Page 13 of Love & Violence

“It’s going to be okay, Ry. We’ll figure this mess out,” I say softly.

“I’m not sure how you plan to accomplish that, little brother. But if anyone can, it’s you.”

****

Aryanna

I blink my eyes a few times to focus and then look around. I’m a little dizzy, so I stay still for a moment. At first, I was terrified because I had no idea where I was. I hold my breath when I hear some voices in the distance, but I don’t recognize them.

I turn my body and gasp when a sharp pain strikes the side of my waist.

“Dammit,” I hiss.

The pain cuts through the fog in my head, reminding me of the shooting and Draven. I try to lift myself to see the damage, but that only makes pain tear through me again. I can’t help it when I cry out, but it shames me that I’m not stronger.

“You’re finally awake.”

I turn my head toward the door to see my mate and instantly feel better.

Draven comes to sit beside me on the bed. “How are you feeling, Babe?”

“My side hurts.”

Draven smooths the hair from my face, and just that innocent touch makes my cunt clench and throb, my pain seemingly receding. I know it’s from needing to mate with him. I want to smell like him inside and out.

Draven chuckles. “You’re not fit for where you want this to go right now, and I want our first time to be special.”

I am disappointed, but I understand, too. I have a burning need for him to mark me and make me his true mate. Maybe then my father will leave us alone.

I know it’s wishful thinking because my father is a monster. I know he loves me as much as he could love anyone, but I just know he would try to hurt both my mate and myself. Draven because he hates his family, and me because he’s going to think I’m a traitor.

“Draven, what are we going to do? Our fathers will kill us.” My voice is laced with fear.

Draven wipes away the tear that falls. “I’ll get it worked out. I just need you to relax and get better.”

I nod. A sound at the bedroom door grabs my attention. It was the man everyone called Rat.

“Yo, Psych, you’ve got a call you need to take.”

“Psych? What’s that?” I ask, confusion coating my words.

“A nickname,” Draven says.

I thought Rat was a bad name. “For God’s sake, whose?”

“Mine, Babe.”

My mouth drops open in shock, and my emotions feel raw. “Why do they call you that?”

“We’ll talk about it later. Just remember, I will never hurt you,” Draven tells me before leaving the room.

I can’t get my head to settle. So many thoughts are racing in my mind. I heard what he said about not ever hurting me, but with a name like that, how can I trust him? There must be a good reason for the awful name, and I don’t know if I want to know the truth. What if he’s just like my father?

“Hey.”

I jump at the new voice. A beautiful woman stands leaning against the doorjamb.

“I’m Rylee, Draven’s sister,” she says by way of greeting.

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