Page 12 of Wraith’s Betrayal

"Can't explain over the phone. Just get here."

He hung up, leaving me staring at the phone while Raven watched with frustrated eyes.

"Let me guess," she said, sliding off the counter, adjusting her clothes. "Club emergency."

"Viper wants us both there."

"Both?" Concern replaced frustration. "Why me?"

"I don't know." But my gut said it wasn't good. Viper didn't call emergency meetings without reason, and specifically requesting Raven meant it involved her somehow.

The ride to the clubhouse felt wrong. Every instinct screamed danger, though I couldn't pinpoint why. Raven pressed against my back on the bike, but instead of the usual awareness, I felt protective urgency.

The clubhouse was quieter than usual when we arrived. Just Viper, Phoenix, and surprisingly, Tara sitting at the bar looking concerned.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Viper's expression was grim. "Someone's been asking questions about Raven around town. Where she's staying, where she works, who she's with."

My blood chilled. "Who?"

"Don't know yet. But Bea said a man came into the diner yesterday asking about 'the new girl in town staying with the biker.' Said he was an old friend from Denver."

Raven went rigid beside me. "What did he look like?"

"Clean-cut, expensive suit, drove a rental BMW," Tara said. "Bea didn't tell him anything, but he seemed to already know you were in town."

"Fuck." Raven sat heavily on a bar stool. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"You know who it is?" I asked, though I was already putting pieces together. Denver. The job she'd lost. The apartment she'd had to leave. Derek.

"Maybe." She rubbed her face. "Probably."

"Ex-boyfriend?" Viper guessed.

She nodded, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Derek Martell. He... didn't take the breakup well."

"Define 'not well,'" I said, trying to keep my voice level even as rage started building.

"He got me fired. Made sure I couldn't get another job in Denver. Kept showing up at my apartment at all hours." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I thought moving here would be enough distance."

"Why didn't you tell Blade?" Tara asked gently.

"Because my brother would have driven to Denver and killed him. Literally. And then he'd be in prison and it would be my fault."

"Why didn't you tell me?" The question came out harsher than intended.

She looked up at me then, eyes shining with unshed tears. "Because you had enough to deal with. Because I thought I could handle it. Because I'm tired of being someone's problem to solve."

"You're not a problem." I moved to her, unable to stop myself from pulling her against me, aware of everyone watching but not caring. "You're⁠—"

Her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and all color drained from her face.

"What?" I took the phone from her trembling hand.

Found you. Can't run from me, baby.

"That him?" Viper asked, reading over my shoulder.