The Unraveling of Raven (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 1)

by Theresa Sederholt

  I put my hands on my hips. “Well, maybe you should have told me, and I would have handled it differently. When you keep me in the dark, this is what happens.”

  WE WALK BACK TO the house in silence, both of us trying to regroup, I think. “Get your stuff, Raven.” I have to calm down I don’t want to scare her and have her pull another fucking runner on me.

  “Where are we going?”

  I pull her into my arms, “I want to spend the night at The Tower. Geez, now you have me calling it that!” I chuckle lightly. “I really need to be alone with you, no interruptions, and no worries. Just you and me.”

  She pulls me close and I think she gets it, “Oh.”

  I whisper, “Yeah, oh.”

  WE HEAD TO THE Tower. Midtown traffic seems to part like the Red Sea whenever Jax is driving. Thankfully, we arrive in one piece. When he pulls out the elevator key for the penthouse, it’s just another reminder how removed we are from the outside world. Every time I walk into the penthouse, the view takes my breath away. I turn back around, Jax is right behind me. “Aren’t you worried that someone can see in here?”

  Jax graces me with that beautiful, crooked smirk. “Do you think I would ever let anyone see you? If it were up to me, I would lock you in here, forever! The windows are mirrored on the outside. We can see out, but no one can see in.” He begins caressing my arms and then he lifts both my hands to plant kisses on the inside of my wrists, and there’s that jolt—right between my legs! He starts to slowly remove my clothes and I’m left with just my bra, panties, and heels. He growls, “Undress me, sweetheart, real slowly.”

  I slowly unbutton his shirt, being real careful not to touch his chest. I know if I do, it will be game over before it even starts. I pull his shirt down and let it fall to the floor. Next, I bend down and take his shoes and socks off. Even his feet are perfect. I stare up at him. He’s so beautiful. “I still have pants on, baby.” I snap out of my trance and with shaky hands, undo his pants. He is left with his black, Calvin Klein, boxer briefs, outlining his delicious hard cock. I pull them down to expose my prize and what a wonderful prize it is. I lick the pearl of his arousal off the head. I kiss his cock. It’s hard, yet so delicately soft. I take him deep in my mouth, and he growls, “Fuuuuuuccccckkkkkk!” Up and down, then swirl around the head, and back down again. I love that I can give him so much pleasure. He lifts me up before I can finish and kisses me deeply. He slowly removes my bra and panties, but not the heels. He trails kisses down my neck, stopping at each nipple along the way, slowly nipping and sucking.

  “Oh, Jax.”

  “I know, baby, I know.”

  Kiss, nip, suck, and then lick, over and over again. He hits spots on my body I never knew were so sensitive. He finally makes his way between my legs. He does the kiss, nip, suck, and lick, but then he blows on my clit; I’m shaking and screaming. He guides me down to him and enters me very, very slowly. My legs wrap around his waist and my heels are digging into his ass cheeks. He takes both my wrists into one of his hands and holds them behind my back. He lifts one of my legs and puts it over his shoulder; oh fuck, he’s so deep! I arch my back, raising my breast up and closer to his face. I can feel the slight graze of his scruff as he leans down to suck and nibble on my nipples. “Jax, I can’t take it, it’s too intense!”

  “Hold it, baby, you know you can.” He starts to slow down, giving me time to get some sort of control.

  I need more; I want more, “Damn it, Jax, harder!”

  He pulls my leg off of his shoulder, and now both legs are wrapped around his waist, again. I dig my heels into his ass, trying to push him in harder. He looks at me with that crooked grin and twinkling blues, “You want it rough, baby?” His accent so thick now.

  “Yes!” I yell. Before I can even think, he has me flipped over.

  He growls, “Put your hands against the window and lift that beautiful arse of yours in the air now!” He positions his cock, holding onto my hips and in one swift move, he rams into me.

  “Fuuuuuuucccccckkkkkk me!” He’s giving it all to me.

