The Raven Four Books 1-3 - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,73

boots—I collect my lighter from the dresser drawer, lock my bedroom door, open the window, and then duck my head out. I pop the end of the joint between my lips, light up, and suck in a deep inhale.

Smoke laces in front of my face as I sit down on the windowsill, holding the joint outside while staring out at the scenery. The house I now call home is located in a small neighborhood of about ten houses, each spaced apart by at least five acres, so the chances of someone spotting me are pretty low. Just below my window is an inclined roof to the porch, and just in front of that is the dirt driveway lined with trees. Right beside it is the field where my uncle had his sketchy little bonfire party-of-one last night. In fact, I can still see remnants of the ash all over the ground.

It’s driving me crazy that I don’t know what he was doing out there.

I quickly become distracted when I spot a car cruising down the driveway, leaving a trail of dust in the air. And not just any car, but the prettiest Chevelle I’ve ever seen.

My dad used to be into cars. Up until he died, he drove a 1969 GTO Judge that was this really pretty light-blue color. This car is a similar shade but has a black hood. I’m not positive about the year, but I’d guess either a ’68 or ’69.

I watch as it pulls up to the house and parks next to my uncle’s patrol vehicle. No one gets out right away, so I take another hit, waiting to see who the owner is. My bet is one of my uncle’s new police buddies. Or maybe a neighbor. But then the passenger door opens and Jax climbs out.

No effing way.

I shake my head, sure I’m hallucinating. I glance at the joint. Is this laced with something? When I look back at the driveway, though, Jax is still there, standing beside the pretty as hell car.

He’s dressed in a black shirt and matching jeans. Leather bands ornament his wrists, his facial piercing glint in the sunlight, and his inky black hair hangs in his eyes.

He doesn’t notice me as he gazes at the lower section of the house. Then he turns toward the car, makes a signal with his fingers, and Hunter climbs out of the passenger side from the back seat.

He’s wearing an all-black outfit, too, but his pants have pockets on the sides and a chain dangles from his beltloop. He’s also sporting a short-sleeved shirt and has a knitted cap on his head, strands of his blond hair dangling out from it. Even from up here, he still looks too gorgeous to be real. Maybe he’s not. Maybe none of this is. Maybe I really did die in the water yesterday and this is Hell.

Hell looks really good from up here.

I shake my head at my own stupid thoughts. Jesus, this thing must really be laced with something. That doesn’t stop me from smoking some more.

I shift my gaze across them and to the driver’s seat as I take another hit. The windows are too tinted to see inside, but I’m betting Zay is sitting there.

So they’re here, in my driveway. But why—

Dixie May lets out a squeal from downstairs.

“Oh my God, Mom! You’re never going to believe this!” She squeals again. “There are these guys that go to my school, and they’re seriously, like, the hottest guys I’ve ever seen. Everyone wants to be with them, but they, like, never pay attention to anyone, though I talked to them for a little bit yesterday morning in first period. But anyway, they’re outside in the driveway! Oh my God, I wonder if they’re here to give me a ride to school or something. That’d be amazing!”

“Oh, honey, that is amazing!” My aunt sounds just as excited.

I’d be grinning over Dixie May’s assumption that The Raven Three—Four—whatever they are, are here for her, but something she said has me frowning.

Jax, Hunter, and Zay talked to Dixie May yesterday morning? They never mentioned that.

I bring the joint to my lips to take another hit, letting the smoke hit my lungs and trying to smoke the worry out of me. What if everything that happened yesterday was some sort of elaborate prank Dixie May convinced the guys to do to me? Sure, The Raven Three don’t seem like they’d be her sheep, but I’ve thought that before