by AliyahBurke
The person was big, but with the shadows from her room she couldn’t make out who it was. The intruder moved silently into the room, glancing around as if expecting to see the dogs, and when he didn’t he moved a little more confidently.
Closer and closer he came, his body covered completely in black with a black ski mask. As Raven lay there waiting for them to make the first move, her body told her that she knew this person.
One black clad arm reached out towards her with a cloth in it. She knew what was on it, chloroform. Not something she wanted, thanks. She reacted.
Chapter Seven
Raven was lying on her side with the blankets tucked under one arm. When the intruder reached for her she grabbed the cloth, tossing the person on the bed, where she immediately jumped upon them.
The man broke loose of her hold and placed a well-aimed kick at her midsection, sending her flying back. With a low growl, she sprung back at the man. They crashed into the bedside table, breaking it. Raven was on the bottom and took the brunt of the hit, but as she fell her legs rolled the man off her so he smashed into another piece of furniture.
Smoothly the man moved to his feet, and then she saw the blade in his hand. Raven immediately went into a fighting position, balancing the weight of her body on the balls of her feet, waiting for his move.
Lightning fast, he lunged at her, blade flashing. Raven was faster. She ducked the swing and fell to the floor, only to bring her legs around in a sweeping motion, knocking him down. The knife went flying.
“Jax, the knife.”
Raven jumped back on the man and put his leg in between hers to immobilize it at an odd angle, then rammed on it with a strong arm, using the elbow. At this angle, combined with the power of her strike, she broke his leg.
“Arrgghh. Bitch,” the man swore.
Raven moved up and got him in a headlock. Immobilized with a broken leg, the man was all hers now.
“Who the hell are you? What do you want with me?”
“Stupid nigger, I ain’t telling you nothing.”
“I don’t like that word, so if you wish to keep breathing don’t say it again.” She increased the pressure on his neck.
“Don’t matter, I failed, he will kill me anyway.”
“Who will?” she asked again as her bedroom door flew open, Hella in front followed by Talon then Brandt. They turned on the lights.
“What the hell?” Talon asked.
The man on the floor inhaled sharply as he saw the man that entered the room. “Talon?” he said as if he couldn’t believe it.
“You know him?” Raven asked. “Talon, cover him. I want to see who this is.” When he had done so, she yanked off the ski mask and both of them stared at the man in surprise.
“You?” they both said, completely astonished. Raven scrambled away from him like he would poison her if she touched him another second.
“You know him?” Brandt asked as he came up closer.
“We know him,” both answered with disgust in their voices.
“What are you doing, Buho? Why did you attack me?” Raven asked, still not sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.
“Because I was paid to do so. If you were out of the way then we could get the white boy standing behind you.” His voice was laced with contempt. “If we had been asked earlier before you came, then he would be already dead.”
“We? Who is we?” Raven asked.
“Uh-uh. I ain’t saying nothing.”
“Why? What would make you want to kill me?”
He laughed an ugly harsh laugh. “Because I hate you.”
“What did I do to you to make you hate me?”
“Joined the Raptors.”
“I was a Raptor before you were.”
“I had to try out again because of you. They wanted you before they wanted me, a man. A strong man. Instead,” he spat, “they picked a little puta like you. A woman, weak, useless.”
“Maybe I am, but this useless woman just kicked your ass. So what does that make you? Less than me. Probably why you got kicked out of the Raptors, couldn’t cut it.”
Raven stepped over to him and grabbed his arm, jerking straight up, then yanked the man to his feet, totally ignoring the hiss of pain he released.
“You won’t win, you know,” he taunted her.
“I never fail a mission,” was her response.
“Well, do all your assignments know you lie to them?” he said, looking directly at Brandt.
“Shut up, Buho.” Her words were low and harsh.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he hissed to her in a gleeful voice. Shifting his attention back to Brandt, he spoke again. “Ask her, man. Just what exactly she told you that was the truth. She is good about lying, she is. Our little Se…”
That was as far as he got before Raven clipped him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.
“What was he talking about?” Brandt asked.
“Never mind.” Raven waved off his question as she faced Talon. “This means we are up against someone that knows how we operate. An inside job? Or someone who has left the Raptors?”
“We need to wait for Morgan to get here. This just got a hell of a lot more complicated,” Talon said.
Raven nodded as Brandt asked again, “What was he talking about? Raven?”
Her patience at an end, she spun on him. “Damn it, Ice, now is not the time for this. Talon and I have work to do, so go do something and keep yourself occupied.”
“Fine.” He turned around and headed out the door, Hella at his heels. Moments later Jax followed suit.
“What the hell is going on, Talon? Why do I feel like I am in a situation that is going south fast?”
“Don’t know, darling. But I feel it too.” Their phones beeped, indicating that Morgan had arrived. Raven changed quickly and headed down the stairs beside Talon, dressed in a pair of cammies with a black tee shirt. Between them was the man that had once been referred to as Buho, after an eagle owl. He kind of dangled there with his broken leg and sore arm.
