The Raven Four Books 1-3 - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,76

to feel completely taken care of.” He traces a line down her cheekbone with his fingertip. “Do you want that? For me to take care of you?”

She flutters her eyelashes as she places her palm against his chest. “How about you just take care of me now? I can ride to school with you guys, and you can let my cousin ride the bus.”

I love how she simply calls me cousin. If she wasn’t trying to impress Hunter right now, I’d be freak or loser or murderer.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but little raven over there has gotta ride with us.” He gives an innocent shrug. “It’s part of the rules.”

So that’s why they picked me up—because it’s a rule. Just how many rules are there? And what about this oath I’m supposed to take?

A crinkle forms between Dixie May’s brows. “What rules?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. In fact, you don’t need to worry about anything, except me taking care of you.” He gives her a toothy grin.

If yesterday had never happened, I’d just assume he was flirting with her. But his choice of words has me questioning exactly what Hunter has planned for Dixie May. Is he threatening her in a subtle way? Or is he really just planning on screwing her?

Dixie May grins. “Okay. I’ll see you at school then.”

He nods, his gaze never wavering from hers. “Absolutely.”

Hunter turns to walk away, but she grabs ahold of his arm. “Wait. Before you go, there’s something you should know.” She flicks a glance at me, a sly grin spreading across her face.

I roll my eyes, but her smirk only grows. Then she stands on her tiptoes, leans in toward Hunter’s ear, and whispers something.

I don’t have to hear the words to know what she’s saying. It’s the same thing she tells everyone when they show even a drop of interest in me.

Murderer.

Normally, this would be my cue to leave, but these guys already know about the blood staining my hands and they’re still here. I’d question why, but I think I already know the answer.

Because they may be just as crazy as me.

“Really?” Hunter says as Dixie May steps back, sneaking a grin in my direction.

I try to get the upper hand by smiling and mouthing, “your makeup case …” Then I draw my finger across my throat.

Her eyes widen as her lips part, but then her gaze skims across the guys and she collects herself, putting on her pretty, little, fake smile that I so often dream of cutting off.

“So, you should be careful around her,” she says sweetly to Hunter.

He glances at me then back at her. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll make sure to give her a thorough, thorough pat down before I get too close to her to make sure she’s not packing any weapons.” He winks at me, and I shake my head, trying really damn hard not to smile. But I’m fucking stoned, so I’m pretty sure a dopey-ass smile touches my lips.

Dixie May gives a confused, off-pitch laugh, her gaze shifting between Hunter and me. “Okay … um … good?”

With a grin, Hunter walks away from Dixie May and toward me and Jax. When he reaches me, he places his hand against the small of my back, turns me around, and urges me to get into the car. “You, little raven, get to ride in the back with me,” he says cheerfully, skimming his finger along the sliver of flesh peeking out from between the hem of my shirt and the waistband of my shorts.

Jax rests an arm on top of the opened passenger door. “No, you’re sitting up front,” he tells Hunter. “I’ll sit in the back seat with her.”

Hunter shakes his head. “I sat in the back on the drive here, so I get to continue sitting in the back if I want to.”

Jax crooks a brow at him but doesn't utter a word. However, his intense gaze seems to convey some sort of silent message. That message goes way over my head, and part of me wonders if maybe I don't even want to know it. Don't want to know anything about what goes on inside these guys' minds. Then again, it probably isn't any worse than my own disturbing thoughts.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Hunter juts his bottom lip out. “Fine. Whatever, big brother.” Then he steps back and gently nudges me toward the back seat.

I move to climb in, catching Dixie May’s gaze. If looks could