mynx, the prisoner, and that slut Elanah.
The Collector heard Elanah struggling as soon as he walked into the cabin.
"Hello—who's there?" she called, pausing a moment, her breath hitching before she continued. "Please—you have to help me. I'm being held here against my will."
Her voice was raw. Not completely broken, but frayed with exhaustion, sounding as if she could struggle no more.
"If someone's there—, please, I'm in here!"
It was obvious that she'd been screaming. Crying. Doing everything, she could free herself.
He smiled to himself.Poor naive woman, the mess she'd gotten herself into, she is so horribly unaware of the monster's lair shes walked right into— looking for sanctuary from the world.
The Collector paused in the doorway. Watching her. Taking measure of her worth—why not after all she'd taken every opportunity she could at the mansion to make him look small in front of others and taken every chance she could to tell him how unworthy he was of her attention. Looking down her nose at him—pretending he was irrelevant.
He didn't speak. He just let the silence stretch out tauntingly and deliberately. Hoping to break Elanah down psychologically.
He wanted to hear what she sounded like when she thought no one was listening. Fell her desperation as the grief of defeat washed over her.
"I know you're there— is that you— asshole? She grunted as she struggled to free herself.
