“What other difference, Daniel?” Charger’s phone rang, but he ignored it.
“The vision included you and Raven, only a fast glimpse, but it was you guys in a crowd of people.” Daniel frowned when Charger’s phone started ringing again. “Just be careful, okay? Anything changes with what I see, I will let you know right away.”
Charger had learned to listen to someone’s intuition; his own had saved his ass more than once. “And you have no clue of when, where, or the why of it?” Charger knew he didn’t, or the kid would have said so. Daniel was always clear and concise when speaking. Yet, he still had to ask.
“I wish I did.” Daniel stopped pacing. “This is what I hate about what I can do. Usually shit becomes clear when it’s too late.”
“Yeah, but warnings to keep us on guard is priceless, and I appreciate it.” Charger didn’t want Daniel to feel bad for not having any other information. He appreciated knowing something was on the horizon and to inform his people of it. In their line of work, nothing was promised—good days, bad days, or death. Nothing was ever guaranteed, other than being as prepared as they could be for what was to come, and sometimes that did them no good. “Have you talked to Raven about this?”
“Not yet. I’m meeting her in the morning for an early training session before the regular one.” Daniel headed toward the door but picked up Charger’s phone and handed it to him. “Kane isn’t going to stop calling. He’s kinda like a nagging girlfriend in that way, isn’t he?”
“You have no fucking idea.” Charger laughed, shaking his head in amazement. “Hey, thank you, Daniel.”
“Don’t thank me. Just keep aware and your head down.” Daniel walked out of the house, shutting the door behind him.
His phone rang again, making Charger grin at how right Daniel had been about Kane. “What?” Charger hissed in the phone.
“Dude, you’re late, and I’m getting ten kinds of hell because of it,” Kane growled over the line.
“Fuck.” Charger glanced at his phone. “I’ll be there in five.”
“How the hell is that possible when you live twenty minutes away?” Kane shouted, then lowered his voice considerably. “A search party is about to come looking for you, and I don’t think it’s to bring you back alive, man.”
“Tell Jake to chill the fuck out and I’ll be there.” Charger grabbed the tux off the door.
“It’s not Jake, you dumbass. It’s Tracy and the bridesmaids,” Kane whispered.
“Is that Charger?”
Charger heard Tracy’s angry voice and immediately hung up. “Shit!” Charger hopped around on one foot, trying to get his slacks on. His phone rang again, but he ignored it. Finally dressed, he double-checked himself in the long mirror by the door to make sure he looked presentable. The mirror had been placed there by Raven after Kane had run out of the house on a call without his pants on. Now they could check to make sure they were presentable before leaving the house. He grinned at the memory, grabbed his shit, and took off, not looking forward to seeing Tracy and her pissed-off bridesmaids. He seemed to have a knack for pissing women off.
Chapter 8
Nothing could have prepared Raven for what she was about to walk into. After sitting alone in her empty apartment for hours, she was ready to get out from the white walls, but walking into Tracy’s house, she rethought that real quick. Hysterical women rushed around until Chantel saw her and ran her way.
“Come on.” Chantel pulled at Raven, but she refused to budge.
“What’s going on?” Raven asked hesitantly. “Where’s Tracy.”
“Losing her shit.” Chantel again tried to pull Raven, but suspicion grew as all the women looked her way, then shifted their glances quickly in a different direction as if they knew something she didn’t. Most of the women, including Chantel, were either with a Guardian or a Guardian themselves. “Don’t make me fight you because I will, and then I will mess this dress up kicking your ass, and that will upset Tracy even more. This is supposed to be her day, and it’s gone to hell, but you can save it.”
“First of all, you kicking my ass will never happen.” Raven cocked her eyebrow at Chantel, who was a beautiful African American woman Raven had befriended instantly. She had a quick wit and a no-nonsense attitude about her. “And how in the hell can I save…?” Raven’s eyes narrowed as she started shaking her head.
“Dammit, Raven. Creed showed up for the wedding.” Chantel managed to move Raven a few steps in the direction Raven did not want to go.
