“Vee...” I croak, my hand flying to my stomach.

“I sat in the front seat of his car, parked outside your trailer the night he came for you.” Her eyes grow cloudy, her scowl never breaking. “I watched your mother walk out, saw the light go off. I listened to you scream, and I was glad, for once, it was someone else instead of me.”

“Enough,” Bass snaps, trying to step between us, but I hold my hand up, keeping him away.

“Mero Malcari,” she says.

Malcari.

I shake my head.

“Rolland’s biological brother, Maddoc’s biological uncle. Remember the story I told you, about how the night their dads died, one man died on the scene? That’s how Rolland remembers it, when really his brother was the one he chose to leave behind, assuming he wouldn’t make it, and tried to save Captain and Royce’s dads instead, who died anyway.”

I groan, my body jolting forward.

“I said enough!” Bass screams, his hand coming down on my back, a strain taking over the corners of his eyes as he stares at me.

She keeps going. “The man who wanted revenge on Brayshaw and Graven and used us both to get it. The man your mother paid to rape you, to ruin you so Rolland couldn’t trade you, and so a Graven wouldn’t come for you themselves.”

My knees give, my body falling into Bass’.

Leave it to Ravina to do the most twisted thing imaginable to her own daughter in her own fucked up way of revenge. The sickest part, I’d bet she was convinced she was somehow saving me, while also reminding herself I didn’t deserve it.

But revenge for what exactly?

“Get the fuck out of here—”

I cut Bass off with a shake of my head.

He growls but snaps his mouth shut.

There’s no time to stop and think on this right now, but one thing is clear with her words. My mom wanted to fuck Graven over, and I need to find out why.

I take a deep breath to steady myself then walk straight toward her.

She stands tall.

“What else did he tell you?”

“Not enough before he stopped breathing.” She gives my words back to me.

Her tone, words, and everything in the middle should be cause for concern, yet looking at her, for some reason I have none.

She cuts a quick glance to Bass. “Raven...” She trails off. “I’ve never had anyone, ever,” she admits quietly, her next words even more hesitant, embarrassed even. “I don’t wanna lose this.”

My airway constricts, my glare growing stronger.

Her eyes fall. “I told you not to trust me,” she says.

I lick my lips and look away. “Well, I do.”

Her head snaps up.

“Come with me.” I frown.

She presses her lips together a moment before asking, “Where?”

“If you have to ask, you don’t know me as well as I think you do.”

Her forehead tightens. “Without them?”

“I don’t have much of a choice right now.”

She gives a curt nod and takes off toward Bass’s car, ahead of me.

“You sure this is a good idea?” Bass steps beside me

“No, which makes it no different than anything else I’ve done here.”

He scoffs a small laugh.

My eyes constrict. “I want my sides back, Bass.”

He’s quiet a moment, then moves to stand in front of me. He crosses his arms, regarding me with a meaningful glare. “You want it back?”

“I want them all back. I want it all back.”

He shrugs. “So take it.”

Not having expected his response, an instant frown hits.

Bass stretches to his full height and steps closer. “You’re Brayshaw, Raven.” He pushes a finger in my chest and I glare at him. “You. Not Rolland, not the boys. Nobody... but you. Your mom is dead. You’re all that’s left. You’re strong, make them see. They think they can control you, decide for you, show them they can’t.” He gets in my face. “You want this world? You take it.”

A chill runs down my body, and I step into his space as he stepped into mine.

“You got my back?”

“I got your all. My life belongs to Brayshaw,” he promises. “You say jump. I fucking fly.”

Not a hint of uncertainty.

He’s all in.

“Give me your phone.”

He hands it over without a second thought, moving closer to me so he can see the screen.

I type out a text to the number Rolland gave me.

Me: this is Raven Carver

I frown at the screen, deleting Carver. My fingers are slow as I re-type the message, this time hitting send.

Me: this is Raven Brayshaw. I need Gio.

Me: now.

It rings within seconds, but when the person on the other end isn’t Gio but Trick himself. I hang up.

Bass gives a slow nod.

“He’ll have him call.”

I’m done getting less than I ask for. Trick owes me nothing, but he’s a smart man. I’d bet if he asked someone for something and got less than, he’d do the same.

We stand there for a few minutes, waiting, and finally the phone rings again.

I answer, speaking not a word as I bring it to my ear.

“What’s wrong?”

Gio.

My shoulders relax. “I need your help. Now, today.”

“You gotta give me more than that, Raven. I can come now, no doubt, but if you need me for who I am today, you have to lay it out. I have a man to stand behind, too, girl. Clearance is mandatory.”

I lick my lips, nodding, my eyes follow Bass as he cases the area around us to make sure nobody is standing near, listening. “Is he with you?”

“He is.”

“You can put me on speaker.”

There’s some ruffling on the other end, and then his voice comes back on the line. “Talk to me, Rae.”

“He underestimated me. They all did,” I whisper, a deep ache forming between my ribs. “I’m gonna show them... my family is mine. Mine to hurt, mine to heal. Not theirs.”

“Someone is hurt.” Trick’s voice hits my ear.

I knew he was smart.

“And someone is dead.”

“Who died?” flies from Gio. “Raven, who is hurt?”

“Son,” is a sharp whisper on the other end of the line.

“This town is mine to take. Help me.” It’s honest and to the point, it’s all I have.

It’s quiet a minute before Gio speaks again. “What happened?”

I turn, looking up at the tall glass building, knowing Royce’s eyes must be on me.

Please don’t feel like you’re alone.

I drop my stare to my shoes, grinding my toe into the gravel. “I’ll do it without you if I have to, but I’m standing here asking you to see these people for what they are. Help me, help my town before it’s too late.”

“Give us an hour. Fifteen to have a jet fueled, thirty to land, fifteen to reach you.”

“I’ll tell you where to go.”

“I know where to go, Raven.” Trick’s deep voice is both soothing and chilling.

“Then you understand.”

“I’ve waited for this. The point of our existence is to protect those who can’t protect themselves, provide safety to our people, and trust in an untrustworthy world. They’ve failed you and your people. We’ll remind them that is not allowed.”