Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Jo’s assistant stepped in, tablet up. “Jo, Adrian was terminated at sixteen fifteen today, there’s no images of him leaving the building.”
A wave of unease ran through the security personnel as if they knew they’d dropped the ball.
While Jo was shooting daggers at the security’s lead officer, her voice stayed warm as she spoke to Gage.
“Saint, how long were you in the pool?”
Gage’s shoulders rose and fell. “About two hours.”
Jo turned toward the row of overwatch specialists. “Pull up footage of the pool.”
Gage’s head snapped up, jaw tight, teeth clenched.
Screens flickered, and the feed changed to the aquatics center.
No one spoke, barely breathed as they watched the video.
Gage looked as if he was in the zone. His form was perfect, every stroke clean and powerful, his back muscles rippling.
It wasn’t long before Adrian slipped in through the side door and crept around the pool deck while Gage swam his laps.
He was watching him like a starving lion stalking a gazelle.
Adrian reached inside his pants, adjusting himself, and Scar’s temper flared, but he held himself in check.
He frowned as Adrian started repositioning the lounge chairs and tables as if creating a maze. He took Gage’s things to the other side of the room, then blocked all the doors.
When Adrian stripped off his clothes, the entire room radiated with anger and disbelief.
Scar leaned forward without realizing it, his fists clenched tight as Adrian got in the water in Gage’s lane.
He could’t stop scowling as he watched Gage fight Adrian under water, then sprint for the edge. After Gage fell over a chair that hadn’t been there before, Scar thought he was going to lose his mind, the rage was burning so hot inside him.
They all watched it through to the end.
The struggle. The skull impact. The splash. Gage diving back in. Him administering CPR. Roz barreling in. The medics.
An overwatch specialist cut the footage at Jo’s command.
Scar turned slowly and glared at Meridian.
He wanted retribution. He wanted Adrian tortured to excruciating pain.
“Where is he?” he demanded. “If he isn’t dead, he sure as fuck better be in the next five minutes.”
“That’s not what we do?” Jo glared.
Scar threw his hands out, gesturing at his brothers.
“What the fuck do you mean? We’re in a room full of goddamn assassins!”
Gage leapt up. “No. Absolutely not. I’ve already handled it.”
“Fuck that!” Scar barked. “It’s not even remotely handled, until that motherfucker’s no longer breathing.”
“I said no,” Gage bit back, his voice snapping like a whip. “I don’t need my big bad fiancé to fight for me, and I damn sure can defend my own honor. As you saw on the tape, I handled it.”
“Gage.” He reached for him.
Gage’s brows drew down, his lips pressed thin. “I’m your damn partner, Scar…your equal partner…not your child.”
Gage got up and stormed out, having to use his cane in the unfamiliar room, leaving the rest of them stunned to silence.
Scar stood there, split down the middle.
He wanted to find Adrian and end him for what he’d just seen, but he also wanted his fiancé in his arms.
Gage was right. He didn’t need him to protect or defend him, and Adrian had never stood a chance because Gage was a force all by himself.
“You’d better go after him before you’re left standing alone at the altar in three days,” Roz muttered.
Meridian’s gaze cut to him, dark and serious. “Go,” he said. “I’ll handle it.”
He and Meridian held each other’s stare for a moment, the silent language of Ravens—the code of assassins—passing between them.
Scar’s place was with Gage, and Adrian’s fate now belonged to Meridian.
God rest his soul.
He turned and chased after his heart.
White Ravens
Scar
Scar opened Gage’s apartment door with deliberate slowness.
He stepped inside and called out, “Gage? It’s me.”
Silence.
His quarters was dark as always and Scar was getting used to moving around the dim outlines of Gage’s furniture.
He closed the door behind him, his stomach clenching with a mix of regret and worry.
He’d fucked up downstairs, he knew that. But after watching what really happened, fury had blinded him, and he’d acted like a Neanderthal, demanding vengeance for his lover.
But Gage wasn’t some fragile thing that belonged to him. He was his own man, a Raven, sharp as any blade, and Scar’s overprotectiveness had stripped him of that in front of everyone.
Guilt stirred in his chest, hotter than his initial anger. He hoped he hadn’t pushed too far and made Gage question their relationship days before their wedding.
He caught the white noise of running water from the bedroom.
His steps were reluctant and heavy as he crossed the bedroom and eased the bathroom door open.
The steam veiling the room was thick and warm, and filled with the scent of Gage’s powdery soap.
He stripped off his shirt, unbuckled his belt, then kicked off his boots and pants, leaving everything in a heap on the floor.