Page 100 of Shattered By the Currents

The ringing of Connor’s phone made Raven jump.

He put it to his ear. “Ethan.”

There was a small pause, but in that pause, she felt the muscles in his body tense.

“Both of them?” Connor asked.

Another pause.

Connor’s eyes closed in obvious frustration. “Thanks.”

When he looked at her, she almost didn’t want to ask. “More bad news?” Honestly, she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

“Ethan spoke to Ward.” A muscle in Connor’s jaw clenched. “Xander and Nathaniel have alibis.”

“What kind of alibis?”

“They were with their ‘friends.’ Three guys who apparently confirmed their attendance at a get-together.”

“What a load of bullshit. They’re lying.”

“Fortunately, I never planned to rely on Ward to solve this.”

She focused on the bandage again, her heart giving that familiar kick at her ribs. The scared kind. The kind that made her want to stand in front of this man and protect him with her life.

“Hey.”

She looked back at him.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

She wanted to.

As if he heard her thoughts, he lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to her neck, right beneath her ear. So light, it was almost a whisper. “Trust me to protect us both, Raven. Please.”

She swallowed, closing her eyes as he kissed her again, this time on her jawline.

Long seconds of silence passed before, finally, she whispered, “I trust you.”

“Good. Lift for me.”

Without questioning what he was doing, she pushed herself up.

He removed her jeans and panties, then her bra. Without taking his eyes off hers, he removed his own clothes. Then he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the shower.

Finally, she felt safe.

23

The ringing of a phone cut into Raven’s sleep, making her frown and curl away from the noise. She didn’t want to wake up. It had taken her so long to drift off, and even then, her sleep had been riddled with nightmares.

Connor’s breath rushed over her neck. “It’s early. Who would be calling you?”

She had no idea. And she had no intention of finding out until more sleep had found her.

The ringing stopped.

Her breathing started to even out again, Connor’s warmth against her back helping pull her back to sleep…only for her phone to ring again. Not only hers—Connor’s, too.