40

Raven pov

"Chocolate for me, and butterscotch for you." Brianna announced happily placing two cups of ice cream in front of me. Today we had decided to meet up and just hang out.

Brianna was actually a nice person to talk to, she didn't always bitch about other people nor ramble about boys everytime she saw a good looking guy. She was in other words a lot like me. She worked part time in my company and signed up in an art school for the other part of the day.

Under my company's policy I had agreed to help with her mother's hospital bills.

She moved out of her father's house and found a cheap apartment. I had insisted to find her a better place but she denied it point blank saying something along the lines of doing things herself.

"So, what say movie night you and me."she asked.

"Free food and a movie, sign me in." I agreed.

Who I their right mind would deny a greasy pizza with a movie.

"How's your art school going?" I asked casually.

"Its great actually. I managed to do some really good paintings. I will show them when you come over." She answered.

"Soo" she drawled.

"What" I asked fearing the answer, she clearly had the look now. If she had that something happened.

"Spill." I warned.

"You may or may not get a call from my art

school, reporting a minor incident of an innocent punch which may or may not have knocked a guy down."

"I'm ashamed of you." I started.

Brianna cut me off mid ramble and started "I know, your ashamed of me, and I probably shouldn't have punched him but he was so irritating and just got on my nerves."

"Wait let me get this clear you think I'm gonna scold you for punching a guy." I clarified.

"I mean yeah, mom would have maybe killed me with a preach love not violence speech." She continues.

"Brianna Caron listen here young lady, I am

ashamed because you got caught. Like have I not taught you well enough, shame on you to get caught."

Brianna looked at me horrified, once and then

burst out laughing. If she did punch a guy, it was probably his fault anyway. She's a reasonable person who keeps her nose out of others business.

"Tommorow we are going to the salon."She announced.

"Deal" I agreed gathering my coat and waving her a bye. I had to get home as soon as possible the chilly whether made my cheeks red I looked Rudolph the reindeer.

I saw a lean figure leaning towards my Porsche irritated someone was putting hands on my precious I marched forward to give him a piece of my mind.

"Did not expect to see you here Liam " I asked my voice rich with curiousty.

"There is no other place I would rather be in." He agreed.

"Surprised you don't have your son following you around like a lost puppy" I mocked.

"Don't you dare talk about my son Adam." He spat.

"Hit a nerve haven't I."

"You think you are so smart, your plan

backfired. You failed to replace me in the board. Maybe you and your son should work better to actually have a chance against me." I challenged.

"Your still the same Raven, your still stuck in the same old story. Sometimes you fail to see the big picture. Clearly I did well taking advantage of it." He said smugly.

"Pray tell me what you took advantage of." I goaded him into confessing.

"Surely you will get to know in about an hour." He replied.

"What you gonna get Adam here, who will cry and admit how wrong he was to try to double cross me." I asked.

"Don't talk about Adam." He warned his entire frame shaking.

"Do you know Ms King where your friend Dave is right now?" Liam questioned.

"He is at home, working on the designs for the project." I told him.

"I'm astonished you don't know, he is currently on the way to get his car repaired."

"So, you want to get your car repaired too." I asked sarcastically.

"Your missing the point, how do you think I

know this bit of information about Dave." He asked.

Ohh no, this is bad news. Someone was

following Dave. I had to tell him, what if someone harms him because of me. I can't live with that. I can't loose the one thing that kept my life together.

"I swear to God Liam even if something happened to Dave I will hunt you down." I warned my eyes flashing with determination.

"First save your friend. He received a particularly bad hit to his head, in about half an hour he will bleed out. Then you can say your final goodbye and then hunt me down." He said waving his hand and

got into his car.

"Where is Dave? What have you done to him you piece of shit? I asked marching towards him and demanding answers.

"If you think you are so smart, find your friend and save him. But remember I don't want you contacting any police officers, if you do, forget your chance to even see his dead body. I want you to find him, you think your great then show me, use your contacts and save your friend." Liam said and rode off in his car.

I collapsed onto the ground, my hands shaking tears streaming down my face. Dave where is he? Is he injured ? Will I be too late? What if I can't save him? My chest constricted I took in deep breadth

with my mouth.

I slapped myself awake, stopping my panic

attack. Clear your head Raven, think clearly. You have half an hour to find Dave. All is not lost. There is still a chance, even if there isn't you make a chance this is Dave. This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself.

I stood up on my shaky legs, pulling my coat tightly around me. I will find Dave.

My vision blurred, the weight of my body sagging me down. I patted my cheeks unable to look at anything properly, my tears making me partially blind. I crawled up to my car, and sat up on my knees. Panic pulled at my veins, the unknown was a pool of endless possibilities, each more terrifying than the other.

The urge to pull at the strands of my hair, an intense desire to stab something or preferibly someone was too intense. The more I tried to clear my head unwanted thoughts and memories pulled and gnawed at my head like an unwanted pest.

Raven, don't fall useless at the most important time, I scolded myself. The more you delay, more is the threat to Dave.

Dave the one person who is my rock, my

confidence, my strength, and sadly who became my weakness. Why does fate have a dirty habit of doing such nasty things. For once let me be happy. Moments like these made me terrified of happiness.

I pulled out my phone and dailed a number

with shaky hands. I tried to speak but my throat clogged my voice barley anything due to the rising panic in me.

On the third ring, I heard a small voice "Lisa did Dave tell anything about where he is going." I was surprised I could talk.

"Ms King, Dave might have gone home, he did leave early today." She whispered.

I cursed Dave, for all the days I forced him to take time for himself, he had go out on this cursed day. And that filthy peice of shit had taken advantage of that.

As much as I detested, I had only one option now. For Dave ,do this for him. The shaky promises of being best friends even after death made in the ignorant bliss of our childhood made me want to cry, to sob, but still it meant nothing because I could loose him.

All the happy memories I had with him were the most scary, because I feared it was the ending. I was scared I would loose the one link to my sanity.

That's enough Raven, there is still a fight, you will not give up. I assured myself, believe in making your own destiny. Even if fate is cruel enough to take him away from me I will fight because it's my fight and it will end only when I give up.

I called another number and waited for the

annoying voice to speak up."Ross no matter which rat hole your hiding in, I want to meet you now." I said my voice steady.

"Ahh, sweetheart did you miss me." I heard at the other end of the line.

I took a deep breath and resisted the urge to hurl something at his head. This is for Dave, suck it up.

"I want to meet you." I said.

"Don't you think we should meet somewhere more romantic for our date." I heard him say.

Date, seriously this idiot will land himself in a mortuary if he doesn't keep his big mouth shut.

"Ross, for once do something in your life and listen to me" I roared.

"Geez, grumpy pants. Fine but you are the one missing out on an awesome person." I could imagine him saying that with a pout.

"I'm in my regular place, meet you in ten minutes."

"Make that five." I said driving at top speed.

Damn the speed my friend needs me.

I sent my location to Chris hoping and praying he would understand the urgency of my situation and help me out.