Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

52. Chapter 52

Chapter fifty-two

Raven

“ Y ou four.” Hendrix points at us in a line with his finger. “Are killing me!”

I roll my eyes as Frankie chuckles. Autumn stumbles through a half ass apology, while Presley begins drunkenly defending us. It’s a lot of chatter, but what should we say about the man currently tied to a chair in the middle of Locke’s basement?

“How can you manage to set a car on fire and kidnap a grown ass man in the matter of seconds?” He questions.

It’s a witch thing.

“Is that rhetorical or do you want specifics?” I tilt my head.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “He’s going to kill us.”

He as in Locke I presume.

“He’s on the way.” Callum’s voice comes from the doorway. “And in case you were wondering. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire on her car.”

“Bummer,” I mumble.

Callum glowers before he takes a seat on the stool by the computer monitors. He’s handsome in a broody kind of way. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile. His demeanor is never less than serious, and he’s always put together. You can tell he served. His hair is the perfect length. Not too long, not too short with a hint of grey at his temples.

“You tattled?” Frankie sneers. “Seriously?”

“Don’t fucking start, Francesca,” he grits out.

The guy in the chair groans, his head lolling back to meet the top of the chair. In the few minutes Callum and Hendrix were occupied we managed to get Chadwick knocked completely out and into the trunk of the car before they even realized we were gone.

“If I wasn’t so pissed I’d be impressed," Hendrix snaps. “What do you want me to do with him?” He looks to Autumn.

She rolls her shoulders back. “I don’t care.”

The last thirty minutes have been spent watching Autumn take back her power. No one has laid a finger on him but her. He needed to be taught a lesson, and all we did was encourage her to let it all out. All of that resentment. All the times he hit her. Shoved her. Made her feel small.

“If he’s still here when Zander gets here, it's not going to be pretty.” Hendrix gestures to the guy who moans again.

“It was just a few fingernails. Chill,” Frankie deadpans.

“I’m all about justice for women.” Presley hiccups. “But I have class at eight-thirty in the morning.”

She reaches out, wrapping both arms awkwardly around all three of our necks. “I had so much fun. I never knew kidnapping and fire could be so liberating.” She squeezes, nearly strangling me in the process.

“Go to bed, Princess,” Frankie teases.

“Thanks Presley.” Autumn smiles. “Come see those sweet babies anytime.”

Presley’s smile draws down a fraction, but she still gives a quick “thanks” before she disappears up the stairs.

The loud sound of a door slamming upstairs, accompanied by the shaking of the walls tells me he’s home. Not that I needed the theatrics to know. I could feel him. Something that has grown since the night at the gala.

“Looks like daddy’s home.” I grin.

We file up the stairs and out into the living room just as Locke storms in.

His golden eyes are alive tonight and the way his neck is thumping along with his pulse makes my mouth water.

“What part of discrete did you not understand?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” I lower myself onto the arm of the couch.

“You set her car on fire, Raven.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest.

I shrug. “She needed to know her place.”

His eyes flare, but it’s not with anger, it’s desire. Like the first night we met.

“Why is there a dude tied to a chair in the basement?” Declan asks from behind me.

“Oh um…yeah sorry. That’s Chadwick.” Autumn blushes.

“He put his hands on her." Frankie leans back against the wall. “Thought we’d teach him a lesson.”

Zander, who was in the process of pouring himself a drink by the bar, froze.

“What did you just say?”

Oh shit.

Autumn’s eyes widen. “Nothing.” She rushes to him, but his eyes are laser focused on the door leading down into the basement.

“Z, come on,” she urges.

He blinks, glancing down at her.

“Can you just take me home? Please?” She pleads softly.

I can see the war play across his face. He wants to go down there, I’m pretty sure we all do, but he just nods and presses a kiss to her forehead. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

“I’ll handle him,” Declan says as he shoves up his sleeves and retreats back down the stairs. “I need an outlet anyway.”

The room grows quiet, and even with all the commotion, Locke’s eyes never flee from mine.

“Everyone out,” he commands.

It doesn’t take two minutes for us to be completely alone, and instead of receiving a lecture on how I let my control slip, he stalks towards me and unzips his pants.