“Well, I guess he would since he’s a groomsman,” Raven replied, then her eyes narrowed even further until they were slits. “But what does that have to do with me?”
“Creed and Sharon were an item, then a day before the wedding, she walks in on Creed with another woman. Jake refused to tell Creed to leave, so Sharon left.” Chantel actually got behind Raven and started to push. “Her maid of honor hit the road, and she said if Jake refused to tell Creed to leave, then she could refuse to marry him without a maid of honor.”
“Sharon and Creed were an item, like in dating exclusively? Yeah, I don’t believe that. Creed isn’t the type to tie himself to one woman, especially Sharon. Sorry, not sorry.” Raven snorted, still digging in her heels.
“Sharon was warned but still went around saying her and Creed this, her and Creed that. We all knew where it was going to end, and well, it ended a day before the wedding.” Chantel huffed, trying to get Raven to move. “See, you miss all the drama since you quit on us.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, I transferred. That’s not quite quitting.”
“To the Warriors, which means you are no longer a Guardian, but they’re cool, so all is forgiven,” Chantel admitted with more huffing.
“I’m not wearing a dress, Chantel.” Raven glanced at her friend over her shoulder.
“I swear, you’re the most hardheaded woman I’ve ever known.” Chantel gave up pushing her. She walked to stand in front of Raven with her hand on her rounded hip. “At least go in and try to talk some sense into her. She really is refusing to marry Jake. Tracy is really upset.”
“Where is she?” Raven sighed, taking off her jacket. She had found a well-fitted pantsuit fancy enough for a wedding but sensible enough that if shit hit the fan and she needed to kill someone, she could with no problems. Yeah, that was her way of thinking when dressing for anything.
“In there.” Chantel pointed toward the closed door before looking Raven up and down. “You do clean up nicely, Raven.”
“Why, thank you, Tel.” Raven used the nickname she gave her friend after their first meeting. “And may I say, you look amazingly beautiful in your lavender bridesmaid dress.”
“You may.” Chantel gave her a toothy grin as she preened. “Makes my boobs pop, doesn’t it?”
Raven’s eyes widened as she looked at her boobs. “Enough they should come with a warning sign.” Raven headed toward the closed door. “Careful not to kill someone with those bad girls.”
Raven’s grin faded as she knocked on the door, then opened it slowly to peek into the room. Tracy sat in front of a mirror staring at her mascara-smeared face. “They make waterproof mascara, you know.” Raven shut the door behind her. “But you shouldn’t need it on your wedding day.”
“Charger’s an asshole.” Tracy sniffed, patting her cheeks with a tissue.
Okay, that surprised her since she thought Creed and Sharon were the issue, but she went with it. “You think I didn’t know that?”
“He’s late.” Tracy tossed the tissue and stared at her reflection before her sad eyes went to Raven through the mirror. “Kane was here trying to smooth things over for Jake, and I heard him talking with Charger. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, Raven. Now it’s ruined. Jake’s upset with me because I told him to make Creed leave, but he refused to do that, and I don’t blame him. Now I don’t have a maid of honor because she can’t be in the same room with Creed. Charger isn’t here. It’s a mess. I’m a mess.�
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“You’re beautiful,” Raven countered as she walked over and turned her around to face her, then knelt. “What did you think would happen having Sharon as your maid of honor knowing Creed would be here for Jake and you? Creed wouldn’t have listened to Jake anyway; we both know that. He does adore you, Tracy. Creed may be a womanizer, but in truth, most of the women run to him aware of that well-known fact about him, thinking they’re going to change him. It’s going to take a special lady to change that Guardian, and I’m sorry, but Sharon wasn’t her. And it’s pretty shitty that she left you high and dry.”
“Well, my best friend left me high and dry by refusing to wear a dress,” Tracy shot back as more tears fell. “You were the one who was supposed to stand up with me. You introduced me to that sexy Guardian, so you should have been the one to see it through by standing by my side.”
