Chapter Fifteen
Ezra Holmes

“You could have at least brought your damn bike.” Raya mumbles, shaking her head. “These shoes are killing me.” She looks down at her black pair of sneakers and sneers.

“No, I didn’t bring the bike.” I say. “I would have caught your attention if I did.”

Her sneakers were so worn out, I didn’t doubt for a second that they were uncomfortable to walk in, but we were almost at the mansion so she had to stick it out for a little longer. Unless…

“Do you want me to carry you?” I ask, seeing her stop in her tracks to grab hold of her foot that was no doubt hurting from the long walk back from Geoffrey’s club.

“If I wanted you to carry me, I would have asked.” She says without looking at me. “But seeing that you offered… I would appreciate that.” She practically whispered the last part, telling me that she didn’t like to ask for help. She really is stubborn.

“A please would be appreciated.”

She glares at me sideways.

I lift my eyebrows up, waiting for her to say please.

I thought she wouldn’t cave, but then she surprised me by muttering please.

“See, was that really so bad?”

“Are you going to carry me or what?” She huffs.

I chuckle and bend down just slightly for her to jump on my back, and once she was on my back, I grabbed hold of her legs, keeping her from slipping down again. Her dark hair tickles my cheek when a gush of wind flew past us, but before her hair could tickle my cheek again, Raya grabs a handful of her hair and keeps it out of our faces with a single hand, while the other arm was wrapped around my neck.

The sun was barely on the verge of setting, and if we weren’t home when the sun disappears, Archie would most likely call in a missing person’s case for Raya.

I know he might not have verbally asked me to come and get her today, but when he gave me that look that said that I needed to go out there and protect her, he didn’t need to ask me twice, but the way he looked at me, with trust in his eyes, made my stomach harden with guilt. If he knew the real reason why I joined the gang, he would never have left me alone with her, not even for a single second.

I shake my head at myself, ignoring the guilt that started to consume me.

“Why did you want to leave the meeting room so badly?” I ask her. “Does it have something to do with Bear’s cold shoulder? And the lack of communication?”

Raya chuckles. “So you’ve noticed that, huh?”

“It’s kind of hard not to notice.”

Raya sighs and she clings onto me harder, or I might have imagined it. “Bear… Bear told me he liked me the other day.”

I was glad that she was on my back because she would have noticed how hard I had my teeth clenched together. “And? You don’t feel the same way about him?” You’re not supposed to be jealous, Ezra. I remind myself. You cannot have her.

Raya is silent for a few seconds before she let out another deep sigh. “No.” She says. “I don’t feel the same way about him. I know I’m going to sound like a real bitch for saying this, but Bear feels like a brother to me.”

I nod even though she couldn’t see it.

“I mean, I have known him for eight years. We’re a family, I have never looked at any of the boys in that way.” Raya inhales deeply before exhaling the breath again. “I only have one goal in life, and I cannot let love get in the way of that goal.”

“He cannot be angry at you for not feeling the same way, though.” I tell her. “He can’t force you to love him when you feel nothing for him in return, princess.” I didn’t feel an ounce of sympathy toward Bear, and if he’s going to make Raya’s life hell because she doesn’t feel the same way about him, he’s got another thing coming. “He cannot hate you for it.”

“Look at you giving me relationship advice.” Raya chuckles, but I could tell that it was forced. She really loved Bear, I could tell that much, but she clearly didn’t love him in that way, and that is something he needed to understand… to realize.

“He’ll get over it,” I tell her, “this is something that would pass.”

“I know,” she says, “but I can’t help but feel that I have lost my best friend.”

“He’ll come around. If Bear really loves you so much, he would understand.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

• • •

Raya and I walk into the mansion not long after our talk about Bear and his moods, but instead of us parting ways, I follow her up the set of stairs.

She eyes me warily and looks over her shoulder at me.

I was walking behind her and a cute little frown appears between her eyes when she noticed that I was actually following her and not parting ways like she thought.

“Do you expect a thank you?” She asks. “I am still pissed that you followed me.”

“I did save your life and carried you all the way home, so a thank you would be appreciated.” I tell her, pausing on the step below the one she was standing on.

Archie comes into view at the bottom of the stairs and looks up at the two of us, his brows knitted together in confusion as he held onto the steaming cup of coffee in his hands. “What’s this I’m hearing about you saving her life?”

Raya sighs loudly, looking at Archie at the bottom of the staircase.  “Nothing.” She says, shaking her head. “The newcomer is just overreacting.”

I do a double take, looking at her with a frown between my eyebrows. “Overreacting?” I scoff, turning to look at Archie too. “She nearly got her throat cut again. I am definitely not overreacting, princess.” I tell her, looking at how she rolled her eyes at me.  Overreacting my fucking ass. She was almost bloody killed.

I clench my hands into fists, remembering the same guy from the club holding a knife to her throat just an hour ago. I would’ve shot him in the back of the head, but I hadn’t. I was close, though. My finger twitched against the trigger, but I managed to lower my gun, and I shot him in the leg instead.

The next time he won’t be so lucky.

Those green eyes of hers rolls to the back of her head. “I told you that I had it under control, newcomer. I had the guy right where I wanted him.”

Archie raises his eyebrow questioningly, looking between the two of us having an argument about what happened at the club. “It doesn’t look like he was overreacting Ray.” Archie tells Raya, taking a sip of his coffee.

She groans, looking at the dark grey coffered ceiling.

“Don’t gang up on me.” She finally says, glaring at the two of us through her thick eyelashes. “I told him multiple times that I am fine.”

