The Fighter

by Elin Peer

  Desperate for answers, I decided that I had no choice but to seek her out, even if it meant walking into the lion’s den or in other words, the Gray Manor.

  I had been at the Ruler’s majestic residence before, but only at the park and in Magni’s office. Visiting Raven was risky because she might not want to see me, and I didn’t want the word of her rejection to get back to my men. That’s why I was relieved when I parked and saw Mila come walking toward me with a Great Dane on her right side, and what looked to be a golden retriever mix on her left, while a smaller dog was running toward me, yapping with aggression.

  “Loki, come here.”

  “You named your dog Loki?”

  Mila smiled at me. “Yes. Haven’t you noticed the theme of people named after Norse Gods in my family? We have Magni, Freya, and Thor, so I figured this little guy should be named Loki. He fits the role as unpredictable and opportunistic.”

  I kneeled down to let the little dog sniff my hand.

  “He talks a big game, but he would be the first to run if there was danger.”

  “And those two?” I nodded to the two bigger dogs by her side. “Would they protect you?”

  Mila nuzzled the Great Dane behind its ear. “It’s okay, you two, go say hi.” As if they understood her both dogs came over to sniff me too.

  “I would like to think that they would protect me, but hopefully we’ll never find out.” Mila tilted her head. “Do you like dogs, Leo?”

  “Yes. And cats too.”

  “That’s good. I could never marry someone who wouldn’t accept my animals.”

  “Ehm… right. No, of course not, that makes sense.” Mila’s mention of marriage threw me off because after what I’d done with Raven, the thought of marrying her best friend felt wrong. “Mila, have you seen Raven today?”

  “No. I thought she was with you.”

  “She didn’t come to work.”

  “Oh, is she sick?”

  “Apparently. I just wanted to check up on her.”

  “What a concerned boss you are.” Mila gave me a genuine smile and it hit me how different she was from Raven. Not only physically, where Mila was blond with blue eyes and long straight hair while Raven had dark skin with large curly hair. I knew they were best friends, but they couldn’t be more opposite in nature. Mila was mild and gentle and looked young and innocent with her cute dimples, while Raven was loud, tough, and looked older than she was.

  “Come on, Leo, I’ll take you to her.” Mila led the way and as we entered the Manor, she gestured to a guard that he could stay put and that I was her guest.

  “I’m sure Raven will be honored that you came to see if she was all right. I’ve told her several times that you’re not half as old and cranky as she claims.”

  “Thank you, Mila. Yeah, Raven isn’t my biggest fan, that’s for sure.”

  “Oh, it’s just because she says you locked her in the dungeon with the dust dragons. She’s not happy about that at all. That’s why she calls you her warden.”

  “Like a prison warden?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  It shouldn’t have surprised me, but I still felt a need to defend myself. “Just for the record, I did take her on an assignment this week. It was a domestic violence case. Very dangerous.”

  Mila made a sound of concern. “I heard about that, Leo. It worries me because I can’t bear the thought of losing Raven or seeing her hurt. Promise that you won’t let her do something too dangerous.”

  I huffed out. “It’s a shitty situation. She’s mad if I keep her safe, and if something happens to her, everyone else will have my ass.”

  “Yes, I see your dilemma; we all want to be supportive of her dreams but keep her from harm at the same time.”

  We had walked up the wide staircase and were now walking down a long corridor. “It’s that door on the right. The one with the purple sign. I made it for her.”

  I gave Mila my softest smile. “Thank you for taking me to her.”

  “Of course.”

  Mila was the one to knock on the door and when Raven opened it, she hugged her. “Are you okay? I heard you were sick.”

  Raven’s eyes darted between Mila and me. “Yeah, I had a headache, but I’m better now.” As expected, she didn’t look happy to see me and asked, “What are you doing here?”

  “I was worried about you. May I come in?”

  Raven stiffened. “No, I didn’t clean my room.”

  “That’s okay, my place isn’t the tidiest either. I wanted to talk to you about some… ehh… stuff.” I gave a sideways glance at Mila. “Something related to work.”

  Mila picked up on my attempt to talk to Raven alone and with a small smile, she leaned in to place a kiss on Raven’s cheek. “I’d better leave you two professionals to your boring work talk then. See you later.”

  As Mila walked away, Raven refused to look at me and kept her eyes locked on Mila and the three dogs.

  I spoke in a low, urgent tone: “Raven, we need to talk.”

  “Fine. But we’ll talk out here. I’m not letting you into my room.”

  The hallway was empty, so I agreed, “Have it your way. You know why I’m here.”

  When she didn’t answer, I continued, “You ran out without giving me a chance to understand what I did wrong.”

  Planting a hand on her hip, Raven gave me a pointed look. “You’re a misogynist; I told you.”

  I held up both hands. “I’m sorry if you were offended by my sexual fantasies about you. You know that I don’t have much experience with women and maybe I fucked up, but your reaction wasn’t helpful. If you had stayed, we could have…”

  Raven narrowed her eyes and cut me off. “Helpful? Oh, you mean I should have stayed and stuck out my tongue for you to cum on like a good girl.”

