Page 121 of Ravage
I draw a deep breath to ready myself before we walk into the vulture’s nest. The safe house. But it’s where both Aiden and Dane circle me with words that cut and pick and tear me to shreds, so it seems fitting.
I’m dressed to the nines for war, which should be clue enough for them that I’m not here for verbal annihilation like last time.
We stopped at Kit’s apartment so I could send a message to Elias straight away as I’d promised I would if anything happened to Portia. When he didn’t answer, I’d been forced to write a quick note and shove it under his door.
“What are we waiting for?” Kell teases me with a wink and throws the door open.
It bangs against the wall, and Dane’s head pops up from his desk as he scrambles for his gun. His eyes are half-lidded like he’d been passed the fuck out.
Aiden appears down the hallway.
Naked.
And dripping wet.
“You’d both better have an explanation for what she’s doing here. I just kicked her out a few hours ago.” Aiden doesn’t even bother trying to cover himself up. He stands there without shame, his arms folded, staring us down with disapproval.
It’s an internal battle to keep my eyes above his hips. I mean, I hate his guts so it’s not like I’m doing this out of any respect or kindness. I just don’t want him to catch me and think it means something. Then I’d never hear the end of it.
Dane’s put the gun down and is rubbing at his eyes while yawning. It reminds me of a grumpy cat that’s annoyed for having his nap disturbed.
“Some of us need sleep to function,” he grumbles and then gets caught in another yawn. The usual snarky tone he’s been using around me is dull and sleepy. And almost cute.
Almost.
“She,” I start, finding a point on the wall above Aiden’s shoulder to stare at, “is here to cash in on one of the many favors you owe her.” His brows lift in surprise. “Oh, and you did not kick me out. I left because I was done with the conversation.”
He smirks at me and my arms quiver with the need to knock it off his face.
“Did you? Or was it something I said?”
“Nothing you say can make me do anything.”
Aiden looks almost smug at that, and I add sharply, “Did you plan on me slapping you, too?”
Kellan whistles and laughs. “Did she now?”
Aiden merely shrugs. “You could’ve done better.”
“Oh yeah? Come over here and I’ll make sure I do it right this time. Maybe the other side so it matches.” I step forward and start to raise my hand at my side.
Jackson steps in front of me. His blue eyes catch mine and my focus pulls completely to him. I drop my hand. “I wouldn’t normally interrupt, but you have more important things to be doing, little one.”
Portia.
I take a deep breath to settle my anger with Aiden. For now, at least.
Dane scoffs from his computer chair. “Like what?”
Well, I guess he’s awake now, because that harsh tone of voice is back.
“Get dressed,” Kellan tells Aiden. He plants his hand down on the back of the couch and then uses it to launch himself over and onto the cushions. “We’ll fill you in when I don’t have to stare at your shriveled-up cock and balls.”
My eyes inadvertently fall to fact-check what Kellan’s said. They are not shriveled. His long dick is hanging at half-mast as if we’d interrupted him while he’d been showering and he hasn’t been distracted enough to lose it completely yet.
I look back up to his face and he’s staring right at me.
Of-fucking-course he caught me.
