Page 46 of Taming Raptor

By the shoes she was wearing, the woman with him was Ruby—the red glittery platform heels were her signature. I thought she had left after she finished her last set about an hour ago. Guess not.

“Here, I have the door, doll,” I heard Blade say in his most charming voice. Again, I rolled my eyes. The man could pour on the charm when he wanted to—despite the darkness we both knew resided inside.

Then I heard him open the back door, but it instantly banged against the wall. Ruby shrieked and I froze, phone in one hand, the other hovering over the panic button under my desk. I didn’t want to push it and freak the guys out if it was nothing.

“Jesus—” was all Blade got out before a muffled shot rang out and I pushed the button, Ruby dropped to the ground like a rag doll, then two more silenced shots rang out and I saw Blade fall back and whack his head on the floor. My hand over my mouth did little to muffle my cry. Ruby stared at me where I crouched under the desk, but her eyes didn’t blink and a dark red puddle formed slowly with her golden hair appearing as if the wavy strands were floating around her.

I cursed that my pistol was in my bag sitting on top of the desk.

Dress shoes covered in what looked like hospital booties appeared in my doorway. I screamed and dove for the corner as more shots rang out. The heavy wood from my desk splintered as papers flew around like we were in a mini hurricane. Trapped in the office, my hands covered my ears as I waited for bullets to fill my body.

“Tsk, tsk. It’s a shame that you’re so beautiful,” the quiet voice murmured. More shots rang out but suddenly stopped and I heard the man curse before I saw him dart for the door. That’s when I heard the approach of motorcycles.

Eyes squeezed shut, I violently shook as my teeth chattered.

A hand touched me, and I lost my shit. Swinging blindly and sobbing, I fought with everything I had. My foot struck and I heard a groaned “Fuck!”

“Is she okay?” a familiar voice asked, and I paused—panting and heart hammering. My eyes cracked open to find a wincing Voodoo holding his junk while Venom stood by the door.

“I’m not sure. She has blood on her, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from because she booted me in the nuts.” His voice was strained and spoken through gasped breaths.

“S-s-sorry,” I stammered.

Voodoo got to his feet, but had his hands on his knees as he tried to breathe through the damage I’d done. Venom gently brushed my hair out of my face, and I cried out as he hissed and whispered “shit.”

Tears welled in my eyes, not because of the pain, but because the thought of losing the one person who always had my back absolutely devastated me. I searched Venom and Voodoo’s gazes. Venom glanced over his shoulder.

“We need to get this shit cleaned up. The last thing we need are the cops sticking their nose in our business. Fuck. Ghost, Squirrel, go make sure there were no witnesses. Take the prospects with you.”

The two men nodded with grim expressions.

“He used a silencer,” I whispered. Venom and Voodoo exchanged glances.

Thankfully the club was on the south edge of the city with very little surrounding it but a few other bars and warehouses that closed down before we did.

“Did Ruby have family?” he asked me. It didn’t escape my notice that he positioned himself to block the door from my view. I inhaled a shaky breath.

“I don’t think so, but I’d have to check her file to be sure,” I replied, my voice uneven and blinking back the tears that were rapidly blinding me.

“It’s okay, I’ll have Facet check into it. I wasn’t sure if you knew off the top of your head. We’ve got this,” Venom assured me. “Now I know you’ve been through a lot, but did you get a look at who did this?”

I shook my head and winced at the sharp pain in the back of my neck. “But I think it might’ve been the man I saw across the street from Fiona’s. If not, it was definitely someone working for George Horacio.”

Venom cursed under his breath.

“I’m gonna need you in here, Angel,” Venom said as he gently lifted my chin and turned my head side to side. I could feel the trickle of blood as it ran down my temple. He used a handkerchief to catch it.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, trying to brush him away. “What about Finley?”

In my frazzled mental state, I spoke his given name. Venom cocked a brow at me in question.

“Blade,” I clarified as I fisted my hands to stop the trembling.

“Oh, I knew exactly who you were talking about. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“What?” I asked with a frown that caused me to hiss in pain.

“Nothing we can’t talk about later. Try not to frown. Or move your forehead.” Venom winced comically.

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