To say Raven felt like a total asshole loser friend at that very moment was an understatement, but honestly, she hadn’t realized how important it truly was to her friend. With a sigh, she grabbed more Kleenex and handed it to her. “Did she leave the dress?”
Tracy’s eyes widened in surprise, but then her face fell. “Raven, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable for me, for all of a few minutes. I’m fine now that you are here. I just need to get myself together.”
Raven turned Tracy back around to face the mirror. “And that is exactly why I’m going to wear a dress for you.” Raven leaned down, putting her chin on the top of her friend’s head. “I’m sorry, Trace,” she whispered. Raven had nicknames for all her close friends, who were few and far between.
“Don’t be.” Tracy reached behind her, patting Raven’s cheek. “I forgave you when you told me no. And that’s saying something about how much I like you. I don’t forgive easily.”
Raven grinned, straightening up. “And Sharon? How long you going to make her regret walking out on your wedding day?”
“Forever.” Tracy started fixing her face but grinned at Raven’s reflection. “Honestly, I’m not too broken-hearted because now I have the person who really belongs by my side during the most important day of my life.”
“Aww, you’ve got to say that since I’m your only choice at the moment,” Raven teased, looking around and spotting a dress resting across a chair, and frowned. “Is that the snake… I mean dress?”
“Good Lord, Raven.” Tracy rolled her eyes. “Are you that against putting a dress on?”
“Yes.” Raven began to undress, dreading every second of what was to come. “I can’t fight if I need to, and well, my woman card has been revoked.”
“By who?” Tracy snorted, applying more makeup. “It sure wasn’t Charger. I’ve seen the way that man looks at you.”
This time it was Raven who snorted. “Yeah, like a thorn in his ass.” Shimmying up the dress, she squeezed her boobs into the cups and frowned. She was busting out in an indecent way. Damn, she was going to give Chantel a run for her money with the boob display. Holy crap. Turning around, she frowned. “It doesn’t fit.”
Tracy stood to see and gasped. “Raven, you look absolutely beautiful. I might even be a little jealous.”
“Bullshit.” Raven rolled her eyes, then pointed to her breasts. “I think I beat out Sharon in the boob department.” She tugged, pushed, and wiggled, but nothing seemed to help.
“No, it fits fine in all the right places. It’s made to show off all the curves, and, girl, you got some serious curves.” Tracy pulled her toward the mirror as she zipped her up in the back. “Look at how beautiful you are. I should hate you.”
“Will you stop it?” Raven griped but sucked in her breath when she saw herself in the mirror. “Whoa.”
“Whoa is right.” Tracy peeked around her. “You’re going to have men falling all over you. I’m okay with that as long as it’s not my man. Now, let’s get Chantel in here to help with your makeup and hair.”
“Your man has eyes only for you.” Raven frowned at Tracy, who had already headed for the door. “I don’t wear makeup, you know that, and what’s wrong with my hair?”
Chantel rushed in and clapped excitedly until she saw Raven’s boobs. “Damn. I don’t know how I feel about this.” She bit her lip, then thrust her chest out more before bursting out laughing.
“Shut up.” Raven frowned, trying to cover herself up, but Chantel just laughed, shaking her head. “Sit down, and let’s get you ready before Jake thinks Tracy changed her mind and ran off with another man.”
“Honey, Jake is it for me. If I don’t marry him, I’m going for the ladies.” Tracy fluffed her hair, giving herself one last look in the mirror above Raven. “And with titties like you girls have, you’re on my list.”
Raven grinned, giving her a wink. “With the shitty luck I have in the male department, I may take you up on that.”
Letting Chantel do whatever in the hell she was doing to her face and hair, Raven’s stomach rolled with nerves. She hated crowds, hated standing out in a crowd, and knowing Charger would be there, seeing her descent into feminine attire had her wanting to throw up or run, maybe both.
“Hey.” Chantel’s face appeared in her blurred vision. “You got this, girl. You’re gorgeous, and just remember what you’re doing for Tracy is worth it. Hold that head up high, Raven.”
