Charger (The Protectors Series) Book #16

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Not yet. And I have my ways, as you should know,” Charger replied, then glanced at Ryker, who was also staring at Raven. He knew that look and didn’t like it. Charger had seen that look in many men’s eyes when it came to Raven, and each time he wanted to kill the son of a bitch. This time he could easily and, without much regret, kill this son of a bitch. “Can you give us a minute?”

  “No.” Ryker’s eyes shifted to Charger.

  “Either you walk out voluntarily or involuntarily through the wall. Your choice.” Charger was done being cordial. If Ryker thought he had any authority over Raven, he was sadly mistaken.

  “Involuntarily would be my choice.” Ryker’s eyes narrowed as a sinister grin grew across his lips. “If you think you’re man enough, Guardian, give it a shot.”

  Just before Charger could make his move to show this motherfucker who didn’t belong here, Raven was between them with her hand on Charger’s chest. “I’ll meet you outside, Ryker.”

  Charger didn’t miss the challenge in Ryker’s eyes before his gaze moved to Raven. He gave her a nod before turning and walking out the door.

  “What in the fuck is your problem?” Raven gave him a short shove before moving to the counter separating the kitchen from the living room area. Putting on her leather jacket that lay across it, she began to store all her weapons on her body and inside the jacket, all the while glaring at him.

  “Him.” Charger watched her closely as she mechanically went through the motion of preparing for battle. It was what they did, who they were, but her eyes reflected now that it had become personal, very personal. That was always dangerous for anyone in this type of business. When revenge came into play, it could make even the best careless.

  She tilted her head at him with a frown as she used her fingers to comb out her long, wet hair. “Ryker?” she asked, then glanced at the door and shrugged. “He gave me a ride and is taking me to my car. What the hell did he do to you?”

  “Nothing. Just don’t like him,” Charger responded without apology. He stepped to the door, opened it, and saw Ryker leaning against his car. “She’s got a ride.”

  Charger closed the door without waiting for his response, then turned to see Raven staring at him. “That was rude.”

  “Don’t care.” Charger crossed his arms, staring back. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” Raven crossed her arms, looking irritated. “I’m definitely not okay with you throwing someone I invited into my place out. I’m actually pretty fucking pissed off about it.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.” Charger frowned. “I know you, Raven. And I know you’re not okay with what happened.”

  For just a second, he saw the pain flash across her face before it was gone. She covered her pain with an angry expression directed toward him. “First of all, you have no idea who I am. You may think you do, but you don’t know anything at all about me.”

  “Lie.” Charger interrupted and felt like a fucking asshole, but he needed her to expose her true feelings. For a fact, he knew that pissed wasn’t even close to what she felt as he searched her eyes. That alone had Charger on edge. Raven was the cool head among them all, until someone fucked with someone close to her. What happened tonight didn’t even come close to anything they had been faced with. Tracy was an innocent, as were many who’d died tonight, and was not a Guardian. Raven didn’t have many close friends, actually as far as he knew Tracy had been the closest female friend she had. As they stood glaring at each other, they both knew this was an attack directed at them without a care of who got hurt. Yet not one Guardian had died.

  “Did you just call me a liar?” Raven broke through his thoughts.

  “I didn’t call you a liar. What you said was a lie,” Charger countered, not caring if it made sense or not.

  “It’s the same thing.” Raven threw up her hands in exasperation.

  “Technically, it’s not.” Charger knew he was pushing her, but he needed her to react to the tragic events. The more she held her feelings inside, the more dangerous it would be for Raven because he wasn’t going to be able to be with her all the time. He needed her to be clear-headed before attempting to find who did this. “I don’t think you need to go out.”

  Charger prepared himself for what was about to happen, but he spoke the truth and needed her focus off revenge until she was able to really let the reality of what just happened sink in. Until she did that, she was a danger to herself and anyone working close to her.

  “Excuse me?” Raven even leaned toward him, as if trying to decipher what he just said. When Charger just continued to stare at her, she shook her head with a snort. “You have got to be kidding me. You seriously think you of all people can tell me what I can and cannot do? Give me a fucking break.” Walking past him in a huff, she opened the door with a hard jerk, cursed, and then slammed it.

  Charger let her pass, watching her every move. If she thought about taking off, he would catch her and bring her right back here, kicking, screaming, and fighting if necessary.

  “Great.” She pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “He couldn’t have gotten far,” she mumbled to herself angrily. Before she could dial, Charger snatched the phone from her hand. She attempted to grab it back, but Charger was quicker.

  “If he comes back, I will send him away again, quite possibly in a body bag.” Charger placed her phone on the counter, but left his hand on it. Before she could respond to that, he cut her off. “I came here not only to check on you but to take you to Daniel.”

  Raven was going for her phone but stopped mid-step, giving Charger a sideways glance. “Daniel? Why?”

  “The phone calls I was getting when we were dancing was him.” Charger frowned, then slid her phone toward her. “Before the wedding, he told me about a vision involving a crowd of people. Just flashes of chaos.” Charger decided not to say anything about the initiation and let Daniel handle that. “He also mentioned he saw a quick flash of us in this vision but didn’t know what it meant.”

