The Raven Four Books 1-3 - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,51
deal. I was just curing ’cause I left my iPod at school. And my stash of weed.”
“Weed, huh?” His brow cocks. “You a stoner?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I just do it when I want to tune out. I actually steal it from my uncle.”
Hunter’s forehead creases as we reach the end of the hallway that splits into two other hallways.
“Your uncle sells?” Hunter asks, steering me to the right.
I shrug as I peer around at the stars painted on the ceiling. “I’m not sure. All I know is that he steals some of the drugs from the raids he does and stashes them in our attic, so I occasionally sneak up there and steal a little here and there. I’m not sure what he does with the rest, but my bet is he sells it or does the drugs himself … Although, I’m not sure if he’s going to have a stash now that we live here.” I blow out a sigh. Which means I’m probably going to have to find a dealer since weed isn’t legal here yet. And even if it was, I’m not old enough to buy it. I had a fake ID once, but my uncle found it and cut it up. He also bruised the hell out of my face for it.
Back in the day, before I went to live with my aunt and uncle, I used to see dealers all the time, hanging out on street corners, in front of the school, sometimes in our living room. But I never did drugs until I moved in with my uncle, and I have no idea how to even find a dealer. Unless these guys deal. Do mobsters deal drugs?
Hunter smiles at the look on my face. “Where’s your head at, little raven? Because you look confused, like you’re thinking too hard, and it’s really adorable.”
“I’m never adorable,” I argue, but he only grins. “Whatever.” I sigh. “I was just thinking—or, well, wondering—where I’m going to get my stash if my uncle doesn’t hide drugs in our attic anymore.” I arch my brows at him and say sarcastically, “Pretty damn adorable, right?”
“Definitely.” He wiggles his hand from mine then slings his arm over my shoulders. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. Zay and I’ll take care of you.”
“Why?” I question. “Are you guys a bunch of potheads?”
He dismisses my question with a flick of his wrist. “Nah, we just like to have fun occasionally.”
“Only occasionally, huh?” I tease, looking up at him.
He gives an exaggerated nod then leans in and whispers, “If it were up to me, I’d have fun twenty-four seven, but big brother up there”—he nods at Jax—“is a total buzzkill. Seriously, he’s all about working … and blah … blah … blah …” He flaps his hand, making talking motions.
“You know I can hear you, right?” Jax calls out without looking back at us.
Hunter’s eyes go mockingly wide. “Shit, now I’m gonna be grounded.”
I giggle, the sound echoing down the hallway, again reminding me how ungodly huge this place is.
“Is this really you guys’ house?” I glance around at the cathedral-like ceiling.
“Yep.” He pulls me closer to his side. “All our names are on the deed and everything.”
I stare at him in awe. “I just … How is that possible? I mean, you’re eighteen for crying out loud. You can’t own a house yet.”
His eyes sparkle as he leans in. “Says who?”
“Says the rest of us almost eighteen-year-olds who own nothing but shoes.”
“Some own bigger stuff, like cars.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t. I don’t even know how to drive.”
He slows to a stop, his eyes widening. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
I give a shrug. “Sorry, but I’m not. It’s not that big of a deal, though. I’m only seventeen. Well, soon I’ll be eighteen, but …” I shrug again, unsure of what else to say.
He stares at me unfathomably. “Why hasn’t anyone taught you yet?”
I shift my weight, hyperaware that Zay has stopped just a ways down the hallway and is listening. “Well, I asked my aunt once, but she said she didn’t have time.” Actually, she said she didn’t want to waste her time trying to teach an idiot to drive, but I leave that part out. “And there’s nobody else to ask except Dixie May, but she’s already been in, like, five accidents already, so I didn’t think it was a good idea to learn from her. Plus, like I said, we don’t get along. At all.”