  “Hard enough for you now, baby?” He backs out and rams in again, this time, smacking my ass over and over again. I’m on fire and at the same time, losing all rhyme and reason. I feel like I’m going to go right through the fucking glass! He gathers my hair into a ponytail in one hand and pulls it back, bringing me into a sitting position; my back to his front. He kisses my neck, nibbling painfully at my ear, and pounds into me, all at the same time.

  “You’re going to come, baby.” He grunts as I clench. I turn my head to find his eyes. Blue to violet and he’s done. Bam! His body is convulsing, shaking, quivering, and falling apart.

  He turns me around, lifts me up, and carries me into the bed. He takes my shoes off and covers us with the comforter. The cool sheets on my ass feel good and I drift off to sleep in his arms.

  I WAKE A FEW hours later and find that I’m alone. I hear some talking.. I put on one of Jax’s shirts and head towards the voices. It’s Max and Jax, they’re talking about me.

  “Have you told her yet . . . about Duke?”

  “No, Max, I haven’t told her that my assistant is actually her brother and that my ex seems to be working with him to sell Raven to the highest bidder,” he replies. “I also didn’t tell her that we think there is a mole at the FBI. Truthfully, I don’t know how much more she can take. I know it’s still bothering you that Jackie was supposed to be on the playground that day, not Raven, and that there were two cots in the room where they were held.”

  “Her father is a powerful man,” Max says. “I mean, let’s face it, someone who’s able to negotiate a peace treaty, is not a lightweight. However, he’s very well-liked and respected. Her brother, on the other hand, not so much. He owns a computer software company in Japan. He has had some questionable dealings. Tony is still digging. In the meantime, I am keeping a guard on her. I’ll keep you posted.”

  I hear Max leave. They don’t know I was listening, and I am in shock. Duke is my brother? Jax knew and didn’t say anything? I’m being auctioned off to the highest bidder, like some prostitute or cattle. I run back to the bedroom. If I try to leave, he will know and then what? I get back into bed just as he comes in.

  “Hey, beautiful, you’re finally awake. You okay?”

  I smile, “Yes, of course.” I need some space, but I know that’s not going to happen with this man. He is operating on the assumption that I can never be alone.

  “What would you like to do?”

  I need to distract him and I know just how to do it. “How about a nice, hot bath? Your tub is so much better than mine.”

  He leans in and kisses me. “Okay, I’ll set it up.”

  He leaves. I throw on his shirt and my yoga pants, grab my bag, phone and shoes. I make a run for the door. I grab the elevator key, jump into the elevator, and finish getting dressed on the ride down. When I jump out, the doorman stops me. “Mr. Phillips asked me to hold you here until he gets down.”

  “I believe it is still against the law to hold someone captive.” I yell in his face. I must look crazy, but I don’t care.

  He doesn’t seem to know what to say and I run out the front door. I know I will never get anywhere with a cab in midtown traffic, so I decide to run through the park. I know it’s dark, and I know it’s a stupid thing to do, but none of that matters. Right here and now, absolutely nothing matters, but getting as far away as possible. I run through the park, and when I come out the other side, I hear my name. It’s not Jax, but another voice I know.

  WHAT THE FUCK? SHE’S gone. I get down to the lobby and the fucking doorman didn’t keep her there. He said she ran into the park. It’s night time and she’s running through Central Park?

  I do what any crazy man would do—I take off running after her. I’m yelling like a nut, and it’s a wonder I don’t get arrested. Just as I get out the other side, I see the back of her, getting into a black town car. And just like that, my girl is gone.

&nb
sp; I pull out my phone and call Max. “Max, tell me you have someone on Raven?” I’m trying to breathe.

  “Jax, are you okay?”

  I’m going to lose it, “Do I fucking sound okay! Tell me you have someone on Raven?”

  He growls, “Why would I have someone on her? You fired Tank, and you said she would be locked away with you.”

  Christ. “Yeah, well, she just pulled a fucking runner again! She got picked up by a black town car.”

  “Jesus, Jax, she’s going to be the death of both of us! Where are you?”

  I look around to figure out which exit I came out. “I ran out of my building and across the park, coming out on the other side, just as she got in the car.”

  I hear keys clicking. “Hold on, let me pull camera footage from the area.” I don’t even want to know how he is able to do that.