  “He saw this happening?” Raven said, her eyes widening.

  Charger nodded. “Appears so.” The guilt at not answering those calls was evident in his voice. He heard it and knew Raven heard it also. “When I did answer, he was screaming for us to get out, but it was too late. I should have answered sooner.”

  Raven was quiet for so long he could see her mind swirling with what she had just learned. She finally spoke. “Charger, you didn’t know.”

  “Didn’t I?” Charger cocked his eyebrow. “He said a large crowd. We were involved. I should have put two and two together. I should have answered the fucking phone.”

  As he stood in front of her, he was realizing more and more that he could have possibly saved lives by answering that first phone call. Anger and rage at himself had him fisting his hands at his sides. He was here to make sure she dealt with what happened only to find that he needed to do the same.

  “Don’t.” Raven shook her head. “This is not your blame to take, Charger. All of us had our guards down. I could stand here and say if I hadn’t made Tracy stay on the dance floor for one more dance, she would still be alive. I’ve thought about that a thousand times already, but what ifs aren’t going to bring her back. It won’t bring any of them back.”

  Charger heard the catch in her voice, felt her pain as if it were his own. Then again, it was his own. Losing people he knew, as well as innocents, on his watch was unacceptable.

  She put her phone in her back pocket as she took a step toward him. She reached for him, and he took her in his arms. They held each other without saying anything else. Silence was the only thing that made sense. Regardless of their rocky past, they had a connection that neither of them could deny.

  Charger suddenly realized that what he’d come here to do for Raven, he also needed. With that thought, he held her tightly, thanking a God he had long ago dismissed from his life that Raven had been spared tonight, because selfishly, he knew he couldn’t live withou
t her.

  Chapter 14

  Being in Charger’s arms again felt so good, and yet it confused the hell out of her. Her emotions from losing the one best friend she had ever had in her life already pushed her to the edge of total madness. Rage, sorrow, and confusion did not mix well, at least for her.

  For just a second longer, she was going to soak in being held by the man who had held her heart for so long. What she could never forget is the many times—knowingly or unknowingly—he had crushed her heart. With that at the forefront of her mind, she pulled away from him. The regret she instantly felt almost overwhelmed her.

  “I’m sorry about Tracy, Raven.” Charger still held her arms in his large hands as he looked down at her. “We will find who did this.”

  Feeling her chin tremble, Raven forced all the emotions she felt aside, because she didn’t have time to sort them out. Nothing, not even her emotions, was as important as what now needed to be done. Clearing her throat, she nodded. “Let’s go talk to Daniel” was all she said, turning away from Charger and the comfort he seemed to be trying to provide.

  Just as she moved to head for the door, someone knocked. With a frown, she reached around, hand on her gun as she opened the door. Seeing Sloan, Duncan, Jared, Sid, and Daniel standing there surprised her. “Seriously?” She sighed as she stepped aside, allowing them to walk in. “I told no one my address, and yet, here you all are.”

  “Yeah, about that.” Jared frowned when he passed. “You never told me you were moving out of the compound. I think that’s something you should have talked to me about.”

  Shutting the door, Raven snorted. “A little late playing the dad card, Jared.” Seeing the look that passed across his face made her feel petty for responding that way, yet she couldn’t bring herself to apologize.

  “You seriously think we can’t find an address in the blink of an eye?” Sid actually sounded put out.

  “Orjyll,” Raven said, aware it was the one person who had eluded the Warriors for quite some time, and by the look on Sid’s face, she’d hit a nerve. Yeah, it was a bitch thing to say, but she was in a bitch mood and couldn’t seem to help herself.

  “Ouch,” Sid replied, then grabbed her in a hug that shocked the hell out of her. “I’m sorry about your friend.”

  Raven awkwardly hugged him back before pulling away, her throat tightened in appreciation. “Thank you.”

  Raven felt the stares on her, sure they were waiting for her to break—or wondering why she hadn’t broken already. She was a female in their eyes, prone to losing her shit. She’d heard it all her life. Being pretty much in a male-dominated profession, if you could call what they did professional, she was always looked upon as a stereotype. Raven was damn proud to be a female and wouldn’t trade her womanly parts for a dick, ever. Then again, maybe they weren’t thinking that at all, and she was just paranoid. One thing for sure was she hated feeling like she was under a microscope.

  “Daniel told us everything about his vision, him talking to you. We were actually on the way when he was trying to call you with the warning.” Duncan frowned, his eyes going back and forth between Raven and Charger.

  “Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Daniel, who had been quiet up until now, took a step forward.

  Raven heard the tremble in Daniel’s voice and could only imagine what Daniel was going through since he’d had the knowledge of what was to happen without knowing the details. But that wasn’t what struck her. Her eyes were on Charger and the guilt flashing across his face before it was gone. Before he could answer, she spoke up.

  “It wouldn’t have mattered.” She looked away from the surprised look on Charger’s face. “In that short amount of time, there would have been no way we could have gotten everyone out safely. What’s done is done.”

  “Yeah, but—” Sid started to speak.

