CHAPTER 20. That’s a lie
**— VITA.**
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I open my eyes slowly because my eyelids are heavy… In fact, my whole head and body feel heavy, almost numb… What happened? I can’t remember… my last memory is quite strange… I really can’t remember what I was doing...
But now, around me, the world seems to spin and return to what it should be; the ceiling under my head is so strangely familiar, but I have to try a little harder to recognize it...
It’s the ceiling of the WoodBar.
I stand up abruptly and feel everything spin around me and go dark, stealing me of my vision for a few seconds...
“Easy, woman... You’ve hit your head. You don’t want any more trouble, do you?” I recognize this voice immediately and gasp, looking away, my eyes once again meeting with this damn room and Mr. Raven sitting on the other couch, staring at me so intently that I feel trapped.
Suddenly, it’s like I’ve really lost control of my body, so weak and numb. My mind is going blank…
“What am I doing here?” I ask with a faltered, shaky voice, even though I’m trying to sound brave.
“I told you… you hit your head.” Mr. Raven gives me a cynical smile that makes my stomach squirm. “So why don’t you take it easy and stay still?”
“What’s the meaning of that?” I insist a little more, sitting up slowly on the couch, but my whole body begs me to stay lying down, not to move too much.
“I helped you, of course. And you could show me a little gratitude... Especially when I’ve had so much trouble because of you.” Mr. Raven points to his own face, the bruise, the purple marks across his cheek eye, and also a cut on his eyebrow. “I got a hard time, and yet, I help you out. What can I say? I’m a gentleman, and I couldn’t leave a fainted woman on the floor.”
“What, I cause it? I didn’t do anything.” I retort, touching the back of my head, feeling a wound on my scalp, something painful and sticky that, even without seeing, I know what it is by the smell — blood.
There’s a scrape on my head; no wonder it hurts so much.
“Don’t be modest, Vita...” He emphasizes my name, making me shudder and frown. “A thank you would be a great start.”
“Why would I thank you? You set me up, didn’t you?” I retort a little louder, my voice harsh and sharp.
“You set me up; aren’t you tired of pretending?” He sighs, then leans back on the couch, making a pitying expression. “Actions always have consequences. You’re a grown woman; you should know that people suffer for their actions. And because of you, I almost died.”
“You’re not making sense-”
“That’s how it was with Princess.” He interrupts me, and my eyes widen in surprise to hear him talking about Alice so suddenly. “You paid for your actions, but you never really admitted, right? You keep throwing the responsibility on another’s shoulders but never really face what you did.”
“You know I didn’t do anything,” I say firmly, surprised at the way he shakes his head dismissively.
“I don’t know anything — how could I? Until a few days ago, we were strangers, but you managed to drag me into your chaotic world and tried to make me take the blame in your place. Why take an interest in me? I’m a handsome man, but now I think you have ulterior motives… So why did you choose me?” He asks me with a soft tone, so different from before.
“Haha, I’ve taken an interest in you?” I can’t help but laugh sarcastically and more disdainfully than he could, and clearly, my posture bothers him because I see him grimace for the first time. “I’m only interested in the clue about Alice’s death that you said you had. But now, I know that your plan was set me up. I just don’t know why…”
Mr. Raven raises his eyebrows in such fake surprise that it bothers me.
“You’re definitely crazy… How could I possibly know anything about Princess’s death?” He raises his hands in redemption.
“I’ve been asking around. You’ve been in this bar for quite a while, haven’t you?” I try to be subtle because my intention isn’t really to accuse him...
However, Mr. Raven doesn’t seem to have liked my words very much because his voice is harsh as he says, “I was off that night; I couldn’t be with my eyes and ears in this place. But you, on the other hand, used to frequent this bar quite often... Even one of your friends was involved with the rogues.”
“That’s absurd.” I shake my head, surprised and confused... “Rogues? They were just college classmates, and no one would be involved with deserters!”
“Well, but this dear friend of yours not only was involved but was killed two years ago... Just like all the thugs responsible for Princess’s death.”
Mr. Raven’s words take me by surprise, and I feel my heartbeat quicken as I mutter softly, “That’s a lie.”
“Public information; you can check it out if you want.”
I shake my head again, my throat dry… “Are they all dead?”
“You’re the only one left.” Mr. Raven gives a wicked smile that makes my stomach twist and sets off every warning in me. My intuition is screaming at me to get out of this place as soon as possible… there’s something wrong here!
“So this is the clue to Alice’s death?” I say with disdain and a certain sarcasm, forcing my weak legs to stand up. “This can’t even be called a clue. You could have just told me over the phone, and it would have saved us so much trouble.”
Mr. Raven’s smile widens as he also stands up... “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Now, my heart is pounding in my throat.
“Anyway, I hope our paths don’t cross again, Mr. Raven...” I say slowly, trying not to show my anxiety, even though I’m approaching the door very quickly.
“I can’t say the same… since I wasn’t able to enjoy what you offered me.” He begins to mimic my steps, approaching with suffocating slowness. “Don’t be stingy.”
I stop in front of the door and grip the handle like a lifeboat, but the moment I turn to open it and get out of this place... nothing happens.
The door is locked.
“You should sit down... You hit your head pretty hard, actually.” Mr. Raven’s voice sounds close behind me, his lips almost touching my ear, making me give a little startled cry and step to the side, moving away as much as possible.
“Let me out!” I demand, swallowing hard.
“Why should I? Last time, Alpha disrupted our plans. You were so horny last time… you even said you couldn’t wait to feel a real man’s body... Did you really miss it that much? How long has it been since you’ve felt a real cock? Three years? Maybe longer?”
“You’re disgusting.” I practically spit the words out as if they had the worst taste in the world. “I would never lie with a disgusting man like you — maybe you have a problem with reality? Maybe a disorder that makes you confuse dreams with life?”
“I remember all those sweet words. You deceived me, made me stand on the wrong foot of the Alpha, and now you pretend you didn’t touch me with such desire that it made my dick throb.” Mr. Raven begins to follow my steps in the same direction and rhythm, making my anxiety flow even more.
“Why are you doing this?” I say, looking at him, but I take glances around, looking for anything suspicious, maybe a camera… Yes, I’m sure Derek is watching this. Judging by the way this man twists his words, someone is watching everything. “I haven’t done anything wrong to you… Why are you doing this?”
I think for a moment that my voice will reach the vestige of soul that exists in this man, but it doesn’t… Mr. Raven moves towards me abruptly and doesn’t give me time to get away from his firm touch on my forearm that pulls me in and makes my body crash against his.
“Maybe this time I’ll mark you...” Mr. Raven whispers against my ear, making me struggle even more, pushing and punching his unmoving chest. “Alpha sends his regards.”
My eyes widen with understanding falling over me... Yes, of course... These are Derek’s orders.
Mr. Raven’s hand reaches for the strap of my dress and threatens to slide it over my shoulder when a sudden impact stuns me and explodes in my ears... An almost inhuman strength destroys the door, causing the wood to fly everywhere, passing before my eyes....
And the person on the other side, running towards us with an expression of anger and surprise, is not someone I would have expected to see — ever again...