* * * *
Brandt stood in his doorway and watched as they headed downstairs together with the man between them. He couldn’t forget that man’s words. Was she lying to him? Would she lie to him?
He snuck back to her room and began to rifle through her things. All her credit cards and forms of identification read Raven Dare. Even her luggage had a “R.D.” embroidered on the outside of the bag.
Brandt opened her books and found her name up in the corner. There was a manila folder tucked under a bunch of papers. After a brief hesitation, he opened it.
It was the schematics of the house. Lists of all the people that worked for them, possible suspects and plans of action. All things he expected her to have.
Her computer beeped, announcing an incoming message. Brandt pushed it and it opened. He read:
Raven:
Be careful, it is Buho and Doc.
Watch your back.
Well he had already met Buho, who the hell was Doc? And who sent the message? Brandt left her room more confused than he had been.
* * * *
Talon, Raven, and Dylan were outside talking. The now conscious Buho was trussed up in the chopper.
“What do you think?” Dylan asked them both.
“I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“Me neither,” Raven agreed. “All I can think of is that he said ‘we,’ so there has to be another one. Maybe one of the previous guards that failed to keep an eye on Brandt?”
“No, they are all on other assignments. It couldn’t be them.” Dylan shook his head.
Raven knew where his mind had gone and filled Talon in, “The admiral has Dylan’s woman.”
“For real? That is bullshit, man. I’m sorry.”
“I will see her again,” Dylan said. “I don’t know, just keep our eyes open and remember that whoever else it is just may be able to read our signals to one another. I’ll take this one back and get what we ca
n from him. I’ll see you two tonight. Stay safe.”
In silence, they watched him board the helicopter and disappear into the morning.
“Well, little darling. Let’s get ready. How’s your wound?” Talon asked as he playfully shoved her.
“The last ride of the Raptors. Let’s do it. I’m fine. You did good sewing me up. I can handle it.” She met his gaze and they realized that this could be the end for any of them. “How about a workout first, since I still haven’t showered I could go for one.”
“Didn’t you get enough of one this morning?”
“No. I have to make sure I am ready.”
“I have never known you not to be. But I am willing. Here?”
“Why not?” She threw the first kick.
This time it was different then it had been in the gym. They were fully dressed and wore combat boots. There were also no mats to break their fall.
Talon barely missed being smashed with that first kick. The fight was on. They threw fast punches and faster kicks. Each one was going all out, neither held back.
* * * *
From his balcony Brandt saw Raven kick at Talon and smiled as his nemesis barely got out of the way in time. The next second they were sparring once again. She was so strong, so sure of herself, even after sustaining the injury that she had the previous night. What could he offer her?
He was not a warrior like her. He worked with his hands. Dangerous missions were not his thing. He didn’t seek the thrills that she did.
She was so free. He had a taste of that when he was with her, but again, what could he possibly offer to someone who’d had her life experiences?
He loved her. That much he knew and had finally accepted. Never in his wildest dreams would he have seen that happening. From the first moment he saw her in the driveway, there had been a feeling of contentment inside him that hadn’t been there before.
The fact that she didn’t swoon all over him. That his money didn’t seem to matter to her. The mere fact that her eyes sparkled with thrill and joy when she had been behind the wheel of his Porsche, driving faster and faster.
The way her whole demeanor softened as she overlooked her dogs. Or the lake. The way the moonlight made her glow and her rich brown eyes shimmer. The reality of how she didn’t pay attention to her looks. They were not her main focus.
Her job was first and foremost. He knew that. But could he live with the knowledge that every time she left she may not be coming back?
As he stood there a smile broke across his face as he watched her toss Talon over her shoulder. She made it look so easy. Talon outweighed her easily by more than a hundred pounds. She was a fighter.
Brandt watched them for an hour until they both finally fell back on the grass, laughing with exhaustion. He left and headed out to where they were and found them pretty much in the same place.
“Raven, I need a word with you. Alone,” Brandt said with a glance at Talon.
“Fine, you can talk to me on the way to my room. I stink and am in desperate need of a shower. Talon, I will see you later. Thanks for the workout.”
“Anytime, darling. Anytime.” He lay spread-eagled on the ground.
“Need some help up?” she quipped at him.
“No, and don’t be telling the others you beat me twice.”
“I won’t. Unless you deserve it.” She nudged him with her toe and then walked off with Brandt and the dogs. “Glad to see you are keeping them with you.”
“Don’t seem to have much choice. They just kind of follow me,” he said even as he stroked Hella’s head.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” They were in the back stairwell, walking side by side up the steps. All thoughts of talk fled his mind.
She was against the wall in seconds, his mouth over her own. His tongue swept inside her mouth to find hers and dance with it. He groaned with pleasure as he felt her response. She tasted so good, he couldn’t get enough of her.
A whimper escaped her and was swallowed by him. His heart pounded against his chest and he could feel her doing the same thing.
His hands moved lower over the gun in the back of her pants, down until they had the firm cheeks of her butt in their grasp. His mouth pulled back from hers to whisper, “I want to make love to you, Raven.”
