The Raven Four Books 1-3 - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,124
is more unnerving than if he was showing a trace of emotion, even if it was rage. Because, at least I could attempt to read him. But this nothingness … he’s like a book with blank pages. And maybe that’s the point. Maybe all this control and indifference is his way of concealing the truth.
The truth that he knows me.
“I’m never squirmy,” Jax states matter-of-factly.
I roll my eyes. “If that’s true, then why’re you squirming right now?”
He stares me down hard then takes a step toward me.
“Um …” Hunter pushes away from the fridge and rests his arms on the countertop of the kitchen island. “What’s going on?”
“Ask our new little pet,” Jax answers him without removing his gaze from me. “She’s been trying to push my buttons since the moment we walked into the house.”
“Hasn’t she done that from the second we met her?” Zay mumbles then takes a sip of his juice while glancing at me, probably thinking about how I took his seat and refused to move, which kind of started this whole thing.
“Perhaps,” Jax says, his gaze never wavering from me. “But it’s gotten worse over the last ten minutes, and I’m starting to wonder why.”
No one says anything else, the three of them fixing their gazes on me. I think it’s some sort of weird tactic to get me to tell them something. But what?
“Stare at me all you want,” I tell them as I wander up to the kitchen island and sit down on a barstool. “It’s not going to intimidate me. And I’m not sure why you guys haven’t caught on to that. Did the bridge incident teach you nothing?”
A beat of silence ticks by.
“She’s right.” Zay rolls the sleeves of his shirt up. “Intimidation doesn’t work with her.”
“Maybe.” Jax walks over and sits down on a barstool beside me, still staring at me.
“Keep staring all you want,” I tell him. “It still won’t work.”
“You sure about that?” he questions, continuing to stare at me.
I stare right back, daring him to keep playing whatever game this is.
He either gives up or just pushes pause on our game as he stands, shucks off his hoodie, and looks at Zay and Hunter. “Go find a room for her.”
I let a trapped breath ease from my lips. I was more nervous than I was letting on. But that’s how it needs to be until I can figure out what the hell is going on.
Hunter gives Jax a salute while Zay returns the juice to the fridge.
“What’re you going to do?” Zay asks Jax as he closes the fridge.
“I am going to make a call,” he replies evasively. Then he looks at me. “Call your aunt or uncle and let them know you’re here. Then you can go get set up in your new room.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond, heading out of the room. But before he exits, he calls over his shoulder, “And Zay? Make sure you show Raven around. Both Hunter and Raven are officially on probation from being able to be alone together until we decide otherwise.” With that, he walks out.
Hunter dramatically rolls his eyes. “Probation? Since when did he become my probation officer?”
“Do you have a probation officer?” I ask as I cross my arms on top of the counter.
He’s standing on the other side of the island but leans over it, getting closer to me. “Now, why would you think that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. It just seems like you might have one.”
He grins. “Okay, I’ll give you that. And if we were normal, we probably would. However, we’re not normal.” He winks at me then pushes away from the counter and turns toward Zay. “I’ll go figure out what room to put our little raven in.” He moves to leave the room, but not without giving me one last glance. His eyes glitter as he wets his lips, his gaze briefly falling to my mouth. Then he sinks his teeth into his bottom lip and walks out of the room.
And my lips? They burn with the memory of his kiss. But my mind? It sears with the worry that perhaps this is all some sort of twisted game, that they’ve met me before, are fully aware of it, and are up to something.
But the question is: why?
I can’t think of a damn answer, and the more I try, the quieter the room grows.
Finally, I dare a glance at Zay, who’s staring at me with a frown on