  “I see her exiting the park and running towards the car but the person never gets out. She just gets in. I might be able to get the plate number from other cameras. I’ll put Tony on this.”

  The fear hits me. “Max, she is out there with no idea about the danger to her.”

  “Do you know why she ran? Did she say anything?”

  I start jogging back through the park. “She didn’t say anything. The only thing I can think of is, maybe she heard us talking. If that’s the case, she knows about Duke and Erica. This is so fucked up. I have to find her.” I know Max will move heaven and earth for me. I just hope it’s enough.

  “Jax, maybe it was Joseph in the car. She’s not stupid. She would never get into a car with a total stranger.”

  I know he’s right, but it’s hard not to panic. “Where’s Marco?”

  I hear Max ask Tony about Marco. “He’s still at his apartment, never left, but he did have Chinese food delivered.”

  I need my girl back now! “Have you found Erica, yet?”

  “No sign of her, and she hasn’t hooked up with Duke anymore.” This is so fucked up.

  “I’m going back to The Tower. If you find anything out, call me.” I hang up and head back into my building, hopping on the elevator. Once inside, I pour myself a rather large glass of scotch and down it in one shot. Definitely not the way scotch was intended to be enjoyed. Then I pour another and just sit on the floor in front of the window with the bottle. I can still see her handprints on the glass where only a couple of hours ago my cock was in his happy place. I down another, and I can smell her. Everything smells of her. I look down at my cock. Even he misses her. Poor, cock, you’re never going to see the light of day again. Fuck me, now I’m having conversations with my dick! Oh bloody hell, how could everything have gotten so fucked up? There is so much I need to tell her. It’s not just sex with Raven. It’s everything with her.

  MY DOORMAN INFORMS ME I have a visitor. Maxwell Fleming is on his way up. I open the door as soon as I hear the knock. “Hey, Max, what’s up?”

  He comes in slowly, watching me. “Hi, Miss Jackie, have you heard from Raven?”

  I shake my head. “Not since I saw her this morning, why?” I can tell he wants to tell me, but he is so used to not saying anything, it’s hard for him.

  “SHE WAS AT JAX’S. But she pulled a runner, and then got into a black town car” I inform her and quickly take her arm as she gets a wan look about her. “Miss Jackie, maybe we should sit down.”

  She’s shaking. “I know she was very upset about Marco and the lies. Raven bases everything on honesty. I think that is why she likes Jax and his family so much—they are brutally honest and direct.”

  I have to laugh. “Yes that they are. Sometimes it’s a problem.”

  She cocks her head. “Why is it a problem?”

  “People don’t always like with they hear,” I whisper. I can’t help but grow more concerned the worse she looks. Damn, I can’t get involved. I decide to make her some tea. That’s what Mrs. Phillips always does, and that seems to work for her. “How about I make you a hot cup of tea?” I wait for her answer but am met with tears, instead. “What? It's just tea,” I say in a panic over her reaction. Oh fuck, her lip is quivering. No, no, no. Her eyes get wide and she looks right at me, almost as if she can see through my walls. This is not good.

  “Raven is my best friend. She’s the sister I never had.” She takes the tissue, I’m offering, out of my hand. But it’s no match for her impending sobs. Oh damn it! I scoop her up and cradle her in my arms. “Please find her, I can’t lose her.”

  “Miss Jackie, what do you know about Marco?” I ask as I hold her tighter to me.

  She looks up at me, “I know I don’t like him, and Raven knows how I feel.”

  I don’t know why I feel this is important, but for some reason, I feel it is. “Why?”

  She shrugs, “I don’t trust easily, and something about him is off. I can’t explain it, but he’s the reason Raven and I don’t share a place.”

  I hold her tight because I know this next one might do her in. “Do you think he would hurt her?”

  She gasps, “When people are pushed, anyone is capable of anything. He knows I don’t like him. So when I’m at Raven’s he makes himself scarce. Do you think he is involved in any of this?”

  I wipe the tear rolling down her cheek. “Well, I know that he was able to hide the truth from her for a very long time, so that tells me, he is capable of anything. What do you know about Mick?”

