Page 81 of Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven
She coughs again, before leaning on her cane, then pushing to her feet. Kingston and I both stand, watching her travel to the bookshelf on the far side of the room. Carefully she pulls out a thin black book.
“Here.” she hands it to me. “What she will need is within.” Her eyes water as she glances up at me. “Her role will be a heavy one. Both of joy and despair. She will need you.”
Her frail hand touches my arm. “Choose wisely, Sullivan.”
I never told her my name.
With that, the elderly woman walks to the door, opening it to cue our exit. “Good luck.”
“Thank you.” I step outside onto the porch. “Your name?”
“Giselle.”
“Giselle. Thank you. Sincerely.”
She gives one more nod, before closing the door behind us.
I make it to the car just in time for Kingston to stop in his tracts.
“What is it?”
“I need to get back to Stone Crest. Malikiah just asked me to meet him at the warehouse.”
Chapter fifty-seven
Raven
“Just text me when you’re done.” Presley pulls up to the curb of my aunt’s house and my stomach physically churns when I see Arthur’s sports car in the driveway.
“Perfect,” I mutter.
In the rearview I see Hendrix park a few cars down on the side of the street.
“What time will you be done?” I ask.
“It’s just dinner with my mom and brother. My dad had business tonight. Ledger is in town, and she wants us tocatch up.” She rolls her eyes.
From what she’s told me about her brother, he’s lives in Manhattan and has a successful company that specializes in real estate.
“Sounds like your night will be as fun as mine.” I unclip my seat belt.
“I guess I’d rather be miserable together than alone.” She smiles. “We can drink wine and complain.”
“That’s what this friendship is built on anyway.” I shrug. “Wine and shit talking.”
She laughs as I step out of the car. “I’ll be back by eight thirty at the latest.”
“Have fun.” I wiggle my fingers before shutting the door.
Letting out a deep breath, I pause before I move up the sidewalk and onto the porch. Her house is actually small and cozy. If I didn’t despise her so much, I might compliment her on it.
My finger presses the doorbell, and I wait until the solid wood door opens, revealing a smiling Gemma.
“Raven.” She waves me inside. “So glad you made it.”
I take in her smeared blotch of lipstick, then motion my finger. “Missed a spot.”
She clears her throat, her finger flying up to swipe over her lip. “Your father is in the dining room.”
