Page 5 of Shattered By the Currents

Raven shook her head even though the woman couldn’t see her. “N-no. That’s not possible. This ismyaccount. This hasalwaysbeen my account.” It was why she was using it and not her shared accounts with Xander. She hadn’t touched any of that money.

“Actually, it’s been linked for over a year,” Ramona said.

“No. I need that money back.”

“Unfortunately, because the transfers were authorized under the account permissions, they don’t qualify as fraud. And it can’t be transferred back because the connected account currently has a balance of zero.”

Air hissed from Raven’s teeth. “I don’t think you understand. Ineedthat money.”

She’djustbeen paid. Her next check wasn’t coming in for another two weeks. She’d miss rent. She’d have no money for food or gas, only whatever change was lying around in her car.

“I’m sorry, Miss Price, but there’s nothing I can do for you.”

Her pulse sped up, thudding so hard it pounded in her ears.

“Is there anything else I can help you with today?” the lady asked.

“Yes. I need you to close the account.” She wasn’t sure if her voice crossed the line. It kind of felt like one of those moments where she was disassociating because it all felt too heavy.

The next few minutes were a blur. By the end of the call, she distinctly heard the woman say that the account was closed, but there was no relief. Because the money was still gone.

A knock sounded at the door, then Lottie poked her head in. “Dear, did you move the cleaning spray? The tables are filthy and I can’t find anything to clean them.”

On autopilot, she opened a cabinet behind her, grabbed the items, and handed them to the woman.

“Well, this spot is a lot less convenient.” Lottie grabbed the bottle and paper towels, muttering beneath her breath as she closed the door after her.

It was all gone. The money she’d saved up and run with. Every dollar to her name.

She had nothing.

Yet again, Xander had won.

Panic bubbled in her body, tightening her chest, like there was a band around her lungs.

The walls started closing in, shrinking the office.

Nothing. She hadnothing. Maybe fifty dollars in her purse. Possibly another twenty in her car. That was it.

Maybe she could ask Ferris for an advance on her pay. But he might say no. He’dprobablysay no. He didn’t owe her anything.

Sit. She needed to sit. But the room swayed and she didn’t know where the chair was.

The creak of the door opening sounded again.

“Lottie. Now isn’t the time.” She wasn’t sure how she made the words work. “I?—”

She turned toward the door. Not Lottie.

The tall figure swayed. Or maybe that was her vision.

“Raven?”

Oh no. She was a millisecond away from passing out—and Connor Blackwood was going to get a front-row seat.

2

Connor Blackwood leaned back in his seat at Bloom. The café was a coffee shop that also sold flowers at the front and had a huge book selection at the back. The books were supposedly for sale, but he’d never seen anyone buy one. Hell, some people didn’t even put them away after reading them.