Page 22 of Wraith’s Betrayal

She laughed, the sound bright in the growing tension. "I love you. Whatever happens, remember that."

"I love you too."

The bikes shut off. Boots on stairs. The door—which Derek had left unlocked in his scramble to escape—burst open.

Blade stood there, taking in the scene. His sister in my shirt, my tags visible around her neck. Me shirtless and bruised. The knife Derek had dropped still on the living room floor. My knuckles split and bloody.

The math was easy, even without the bedroom door standing open behind us, sheets twisted and telling their own story.

"No," he said, voice deadly quiet.

"Yes," Raven replied, stepping forward. "And before you lose your mind, remember that Wraith just protected me from Derek. Again. Remember that he's kept me safe for three weeks when you asked him to. Remember that⁠—"

"You fucked my sister." Blade's focus never left me, fury building in every word.

"I love your sister."

"I'm going to kill you."

"No, you're not." Raven moved between us, small but fierce. "You're going to accept this, or you're going to lose us both. Your choice."

Behind Blade, Phoenix and Tank appeared, looking guilty. They'd been pulled away from their posts, played by Derek's distraction. Viper shouldered through, taking in the scene with those eyes that missed nothing.

"Church," he said simply. "Tomorrow. We settle this properly."

"Viper—" Blade started.

"Tomorrow. Tonight, everyone goes home. Cools off. Thinks about what really matters." His gaze moved between us. "Family. Brotherhood. Love. They don't have to be mutually exclusive."

"The code⁠—"

"The code says we protect our own. Wraith protected Raven. That's what matters tonight." Viper's tone brooked no argument. "Tomorrow we figure out the rest."

Blade stood there for a long moment, jaw working, hands clenched. Finally, he turned and left without another word. Phoenix and Tank followed, Phoenix throwing us an apologetic look.

Viper lingered. "You sure about this?" he asked me.

"Never been more sure."

He looked at Raven. "This life isn't easy. Being an old lady means accepting the danger, the judgment, all of it."

"I know what I'm choosing." She moved back against me, my arm automatically going around her. "Who I'm choosing."

Viper nodded. "Then we'll see you both at church tomorrow. Be ready for anything."

He left, pulling the door closed behind him.

We stood there in the aftermath, processing what had just happened.

"That went better than expected," Raven said finally.

"Your brother didn't actually try to kill me. So yeah, better than expected."

She turned in my arms, hands splaying across my chest. "Thank you. For protecting me. For choosing me. For being willing to lose everything for this."

"You're not something I'm losing everything for." I cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheekbones. "You're everything I'm gaining."

She kissed me then, soft and deep and full of promise.