Page 90 of Shattered By the Currents

Gently, he took hold of her hand and cleaned the wound.

“He told me that if I breathed a word of anything, I’d go down with him,” she whispered.

“Ethan’s going to figure out a way to put the asshole behind bars and keep you safe.”

Real fear widened Raven’s eyes. “What if Xander finds out? I hired Tim to look into Xander’s business and he killed him!”

He met her gaze. “Trust me to look after you, Raven.”

She swallowed, her gaze skittering between his eyes.

“Ethan’s good at what he does,” Connor pushed. “He can be discreet.”

Another few seconds passed before, finally, she nodded.

He slipped a Band-Aid over her cut.

“I don’t understand why he killed Lottie,” Raven said, almost to herself. “Ithadto be him, but she had nothing to do with any of this.”

“He told me not to trust you. I assume he’s trying to paint you as the bad guy and discredit you, in case you talk. Maybe even turn me against you. He could’ve killed Lottie just to scare you.”

“It’s working. You suspected I could be involved, and I’m pretty scared.”

Rage peaked in his chest, but this time it was aimed at himself. “I’m sorry.”

“We haven’t known each other for long, and I didn’t tell you a lot about my past.” She fiddled with a loose string on her shirt.“Slowing down might be a good idea. Getting to know each other a bit better.”

“Is that what you want?”

“It’s what we need.”

“I’d do anything for you.” He inched between her thighs. “My team and I are going to make sure you and your parents are protected.”

“You can’t protect me against the law.”

“Watch me.”

She frowned, her bottom lip disappearing into her mouth. Then she leaned forward and touched her forehead to his. “I know I said I wanted slow, and I do, but…will you come up and just hold me while I fall asleep?”

“Yes.”

He took her hand and helped her off the island.

“The broken glass,” she started, as they headed toward the stairs.

“That can wait. You need sleep.”

When they reached his bedroom, he slid beneath the covers and tugged her against his chest.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“For staying by my side…even when you had every reason not to.”

21

Raven typed out an email to the local martial arts club, confirming the date for an upcoming workshop. Even though her fingers flew over the keys, her brain could barely focus.