  Raven stopped him. “I said it wouldn’t have mattered.” The words escaped on a growl; her narrowed gaze zeroed in on Sid. “I was there and heard the first call come through. He didn’t answer because we were part of the bridal party doing bridal party shit. Don’t even try to speak about something you have no knowledge of, Sinclair.”

  Sid held his hands up. “Okay, I was just saying—”

  “Don’t care what you were trying to say,” Raven replied rudely, which she often did when she was upset. Upset didn’t even come close to describing her emotions. “Do not even suggest that a telephone call would have changed the outcome of the tragedy that happened, because not one of you could say for certain if it would have or wouldn’t have. Daniel’s vision could have involved many different situations from past to present. I’m not saying it’s not important, but I am saying that if Charger had even thought that phone call was of importance, he would have answered. I have called two people in this room repeatedly who have let it go to voicemail. The only two people in this room who lost someone tonight is me and Charger. So, if we’re done with this bullshit, I need a fucking minute before we get to what is really important and find out who murdered these people.”

  Raven looked each of them in the eye before she passed them, walked into her empty bedroom, and slammed the door.

  Charger’s eyes followed Raven as she stalked out of the room. He then looked toward the men, who were also staring at the door, then all eyes were on him, while his attention traveled to Daniel. “I should have answered, and for that, I’m sorry,” Charger admitted, not having a problem acknowledging when he was wrong. “If I’d have put two and two together with tonight and what you told me, I would have done a lot of things different.”

  “Actually, I wasn’t placing blame.” Daniel frowned, finally looking away from the door. “And I’m sorry if that’s what it seemed like. The vision I had just before I called played out in completeness like a mini-series. I thought….”

  Charger frowned when Daniel seemed to have a hard time voicing what he saw. The kid even shook his head as if trying to shake the memory from his mind. “What?”

  “I saw her die,” Daniel replied, puzzled and irritated.

  “Tracy?” Charger asked, but he had a bad feeling that’s not who he meant.

  Daniel shook his head and glanced at the door Raven disappeared behind. “Raven.” Daniel frowned, his gaze going back to Charger. “My visions, once they play out, are not wrong, ever. When I first have them, they’re a mash-up of things to come. It isn’t until it’s about to happen that it unfolds. And when you didn’t answer, I thought I was too late.”

  Just hearing that Daniel’s vision ended with Raven’s death had Charger’s body tense and ready to react. “Was this attack about her?”

  Daniel shook his head again. “No. Not exactly.” He frowned, then focused on Duncan.

  “What the hell does that mean? Not exactly? It either was or it wasn’t.” Charger tried to keep his composure, but the more he heard, the more he wanted to kill something. One thing about Charger was he wanted to know details. Even when the details weren’t clear, he wanted them.

  “Do you know anyone who wouldn’t want the Guardians to merge with the Warriors?” Daniel’s frown deepened, his swirling silver eyes more intense than Charger had ever seen them.

  Charger thought for a minute. “I’m sure there are some, but enough to kill innocents? Unless it’s the bad guys who would rather have us separated, but either way most of the assholes doing bad shit don’t want us coming whether we are together or not.” Charger wasn’t seeing it. Why would that matter to anyone?

  “We’re going to run tests on the explosives,” Sloan stated with a frown. “Anything we find, we’ll let you know right away. I still have men at the site questioning witnesses. We will find out who did this, Charger.”

  “Yeah, thanks,” Charger said as they headed toward the door. “I’ve got men working on our side. Someone knows something.”

  “Tell Raven I said to take all the time she needs. I’ll keep her off the schedule until I hear from her,” Sloan added, then walked out the door. Daniel held
back, as did Jared.

  “I’ll let you know if I see anything else,” Daniel said. He started to leave but stopped. “She’s right. Even if you had answered my call, people would have died tonight. I’m just glad it wasn’t Raven.”

  Charger couldn’t agree more, and again rage swarmed his body. “Your vision… you didn’t see who did it? No clues?”

  “If I had, they’d already be dead,” Daniel vowed, his silver eyes darkening. “Sometimes I see more after the fact, but that’s something I can’t promise. Something is telling me that this is about the merges that are happening, and Raven started the trend.”

  Sticking out his hand toward Daniel, they shook. “Thanks, Daniel.” Charger went to shut the door but noticed Jared still leaning against the wall staring at him.

  “You staying?” Jared asked, his arms crossed over his chest as he studied Charger.

  “Yes.” Charger didn’t hesitate in his answer, then waited for Jared to lose his shit. An understanding passed between them with just a look.

  “Good. Took you fucking long enough.” Jared uncrossed his arms with a nod as he pushed himself off the wall. “I’m surprised she’d take your ass after you’ve acted like a dick for so many years.”

  “She hasn’t… yet,” Charger commented honestly. A frown dipped his brows low. Hell, he wasn’t even sure where his head was exactly. What he did know for sure was that Ryker, or any other man, would not have her. Not until she flat out told him to fuck off.

  Jared laughed loudly at that. “Ah, you poor bastard.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Charger rubbed his eyes, feeling an exhaustion a vampire shouldn’t feel come over his body and mind.

  “Take care of my girl, Charger.” Jared broke into his thoughts.