Cameron I stepped inside my place, closed the front door behind me, leaned back against it and closed my eyes. I needed a minute to get my shit together. Kara had texted me earlier asking if Dylan could drive my truck. I wanted to tell her to stay put at her dad's place, but I knew there was no stopping her once she made up her mind. She'd tell me I was just wasting my breath. If Caleb was here, I'd have asked him to accompany her and Dylan. I wanted to go, but I needed to find Raven. Open basement windows. Couldn't she be any more obvious? It was a message. And it was for me. It was infuriating. If the purpose of that message was to scare the hell out of me, she had succeeded. She'd figured it out. Kara was my weakness. What if Kara was there when— Stop thinking, motherfucker. This was one of Raven's games. She loved this, had tortured my father and me with her antics before, especially when she was bored, but I had no idea she would go so far as to include Kara in her nasty games. I should have known better. Raven had crossed the line, and I was done. She could fuck up anything in my life, but not Kara. Kara was untouchable. I couldn't find Raven anywhere. I had searched all the usual spots she went to, phoned a few people, but no one had seen her. What if the break-in at Kara's place and the open basement windows was just a coincidence? What if it was just a prank from assholes in the neighborhood? What? You stupid now? I swiped a hand over my face and took another breath. I let my body slid down against the door to the floor, bending my knees so I could prop my elbows on them. Lowering my head, I rubbed the back of my neck from the headache that was starting to drill its way up my eyeballs. She could've hired other people to do the dirty work for her, but would she really go to those lengths? Yeah, she would, I realized. She really would. But something was telling me that wasn't the case, that she was the one who broke in at Kara's place. Raven had found out about the tracker somehow. She was always wily, and it was hard to outsmart her, but I had to. I couldn't trust the tracker on her car anymore, but I opened the app to check anyway. My heart slammed in my chest when I saw it was headed to my house. What the fuck? A couple of minutes later, the doorbell rang. I jerked open the door. My anger was brewing just below the surface, but I could almost taste the sharp bitterness of it on my tongue. "Ugh..." A guy in uniform stared up at me, wide-eyed. He backed away. "Express delivery." "What?" "I'm only here to deliver a package, man. From Toronto. Here. I just need a signature." But he raised his hands up and walked a feet back. "Actually, you know what? Never mind. Have a good night." I closed the door, ripped open the package. And almost threw it against the wall. It was the tracker. The same one on Raven's car. "Son of a bitch." She was playing with me. I could almost hear her laugh. I bit back another oath when my phone rang. "Yeah?" "Cameron, it's Ben." "Did you find her?" "She just checked in. Everything all right?" "I'm taking care of it." "Good. If you need anything, you know where to find me." "Thanks." I hang up. * Raven was staying in the same suite on the top floor of the Miranda Inn. As the elevator doors closed behind me, I walked down the hallway. Even with its intricate designed chandeliers casting soft lights on the walls, it felt like a tomb. It had been months since the last time I'd seen her. She'd given me a warning then, but tonight I would be the one giving the threat. I stopped in front of the double doors. This time they were closed and there was no welcome greeting. I banged my fist on them. Nothing. The classical music continued to play in the hallway. Instead of soothing, it irritated. And made the rage I was trying my damnedest to keep at bay climb up to the surface. I knew she deliberately made me wait. I banged my fist again, louder this time. I was just thinking of kicking them when they finally opened. In her long gown of glossy silk, Raven stood in the doorway. The deep red color of her gown stood out like blood. She probably thought it was the color of victory. Unless she was here for war. Her piercing eyes bored into mine. Cold, almost reptilian in their darkness. Her lips, painted a darker shade than her gown, didn't smile. All she needed was a crown and she could play the part. But then again, I imagined she didn't need one. In her mind she was already a queen. "I heard you were looking for me," she said, eyes tracking me as I stepped inside. "Miss me that much?" "I'm not here to stroke your ego," I said. "I missed you too, baby." I ignored her and scanned the place. The glass wall windows displayed the entire city like a movie. There was an open bottle of wine on the bar. It was almost empty. Cigarette butts littered the tables, and as I walked to the window to look outside, I stepped on more of them. The room smelled of vices and expensive perfume. Familiar, childhood scents. "I see you still haven't learned to pick up after yourself." "Why learn when you have the help do it for you?" A memory from a long time ago played in my head. "Don't be a crybaby. Mommy loves you." Raven leaned down and kissed my lips, stroking my hair back. "I'll be back soon after a fun night out." She giggled, and I could tell she was happy. But all I could do was cry. I tried to stop the tears because I knew she hated them, but I couldn't. It was hard when she left me with a stranger. I didn't know the other woman behind me, dressed in white, smiling so kindly. I held my breath instead, trying not to breathe. Maybe then the tears would stop. "Cameron." Raven's voice hit me like a whip. There was no more cajoling, no more swaying softness in her tone. It was hard, cold. "Look at me." I was scared to look up. More scared than staying in this room with a stranger. Why didn't she just leave me at the house? I knew Raven would lock me in the basement, and sometimes it got too dark and terrifying that I'd curl up in the corner until morning. But at least there was no one there but me.