Page 69 of Shattered By the Currents

She ran a finger over the blood on her shirt and shoe. She’d been such a mess she’d cut herself while helping her mother serve apple pie.Thatwas how distracted she was. She couldn’t even cut pie.

She scanned the parking lot for Connor’s truck. It wasn’t there. She told herself that was good, but really, she wasn’t sure how to feel about anything anymore.

When she’d finally left the community center earlier that day, she’d spotted him parked out the front of Bloom. It had scared her. Because, while Xander was so close, she wanted Connor as far from her as possible. For his safety.

So she’d texted him. Told him she was visiting her parents, and he didn’t need to follow. He’d obviously listened. But not before texting back to tell her to stay safe. To not detour. To come straight to his house after.

The fact that he thought she was still staying in his home was wild. How was she supposed to do that without spilling her entire life story to keep them from having another explosive, heart-tearing-in-two fight?

God, her heart hurt. The ache behind her eyes had started the second Connor had stormed from the community center and had only gotten worse throughout the day.

For a moment, she just sat there. Because where was she supposed to go?

She squeezed her eyes shut, but the damn memory played in her mind again. The night that changed everything.

Dead. He was dead.

No. No, no, no, he couldn’t be. He had to be alive. She’d just spoken to him. She’d just asked him for help.

She pressed her palms to his chest, as if the action could somehow stem the flow of blood. A voice in her head whispered that he was gone, but the thought was too earth shattering to accept. She needed him to be alive. Otherwise, this was her fault. Her fault for confiding in him. Her fault for telling him her suspicions about Xander.

Raven leaned her head forward and touched it against the wheel.

Breathe, Raven. Just breathe.

But fear wrapped around her chest like a band.

She had to stay away from Connor. She had to keep him safe. Xander had come here to scare her. To remind her that everyone and everything in her life was at risk. And he’d done exactly that.

With shaking fingers, she started her engine and pulled onto the road. She didn’t go anywhere in particular. She just drove.Taking turns even though she didn’t know where they’d lead. Driving roads she’d never driven.

After what felt like hours, she pulled up in front of the Bald Eagle Motel. It was the cheapest accommodation in town. One look at the peeling paint and faded signage told her that.

She could afford a night or two. Maybe she’d spend the evening searching for longer-term accommodation. She hadn’t bothered looking since moving in with Connor.

Before she could get out of the car, her phone rang. She almost didn’t want to look at it, because she knew exactly who it would be.

She lifted her cell—and yep, there he was.

She didn’t answer. No, she was too much of a coward for that. Instead, she chose the easy option…she sent a text.

Raven: Hey, I’m staying somewhere else tonight.

She hit send, and barely a second later, her phone rang again.

She cringed. He’d be angry. But better angry than something else.

Sampson’s blood flashed in her mind.

She shook her head. No. She wasn’t focusing on that right now. She was going to walk into the shitty motel, get a room, and sleep this crappy day away.

Her phone vibrated with a text.

Connor: I need you to call me, Raven. I want you home with me, where you’ll be safe.

That was the thing though. She wasn’t safe anywhere with Xander around.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she grabbed the small pistol from the middle console and shoved it into her purse before climbing from the car. She scanned the parking lot as she walked to the front desk. Her fingers twitched to reach into her bag and pull her gun right back out again. She didn’t.