  Damn, it was hot in this hallway. I pulled at the neckline of my sweater. “Raven, that’s not what I meant.” My voice lowered and became more intense. “I’ve hardly slept or eaten these past days. Have you told anyone?”

  “Not yet.”

  I had been a runner my whole life, but never had my heart beat faster. “Are you planning to tell anyone?”

  Raven raised her chin. “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On how well you apologize.”

  “I already said that I’m sorry.”

  “Yes, but we both know that the only thing you’re sorry about is getting yourself trapped in this situation. Your biggest regret is that I now hold the power.” Like a goddamn standoff between two alpha wolves, Raven raised her chin and gave me a challenging stare. “The question is, what will you do to make me forgive you?”

  I lowered my head, keeping my temper in check. “What do you want?”

  Raven looked thoughtful as she began circling me. I turned with her, never allowing her to get behind me. Facing my shoulder, she rose up on her toes and throwing off confidence she whispered in my ear. “Action. I want to see action. No more hiding me away in the basement.”

  I closed my eyes, knowing that I would be doomed if she told on me and doomed if something happened to her. There was no way I could win this one. “Maybe we can find some assignments for you other than filing. I could have you look into minor violations.”

  “Now you’re onto something.”

  My voice was low and annoyed. “And in return you promise that you won’t tell what happened?”

  Her finger trailed down my shoulder. “How about weekly sparring, just you and me. You’re the best fighter at the station and I want you to teach me.”

  My answer came without hesitation. “Not if you do that porn shit again.”

  Raven pulled back and crossed her arms. “Says the man who wanted to shut my mouth with his penis.”

  “That was different. We were…” I trailed off, not sure how to categorize what we had been doing.

  “From now on, all I want from you is better police assignments and fight training.”

  I crossed my arms as well. “A
nd what about the things that happened between us?”

  Raven tilted her head and lowered her brow. “What things? As long as you honor your part, I have no clue what you’re referring to.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “Then my memory might come back.”

  “That’s blackmail.”

  “Is it?” She leaned her head back and let her hands run through her hair, forming it into a ponytail. “Or is it just my way of taking what none of you men want to give me voluntarily? I can see how your life would be so much easier if I just bowed down to your superiority. Wouldn’t it, Leo?”

  “Do you have to be such a brat right now? I was protecting you.”

  Raven’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “And you’ll continue to protect me by teaching me everything you know.”

  I growled low. “Don’t fucking push me, Raven. I’m not your little servant and don’t forget I have surveillance at my house. If you accuse me of rape, there will be video evidence to show that you broke into my house. It’s not like I kidnapped you and tied you down.”

  “Hmm.” Raven shook her head. “Enough with all your sexual fantasies, Leo.”

  I snorted. “Kidnapping you is not my fantasy, but tying you down might make my top three if you keep blackmailing me.”

  “I’m simply stating what I want from you.”

  “Action and fight training.”

  “Yes.” She looked into my eyes. “Action and fight training.”

  There was something about this woman that spoke to a primeval part of me. “And what about the kind of action we had in my house? Do you want that too?”

  Raven turned her face away. “It was nice until you opened your mouth.”

  My sharp reply came fast. “Funny, ’cause I remember you liking my mouth.”

  She raised an eyebrow and let her eyes fall to my lips. “As long as you use it for oral, sure.”

  “Fuck you! How is what you just said any better than what I said that night? You’re such a hypocrite.”

  Raven blinked her eyes. “I didn’t say oral is the only thing you’re good for. I’ve told you I want to learn from you as well.”

  I scoffed. “You’re standing here, treating me like I’m some kind of private tool for you to use and blackmail. Fuck that!”

  Raven pushed her chest out and tensed her jaw. “Do you want to tell Magni what you did to me? I could get you in serious trouble.”

  I stepped forward, my chest almost touching hers. “Or you could admit that what we did was consensual and fucking amazing.”

  Raven’s eyes were dilated and her chest was rising and falling. “Maybe for you.”

  Our eyes were clashing like the two strong fighters that we were. “Admit it. I made you come and you loved it.”

  “Fine. But I didn’t like how it ended.”

  Taking a huge chance, I lifted my hand and cupped her face. “But you liked how it started, didn’t you?”

  Her breathing was fast and shallow.

  “And you liked everything in between, didn’t you?”

  She didn’t deny it and that was all I needed to kiss her, but Raven was quick to place her hand in front of my lips.

  “Don’t, Leo.”

  “Why not? You just admitted that you liked it.”

  Stepping back, Raven pressed herself against her door, her large mane covering the purple nameplate that Mila had made for her. “I was just curious, but we can’t do it again. You Nmen get funny with women and I’m not letting you claim me.”

  “Funny how?”

  “If we have sex, you’ll think I belong to you. I’m not like Gennie so I won’t lead you on. But I’m not interested in marriage. At least not with someone like you.”

  “Someone like me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “For one, you’re planning to fight for Mila. The man I marry will want only me.”