Her eyes actually welled up a little bit, but she held back the tears. Tracy knew her best, but Chantel had that unique way of knowing shit that she shouldn’t know. She also knew that most of the women who were not Guardians hated her, and some who were Guardians didn’t think much of her either. Raven never understood why, but both Chantel and Tracy always had her back.
“Thank you,” Raven finally whispered.
Chantel gave her a nod, then moved out of her line of vision. “Never thank a friend for being a friend,” Chantel replied with a smile. “Now, look at that beauty in the mirror.”
Raven’s eyes slowly went to the mirror. Her eyes widened slightly, and then she blinked rapidly. Holy shit. Chantel had worked a miracle. Respecting who Raven truly was, Chantel lightly used mascara, a complementary shade of lipstick, and Raven’s hair was pulled back from her face to loosely hang down her back. She looked the same, yet different.
“Wow.” Raven turned her head this way and that.
“I didn’t have to do much.” Chantel grinned admiring her work. “Now, come on, let’s get Tracy down the aisle so we can get the party started. I need a damn drink.”
Raven caught the shoes Chantel threw at her, putting them on quickly. Thankfully they fit because with the slit in the long bridesmaid dress, she couldn’t go barefoot. Taking a few steps, Raven frowned. “How in the hell do you guys walk in these things?” Raven glared down at the high heels before looking longingly at her boots in the corner.
“It’s a bitch, but the men love ’em.” Chantel winked at her, then grabbed her arm, pulling her along. “Come on.”
Rushing out the door, Raven did her best not to break her neck. After climbing into the crowded limousine, she had a rough time sitting properly while trying to adjust the dress that was wrapped tightly around her legs. Hearing Tracy’s laughter had Raven glancing up. “What?”
“You really are a true friend.” Tracy’s smile brightened the limo, and the other women became quiet. “Never in a million years would I have thought you would put on a dress.”
Raven became very uncomfortable under the stares of everyone, some with smiles themselves in agreement. Others were a little more hostile, their gazes roaming over her body with fake smiles. Raising her head proudly, she looked back at Tracy. “Yes, well, just wait because there will be a day you’ll pay me back for this.”
“Oh, I’m sure I will.” Tracy laughed again, and it was good to see her more relaxed on her special day.
Raven tossed her a wink and finally got settled. The wedding and reception were to take place at a beautiful estate just outside of Cincinnati and very close to where Tracy and Jake had bought their new home. Pulling into a drive lined with bea
utiful white pines, Raven continued to stare out the window as the estate came into view. Her stomach clenched with nerves the closer they got. When the limo stopped, bile rose to her throat. Why in the hell did she agree to this? She was not a people person and definitely not maid-of-honor material. She didn’t even know what in the hell was expected of her.
The door opened, and Raven seriously considered staying in the luxury of the limo, hidden away from everyone. Instead, she remained until she was the last one. The rest of the women were laughing with excitement. The driver stuck his head into the door to stare at her.
“Ma’am?” He held his hand out. “Are you okay?”
Raven stared at his hand as if it was a weapon of mass destruction. Slowly, she reached out because she really didn’t know if she could manage to leave the limo without help in a dignified manner. “No,” she responded, then rolled her eyes at his concerned look. “Kidding.” She outright lied. She was so not okay.
Straightening to her full height, the heel on one shoe wobbled, causing her to fall into the man. He caught her, helping to get her upright. The man chuckled at her long string of curses. “I don’t know how you women walk in those things.”
“You aren’t the only one.” Raven snorted, then took a step to make sure she was good. Glancing behind her, she gave the man a grin. “I’ll make sure they give you a generous tip, and if they don’t, I’ll kill them with my shoes.”
Raven left the man laughing as she tried to catch up with the rest of the women. This was definitely going to be a night to remember and a night she was most likely going to want to forget. “Fuck my life,” she hissed, gaining a few shocked looks from some guests milling about, but she ignored them. She had bigger issues than offending people, and these fucking shoes hit the top of the list of issues she knew was in her immediate future.
Charger (The Protectors Series) Book #16 Page 6