Page 89 of Shattered By the Currents

A slow, evil smile curved his lips. “No, honey, it’syourshell company.” He stepped closer, the smile slipping. “And if you breathe a word of any of this, you’ll go away for both crimes.”

She lunged toward the door.

Her eyes shot open as she woke from the nightmare. The memory. The worst night of her life.

And Connor wasn’t in bed with her.

The creekof a floorboard had Connor shifting his gaze from the window to the stairs.

Raven came into view, tiptoeing toward the kitchen, phone in hand, casting a small amount of light around herself.

She didn’t see him. Not a surprise. He stood in the dark, watching the street outside. She’d only have spotted him if she was looking.

He watched as she grabbed a glass from the upper cabinet. His eyes narrowed on the shake of her hand.

In one fluid move, he was across the room and in the kitchen. “Raven.”

She jumped and spun, the glass dropping from her fingers and shattering on the floor.

“Shit!” He dropped to pick up the pieces of broken glass. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She knelt beside him.

“I’ve got it.”

“No, I’ll help.” She gasped and dropped the glass she’d just picked up.

He cursed again, rising and stepping over the shards to take her hand.

“It’s nothing,” she whispered. She tried to tug her arm back, but even though his grip was gentle, it was also firm, refusing to let go until he’d inspected the shallow cut.

“Wait here. I’ll get the first aid kit.”

She shook her head. “You don’t?—”

“Wait here, Raven. And do not even think about cleaning up the mess.”

A second passed, and she nodded.

He grabbed the kit from the hall. When he returned, he lifted her to the island, not missing her small gasp.

“Why are you shaking?” he asked, as he took out some antiseptic.

“Bad dream.”

He glanced at her before looking back down. “Want to talk about it?”

The silence stretched so long he thought she wouldn’t answer…until she did. “I found him.”

He paused. “Who?”

“Sampson. We lived over Xander’s garage, and I heard something. So I went downstairs. He was lying there, on the garage floor with a knife in his stomach.” She paled. “I wasn’tthinking and I pulled the knife out.” A shudder visibly shook her body. “I put my prints on the murder weapon.”

“That’s why you didn’t say anything?”

“He has so much he can use against me. A murder weapon with my prints, my signatures on his business documents. My parents are vulnerable. You.”

Anger cut through Connor’s body so sharply it was an effort not to flinch.