The Raven Four Books 1-3 - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,74

about people and been wrong.

I’m such an idiot.

“You want to rock, paper, scissors for it?” Hunter’s voice floats up to me from down below.

Jax and him are now standing in front of the car, facing each other, their hands stuffed inside their pockets.

Jax cocks a brow at him. “That’s your brilliant idea?”

Hunter shrugs, sitting down on the hood. “Unless you’ll just let me go. But I have a feeling you’re not gonna be down for that.”

Jax sighs then sticks out his hand. So does Hunter.

Jax starts with the, “One, two, three—”

“Hey, guys.” Dixie May steps off the porch and saunters down the walkway toward them. She has on high heels, a maroon dress, and her blonde hair is in a high, flawless ponytail, swishing as she walks.

As Jax and Hunter lower their hands to their sides and turn toward her, I look away, not wanting to see their reactions, not wanting to know the truth. Then I scrape the end of the joint against the side of the house to put it out, duck back inside, and shut the window.

Noting the time, I hide the joint back in my boot, spray some perfume on, and then head out of my room so I can go catch the bus.

And go live the pathetic life I deserve.

Twenty

Raven

A few minutes later, I make it downstairs. The house is rather quiet, so I figure my uncle must've left for work already. But as I'm passing by the kitchen, I hear him murmuring to someone.

“No, I understand,” he hisses. “I don’t think the hypnosis is working, though… No, I’ve tried that… But… Look, I told you last night that it probably wouldn’t work.”

Hypnosis? Last night?

I pause near the doorway and lean against the wall, listening.

“Yeah, I guess I can try that, but… I don’t know… Does doing drugs interfere with that sort of stuff? No, I have everything under control. That’s not going to happen… I know it’s been almost a decade, but that’s the deal we made… if we want this to work… Yeah, I know it has to work or else we’re fucked, but… Fine, send it out then and do a test,” he says then I hear footsteps heading toward me.

Shit. I rush away, hightailing it away from there. But what he said fills my thoughts. Hypnosis? Drugs? Just who the hell is my uncle trying to hypnotize?

I think about what I saw last night and frown. I've always known my uncle was a shady dude, but this is an entirely new level of sketchy. But I may be able to use it to my benefit, if I can figure out what he's up to. Maybe this could be my ticket out of this house, if it's twisted enough and something I can prove to others. Then again, if I do leave this house, I'm unsure where I'd go since I have very little money and no form of transportation.

Sighing in frustration, I hurry toward the front door. As I pass the living room, I spot my aunt sitting on the sofa with her face pressed against the window, probably spying on Dixie May and the guys, like a creeper.

Dude, no wonder her and my uncle are married. They both like spying on people.

I stop near the doorway. “So, where’s the bus stop?” I ask as I zip up my jacket.

“At the end of the driveway.” She barely glances in my direction, a wistful smile pulling at her lips. “God, to be young again and have potential lovers showing up at your door. I miss it.”

“I can’t believe you still remember what it was like with how long it’s been,” I mumble, turning to leave.

“Oh, don’t be so pissy, Ravenlee.” She smirks at me. “Just because you’re miserable, doesn’t mean you need to hate the rest of us for being happy. Then again, I guess I can’t really blame you. If I had to live your miserable existence, knowing no one will ever love you, I’d probably be miserable, too.”

The muscles in my jaw pulsate as I turn toward the front door. “Your happiness is an illusion, Auntie,” I call out as I open the door. “And one day, you’ll realize that. Although, maybe not. You’ve never been one for seeing reality, even when it slaps you across your overly-injected Botox face.”

“Why, you little shit—”

I hurry out the front door, knowing she won’t chase me and risk making a scene.

Taking a deep breath, I shove all my feelings away and start down