“Damn, girl.” He reaches forward, pinching my knee and Maddoc knocks his hand off.

Gio lets out an easy laugh, and eyes Maddoc, before looking to the others and back to me. “Seems you found your place, huh?” he asks with a soft smile and my chest constricts.

Maddoc’s arms tighten around me and Royce and Cap watch me intently.

I don’t want to answer, it’s my business, but I don’t wanna insult my boys either, so I nod.

“Yeah,” I rasp. “I did.”

He grins. “Who would have thought two troublemaking punks like us would make it out in the end.”

I force a grin, because did I make it out, for real? I mean, I was only brought here because my man’s dad needed me to get out of prison so ... who knows what happens if it doesn’t work.

Yeah, can’t really follow with that.

“We should go,” Rowan stands.

Gio nods, his eyes on me. “It’s ... damn good to see you like this, Raven.”

“Like what?” I tease.

“Happy.” He shrugs. “Content enough to sit still, not out hustlin’ every second to stay ahead.”

I tense and Maddoc’s lips move to my ear.

“You’re good, baby,” he whispers.

“Thanks, G,” I say, a little raspier than I’d have liked, sinking into Maddoc more.

I don’t look across the group, I don’t want to see their faces.

Thank hell the girls went inside to make a call.

Gio stands and moves to grab my hand, squeezing.

He whispers where only me and Maddoc can hear. “You deserve this, Raven. Keep reminding yourself of that.”

I nod.

He shakes Maddoc’s hand and then the rest of them, Rowan’s next.

“Your family is welcome back, anytime,” Maddoc tells him. “But maybe next time, don’t fucking tail us.”

They laugh lightly, waving bye on their way out.

And suddenly I feel heavy.

Maddoc senses it and moves us both to stand. He looks to his brothers.

“You guys coming?”

Royce looks to Cap who shrugs, and he cuts a grin back to us. “Nope. We’re gonna find us a cream filling.”

I laugh and Maddoc drags me away.

“We’ll drop the girls at the home,” he shouts behind us and the four of us are in the truck and headed back in the next minute.

“So are you sure you’re not mad at me anymore, Rae?” Vienna asks and I push my head against the seat.

“I’ll fuck you up if you so much as wave at him again,” I say instantly, and completely fucking serious. “But no, and only because he planned it. Still think you’re shit for suggesting it. Still don’t like it. Still wanna smack you a bit for it.”

I look to her when a tight laugh leaves her.

“But I understand it’s what he needed” —I glare— “the move not the kiss. I can be pissed about it because I say so, but I decided not to knock you out.”

Maddoc’s chest shakes with silent laughter.

Vienna blinks a second and then laughs again. “And I thought it was because I talk too much.”

“And ask too many questions,” I add.

“Yet, you had this freaking jaded ass chick with you today.”

The three of us girls laugh at that and Maddoc shakes his head.

When we pull up at the house, the girls hesitate.

I wink at Maddoc. “Go through the front door,” I tell them.

Vienna nods but Victoria gives me a mocking frown, before a grin slips and she steps out.

Once we get back to the house, we take quick showers then move for the media room.

Maddoc climbs over me on the couch and drops down, holding his weight up with his elbows. His eyes shift between mine, a rawness written in them. “I don’t like to think others knew you before me.”

“I know.” I run my hand through his wet hair.

“Was he right?” he asks, and I look away, but he forces my eyes back. His hand moves from my chin to run across my cheek. “Was he right?” His eyes tighten at the corners. “Or is this still about convenience for you and fun while you’re at it?”

I consider his words. “What does it mean, to be happy?”

“Come on, Raven. Don’t play dumb.”

Unease seeps into my chest. I don’t like to think about these things, it’s better to leave this stuff unsaid than to understand it. All that does is make the hit harder when the shoe falls. “Maddoc, I’m not normal.”

“I don’t like normal.”

“Well, I don’t know how to do this.”

“Me either.”

Damn him.

I shake my head, taking in a deep breath.

“I told you,” I whisper. “I told you not to try and keep me.”

He drops his lips to mine, and his eyes close. “Too late, baby.” He kisses me, pushing his knee between my legs. “Way too fucking late.”

I kiss him back, falling further into the cushions as his weight comes down on me. Like I told him, I’m not normal. I wouldn’t know happy if it slapped me in the face.

All I know is my chest is constantly tight when his eyes are on me, I’m on edge more than normal, and extra needy when it comes to him – it’s new and I don’t understand it. It’s also annoying.

But even so, I don’t hate it.

And I have no intentions of leaving.

“Excuse me,” the teacher snaps when I push on the door to walk out.

I look at her over my shoulder, raising a brow. “Yeah?”

“You need permission to exit this class.”

“She needs permission for nothing,” Captain says from his seat, not bothering to pull his eyes off his notebook – he’s been writing in that thing a lot lately.

The teacher looks from me to him and turns back to her lesson.

My lips press together, and I push through the door, headed for the bathroom.

As I round the corner in the hall, voices catch my attention and my steps slow.

“Stop jerking me around, asshole. I want the damn document. Now.”

I peek, finding Principal Perkins in Collins’ face.

What the hell? I can’t believe he’d show his face here!

“I told you, it’s safe,” he growls, jerking his backpack from Perkins’ hands. “It hasn’t moved from the cabin—”

“Quiet,” Perkins cuts him off, gaping at him.

The cabin?

My eyes narrow in thought.

What the boys stole...

They have what Perkins wants back!

“I want you to bring it to me. I never should have trusted you with it in the first place,” Perkins says.

Collins pushes back, inching into his face now. “Why the sudden need for it, huh?” he goads, tipping his head like he’s onto whatever Perkins is freaking out about. “You were all for me locking it away before. What, does her going back to them cause you problems?”

“It’s you and your inability to keep the trash around for longer,” Perkins snaps back instantly. “Apparently, you’re inept at charming even the lowest of low.” That’d be me. “This won’t happen the way we hoped, so I need to speed things up to protect my own.”