Page 46 of Shattered By the Currents

“My guess is Raven. I believewewere referred to as ‘fuckers running around playing heroes.’”

“Playing heroes?” Ryan scoffed. “Like the shit that’s been going on in this town is a game?”

“Yeah.” He crossed the sidewalk to his truck. “He wouldn’t tell me what his car was doing outside the community center that night.”

“You think he’d actually hurt Raven?”

“I think for her safety, it’s a good thing she’s staying with me.”

Ryan stopped beside his truck. “You need to find out what happened between Raven and her ex. Sounds like it might be connected to what’s going on now.”

Connor ran his fingers through his hair. “I know. I just…I don’t want to rush her.”

Time. That’s what he needed. To get close to her. To earn her trust.

He checked his watch. “I might grab her some lunch from The Pancake Bar and take it to the community center.”

“Do you know if shelikespancakes?”

“I’ll find out.”

Ryan chuckled. “I’ll see you later.”

Instead of jumping into his truck, Connor decided to walk. Another good thing about this town—being able to get to most places by foot.

Once there, it didn’t take Basil long to make the order. When Connor reached the community center less than fifteen minutes later, the place was quiet.

He headed toward the office. The door was open, and when he stepped inside, he found it just as empty as the rest of the building.

Was she not here?

After setting the pancakes down on the desk, he headed back into the hall. Unless she was in the bathroom, the only place he hadn’t checked was the storage room.

He crossed over to it. The door was ajar, and he was about to push inside when he heard Raven’s voice.

“Can’t you just do a welfare check on him?”

He froze. This was the second phone conversation he’d overheard today, but unlike Nathaniel’s, he felt like an ass for eavesdropping on Raven’s.

“I’m not being irrational. I’m scared that he’s—” She stopped. “I’m scared that he’s been hurt.”

He? He who?

He stepped into the room.

Raven’s eyes widened, and she quickly hung up and turned toward him. “Hey.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Of course. I was just calling my dad to check in.”

She was lying. And it hurt.

Maybe it shouldn’t. They hadn’t known each other for long. But she’d slept in his house last night, they’d kissed…and fuck if he hadn’t hoped that had earned him some honesty.

He’d been in a relationship filled with lies before. He didn’t want to do that again.

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