  She smiles at the mention of his name; seems everyone likes this guy. “Mick is a good guy, Max. He just suffers from the horrible side effects of war. He worships Raven and would never hurt her.”

  At least there is some good news about the people around these women. “Okay, that’s what I thought, but since you’ve known him longer, I thought I’d ask.”

  The tears fall and I decide to just hold her for a while, so she can find some comfort.

  “Please find her,” she whispers.

  I

  FEEL THE SUN on my face. I try to open my eyes but it feels like they are filled with sand. I need to get a grip and try to find my girl before she gets hurt or—God forbid—killed. I pry my eyes open. Oh fuck and all that’s holy, I drank the whole fucking bottle of scotch!

  I check my phone for messages; nothing. It’s 6:30 in the fucking morning. I decide to head to the shower. I look around the bath and am reminded of my girl everywhere. I don’t know if I can ever take another shower in here again. Everywhere I look, I see myself fucking her, every way possible.

  I walk out and use the guest bathroom. I call her, but it goes right to voice mail. I decide I’m going to e-mail her. I need her. Fuck me, I’ve never bloody needed anyone! I pull out my laptop and just stare at the blank screen. I don’t know what to say or how to start. The elevator door opens and I jump up, thinking its Raven, but it’s my mum. Without saying a word to her, she knows I’m hurting bad. “I’ll make the tea, lad, and you can spill your guts.” I really want to laugh—Raven is right, all the Philips have that direct gene.

  “Oh, Mum, I really fucked up royally.”

  She puts the tea down and takes my hand, “Sit down and tell me what happened.”

  I spill my guts; my mum has a way of making people do that without even trying. “Well, son, it sounds to me that she is probably more upset that you kept the truth from her than the actual truth.”

  Now I’m confused. “Mum, why do you think that?”

  She takes a deep breath before continuing. “Because no matter what has been thrown at this girl, she still plugs along. She’s very strong, but you don’t see that. All you see is someone you need to protect. A relationship is: trust, communication, compromise, and forgiveness. It’s like a juggler, who is trying to balance all of these balls, and if he drops one it cracks form.

  “First order of business is, to find her and make sure she is safe. The second order of business is, to sit down and tell her how you feel,” she states and I jerk my head back. “Don’t look at me like I have three heads. I told you she would be my daughter-in-law. When you face the fact that
you love her, then you’ll know what you need to do next. Have you called Maxwell?”

  I nod, “Yes, Mum, he’s working on finding her, too.” Before I can even say another word, she gets up and leaves.

  Sitting here, thinking about my situation and how to handle it, I realize there’s only one thing I can do; how I can explain what’s in my heart. I always write stuff down. From when I was a kid, I found, that if I wrote it all down, then I could make some sort of order out of the chaos around me.

  Raven,

  My beautiful, violet-eyed girl. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I never set out to do that. I only wanted to protect you from more pain. I realize that I should have told you everything as I learned it, so that we could handle it together. For that, I am so very sorry. Please know that I only wanted you safe. My world has been off kilter since that wonderful morning, when you dumped your coffee on me, and it will never be the same. We can get to the other side of this, but only if we are together. Please come home to me, sweetheart. I need you.

  Your Jax xo

  I decide to text it to her and see if she answers me. Now, all I can do is wait. Something I’ve never been good at. I get dressed and decide to go see Marco. If he really cares about her, then he will be concerned that she is out there somewhere.

  “MARCO, IT’S JAX. LET me in, we need to talk.”

  After a lot of pounding, he still doesn’t answer, “Marco, I’m not going away, so open the fucking door now!”

  Finally, he opens it a crack, “Jax, I’m not alone.” Like I give a fuck.

  “Do you know where Raven is?” I ask. He seems genuinely surprised by my question. “By the look on your face, I gather she hasn’t tried to get in touch with you.”

  He shakes his head, “No, I thought she was with you. What the fuck happened?” He has the audacity to ask me. I swear I just want to punch the fucker.

  “She found out some information and she is upset. She pulled a runner through the park and then got into a black town car. I haven’t seen or heard from her since. Marco, think. Do you have any idea where she might go?”