“You’re clearly not fine.” I tell her, turning to Archie again. “She has been having nightmares about what happened back at the club.”

Archie and Raya share a look and something tells me that I shouldn’t have brought it up. Raya clearly didn’t want to talk about it when the nightmares happened, but if she gets them from what happened back at the club, I don’t regret mentioning it to Archie.

“I’m not having nightmares about what happened at the club.” She says, her voice tight. “I told you that before.”

“Was it the same guy from last time?” Archie asks, changing the subject. “Waylon’s second in command? Well, I guess you can say that he’s the boss now, actually seeing that Waylon is dead.”

“It was the same blond haired guy that fled when we showed up.” I answer for her. “I think he wanted the crates, or the location thereof.”

Archie sets his mug down onto the railing of the staircase while still holding the handle in between his hand so that the cup doesn’t tip over and spill the coffee. “He’s not going to stop until he gets his crates.” He says, his lips set into a firm line.

“What do you suggest we do?” I ask him. “Because we can’t risk leaving Princess—” I pause, clearing my throat, “—Raya alone when they’re not dealt with.”

“Don’t talk as if I’m not here.” She says, nudging my arm to catch my attention. “And I said multiple times before that I am fine. I am fucking fine. I don’t need bodyguards or any other form of protection when going out. I’m a big girl, I can handle myself.”

I scoff. “Sure you do.”

She sticks her tongue out toward me, focusing her gaze on Archie again.

“Ray, I believe that Ezra is right. They won’t stop until they’re dealt with. So, if you go out again, take someone with you, preferably Ezra seeing that he has been there to save you before.” Archie says.

“I don’t need him to be my escort!” She raises her voice.

“This is not to be discussed any further.” Archie says. “End of discussion.”

She huffs, throwing her arms across her chest like a child throwing a tantrum.

Cute.

I’m going to get an earful from her when Archie leaves, that’s for sure.

Archie takes his mug and leaves the two of us alone on the staircase.

Here it comes.

“Wipe that grin off of your face, newcomer.” She says, her lips formed into a pout. “You just couldn’t wait to announce what happened to Archie, could you?”

“Don’t be pissed that you have to have an escort every time you go out, princess. It’s your fault that you wanted to go on an alcohol-run when your life is still in danger.” I tell her, mimicking her movements by throwing my arms across my chest too, facing her off.

“I am not angry that I have an escort. I’m angry that it has to be you.” She says, unfolding her arms so that she could hold onto the railing with her left hand. “You’re infuriating and not to mention a pain in my damn ass.”

“I am not the one with a death wish.”

“I don’t have a death wish!” She throws her hands into the air, frustratingly. “I just didn’t think that he’d be back at the club after what happened to his guys.”

“It’s still a death wish.”

“Shut up, newcomer. I am not in the damn mood to argue with you over what happened at the club anymore.”

“Fine.” I tell her. “But if you want to go on another alcohol-run, let me know so that I can have your back when you almost die again.” I smile sweetly at her.

• • •

The air in the dining room held warm odors of baked vegetables and cooked meat, but even as I savored the delicious smells of Storm’s cooked food, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the atmosphere was somewhat tense around us.

Raya was seated beside me, taking a large swig out of her glass of water. Bear was seated across from us, blowing on the hot potato he had pierced through his fork. He tastes his food and winces when the potato burned the tip of his tongue.

He lifts the glass of water up resting on the table in front of him and he accidentally locked eyes with Raya. I could have sworn that the time has stopped for her because she stopped chewing and her hand was in mid-air, too, as she waited for him to say something to her.

But he doesn’t.

Bear looks away first, the look on his face etched.

Raya clears her throat, the sound piercing throughout the silent and tense dining room. “Thank you for the lovely meal, Storm. It’s delicious.”

Storm’s head dips in a quick nod, shooting her a smile.

“Can I be excused?” Bear asks, but instead of waiting until Archie answered him, he raised himself to his feet, taking the uneaten plate of food with him as he left the dining room. His footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors as he went to his room, or even to the living room.

Storm slams his fork down onto the table, shaking his head. “I can’t deal with this tension anymore.” He says, the look on his face surly.

“Right?” Junior says, agreeing with Storm. “This is getting awkward.”

“Just give him some time.” Archie says, speaking for the first time since we sat down to eat. “Just leave him alone.”

“But none of us know why we should be giving him time.” Storm says.

“I’m afraid that is between Bear and Raya.” Archie says, holding her gaze.

She looks straight into his eyes too but a flash of anger washes over her features. “I have nothing to apologize for.” She says, her voice clipped. “He’s the one who’s being rude to me and giving me the cold shoulder.”

With that, her chair scraped against the hardwood floor as she sprung to her feet too, leaving without her plate of food unlike Bear who took his with him.

When she leaves the dining room, Archie releases a deep and heavy sigh.

Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors when she ran up the staircase and then, not long after, her bedroom door shuts loudly behind her, the sound actually vibrating throughout the entire mansion.

“Bear likes Raya.” Archie says, looking between the rest of us still seated around the dining table.

I don’t know why I suddenly felt jealous, again, but I did. I know for sure that Raya doesn’t like Bear in that way, but I’m afraid that Bear’s bad mood would cause her to change her mind about it, just to keep the peace between them.

The burning sensation inside my chest and my stomach hardening definitely told me that I was jealous again. I wasn’t even in the mood to eat anything anymore. I clench my teeth, looking at the uneaten potato lying inside my plate instead of focusing my gaze on Archie, I was too busy focusing on the half-eaten potato lying in my plate to really care about anything else.

“But enough of that.” Archie says, pulling me from my thoughts. “Eat your dinner.”