“I can’t,” she said, even though her voice trembled with desire.
“You can.” He pressed her more firmly against his arousal and felt her body quiver with want.
“I have to stay focused. I have to protect you.” Her words became garbled and slurry.
“I have to have you. Raven,” he sounded like he was begging and he didn’t care, “please. I can’t go any longer without knowing all your secrets.”
She moved back from him.
“I can’t, Brandt. I can’t. You said you couldn’t accept what I could offer you. I can’t do what you want. I’m sorry.”
He scowled. “Why are you all right with a one-night stand?”
“That is all I can offer.”
“Then I’ll take it.”
“Alright. Now or after the party?”
“You make it sound like a damn business deal,” he hissed close to her ear. “I can’t do it like that.” Brandt grabbed her hand and put it over his pounding heart. “I feel something for you here. I have for the longest time now and I won’t do this as if we were purchasing a load of lumber. I have fallen in love with you, Raven Dare. I want you by my side.”
“All I can offer you is right now. Nothing else. I’m sorry.”
“Right now?”
The hand that was over his heart tightened on the shirt and tugged him closer until their mouths were a hair’s breadth away from one another.
“Now.”
“Now,” he responded as his mouth covered hers again. At the same time, he swept her up in his arms and carried her up to her room. With one kick, he shut it behind them and they were alone in the room. The dogs went out onto the balcony and lay in the sun.
Brandt lowered her feet to the floor, not taking his mouth off hers for a single second. She was the one that pulled away, and wouldn’t meet his gaze.
With one finger he brought up her chin so she looked at him. The bruise on her face was fading into nothing. “Having second thoughts, sweetling?” he asked as he prayed to the man upstairs that it wasn’t the case.
“Do you think this will work?”
“Stop thinking, Raven. Just stop thinking. Feel,” he whispered as he enclosed her back into his arms. “Feel your body next to mine. Feel how my heart pounds for your touch. Know how much I desire you.”
“Yes,” she groaned as her hands ran over him. “Yes, I feel.”
“No more thinking,” he warned.
“No more thinking.” She worked her shirt free of the waistband of her pants. Her gun fell to the floor and she kicked it away.
He tugged her shirt over her head and threw it to the side. His hands moved down her sides, memorizing the swell of her hips and the tuck of her waist. Feather light, his fingers grazed over her new wound.
Raven stood in a black bra and a pair of fatigues with her combat boots still on her feet, her body covered already in a fine sheen of perspiration.
“You are so beautiful.”
“No, I’m not. I’m plain. And sweaty and funky smelling.”
“Sweetling, there is nothing plain about you. I love everything about you. You don’t stink. All I smell is peaches.”
He stood in the sun as she removed his shirt, exposing his torso to her hungry gaze. Her eyes darkened until they appeared black as they skimmed his revealed body.
She reached out and gently traced his pectorals and his abdomen. Nails scraped lightly and made his breath come in sharper inhalations. Her head turned from side to side as she touched his upper body until he nearly lost it.
“Damn, you are a lot of man,” Raven said softly.
“Stop, Raven. I can’t take anymore.” He captured her hands and stopped their movements.
As soon as they were still, he gripped her waist and lifted her straight up in the air to deposit her on the bed.
Kneeling at her feet, he unlaced her boots. There was no noise between them except for their breathing. He removed her boots one at a time, and then her socks. He closed his eyes as she delved her hands into his hair.
Her boots and socks gone, Raven stood and urged him silently to take her place on the bed. He did and she in turn knelt in front of him. She picked up one foot and began to untie his shoe, removing it and his sock before moving on to the next one.
After she had removed them both, Brandt stood up so she was face to face with the jean-clad lower half of his body. Her gaze focused on the hard ridge in the middle of his jeans and she licked her lips.
With a single smooth motion, Brandt pulled her to her feet and back into his arms, not willing to lose her for a second.
“No thinking,” he murmured.
“Just feeling,” came her own hushed response.
Clothes gone, he groaned as she closed her hand over his cock.
His lips met hers with an intensity that hadn’t been there earlier. Whimpers came up from the depths of her throat and those noises, which he caused her to make, filled him with extreme satisfaction.
“Please,” she panted.
“Please what? We haven’t even gotten started yet.” He could feel her wet heat. His hand covered the apex of her thighs and felt the moisture that was there. Slipping one finger under the satin material, he teased her.
Chapter Eight
Her legs spread wide to accommodate him and he settled his weight there, but didn’t stop what he was doing. His finger slipped between her lips and sought entrance to her molten core.
She was so tight and wet. The velvety feel of her around his finger, holding tight not letting go, made Brandt’s body leap in response.
He captured one nipple between his lips. Her back arched as he pulled one pebbled tip into his warm mouth. Brandt’s tongue swirled all around the tip, making it harden even more.
Then he switched to the other one, his tongue leaving a wet path between the two. He lavished attention on that one as well, until she squirmed beneath him.