  That felt like a slap in my face. “I’m not fighting for Mila!” When I said it, I knew it was the right decision because marrying Mila would mean seeing Raven all the time, and there was no way I could deny how attracted I was to this feisty woman.

  Raven hesitated. “Do you love Mila?”

  “No. I mean, Mila is lovely, but I don’t know her that well.”

  “And me? You know me pretty well.”

  I gaped at her. “Are you asking me if I love you?”

  She shrugged and looked away.

  “Why?” I’d never met a person who sent so many mixed signals. “Why would you ask me that question if you don’t want someone like me anyway?”

  Raven averted my direct stare. “Just curious.”

  “Yeah? Well, me too.” I held my head high and kept my eyes on her. “I’m curious to see what you have in your room and why you’re not letting me in.”

  That made Raven spread her arms a little like she was blocking the door. “It’s nothing, Leo.”

  “I don’t believe you. What do you have in your room that you don’t want me to see?”

  “A bed! I have a bed in my room and last time you and I were alone in a bedroom, it didn’t end so well, remember?”

  I was trying to read her and figure out if that was all or there was more. “Then tell me this: if I go into your room, I won’t find more research on the Dina case, will I?”

  Raven met my stare head-on. “You told me to leave that case alone and you’re not coming into my room.”

  I lowered my voice. “I’m getting a funny vibe from you. Please tell me you understand how imperative it is to keep the paternity issue a secret?”

  Raven moved closer and it surprised me a little when her voice was low and almost seductive. “The reason I’m not letting you into my room is because there’s a bed in there. If you give me the action and fight training that I want, I won’t tell about what happened between us, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t remember what your tongue felt like. It’s better if you walk away now before one of us makes a stupid move.”

  I swallowed hard, my pants tightening and my fingers itching to reach out and touch her. “Would it be so bad?”

  “Show me that you aren’t a misogynist. Show me that you’ll respect my skills and give me an equal chance to prove myself, and then maybe…” Raven’s eyes softened.

  Like a fucking puppet, I stood there with her dangling the highest prize a man could get in front of me.

  “Action and fight training,” I muttered like I was in a bloody trance.

  “That’s right. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  After Raven disappeared back into her room, I walked away with a head full of what-if scenarios. What if she feels the way I feel? What if she’s fantasizing about what would have happened if she hadn’t left? What if a few more exciting assignments could get her to want me enough to marry me? My head was exploding with possibilities and when for a split second the thought of missing out on the million dollars in Mila’s tournament entered my mind, I turned around and looked back at the door with the purple sign. The strong urge to go back and claim Raven right now made me sure that no amount of money would ever beat that. Raven was the biggest oxymoron personified, with her badass fighter skills and hardcore attitude on one side, and her flirtatious seductive sweet humor on the other side. How could she try to blackmail me for what happened between us one second, only to give me the impression that we weren’t done in the next?

  I smiled as I walked away, promising myself that Raven and I weren’t done by a long shot.

  CHAPTER 15

  Overview

  Raven

  My hands were shaking when I retreated to my room after my confrontation with Leo.

  The fact that he’d shown up here and been mere feet away from all the research that was spread out in my room had made me jumpy.

  I couldn’t afford to have any strikes on my record, and if Leo found out that I wasn’t following his orders to stay away from Dina’s case, he would surely report it as a lack of ability to follow orders.

 
My only choice to cover my tracks had been to come out more aggressive than he expected. My blackmailing hadn’t been planned, especially the part about wanting weekly fight training with Leo. I had plenty of big guys who were more than willing to spar with me down at the station. Sure, Leo was the best, but after what happened between us and his stupid misogynistic comments, did I really want to be physical with him again?

  Looking down at my shaking hands, I knew the answer to that question. I had felt drawn to touch him a few minutes ago and it made me mad at myself.

  From now on, I will keep my distance.

  In an attempt to distract myself, I took another look at my research that I’d organized this morning. The growing numbers of suspects, the open questions, and the blind alleys of dead people who couldn’t give me answers made it a huge puzzle with no solid leads. What I wouldn’t give to talk to Dina, her husband, or even her father, Marcus Aurelius. If my hunch was right, I had a case of a double murder on my hands. I just wished that I knew if the murderer who killed Dina was the same who killed her husband Henry.

  Around an hour after Leo had left, Mila called to invite me to a late lunch with her and Willow. Since I was hungry and needed a break anyway, I was quick to accept and go with them.

  “Let’s take that table in the corner.” Willow pointed to a wooden booth, but I shook my head.

  “No, if something happens, we don’t want to be cornered. It’s better if we sit closer to the door.”

  “Nothing is going to happen. There’s three of us and the two guards are right outside.” Willow scanned the room. “There’s hardly any people here anyway.”

  Walking to the table that I wanted, I pulled out a chair. “That can change, and we all know that I’ll be the one to defend you two if something happens, so I say we sit at this table.”

  “All right.” Willow sat down next to me. “You’re almost worse than Solo, you know that?”

  “He’s a smart guy and he understands security. I’ve learned a thing or two at the police academy and one thing is to always have an escape route.”