Electric Storm(75)

“You sold the boys out, told Jackie where they would be. You deliberately put them in danger.” She didn’t know it for sure, but it made a sick sort of sense. “You were practically raping him when I walked in the room. What did you think would happen?” Her throat closed a little at the end, her question deadly quiet.

“Not you killing me over a consensual kiss.” A snarl twitched Trisha’s lips. “He never once protested. Maybe that’s what really bothers you.”

“You had him by the throat!” Raven shook her head, wishing she could let her anger reign and solve things like animals, instead of with reason. The thing that held her back was that Trish truly didn’t understand she’d done anything wrong.

As a victim in the labs herself, she thought Trisha would be more sensitive to the subject, more careful of those around her.

“Did you think Jackie would’ve killed me and leave Taggert for you?” A horrible suspicion trickled through her mind. She dismissed it at first, but dread gathered in her gut and wouldn’t let her shuffle it away.

“You cut the banister.”

Something hardened in Trish’s eyes, and she raised her chin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What if someone else had fallen? You put everyone in danger for petty jealousy.”

“Petty. Petty!” Trish jerked to her feet, unadulterated hatred giving her the strength. “Everyone bends over backwards to bow to your every wish. Everything comes to you so easy. You don’t have to fight for a damn thing. What gives you the right to boss us around?”

“You’re blind.” London shook his head, the betrayal cracking his legendary stoicism, the smell of leaves she associated with him had turned musty and rotten. “I didn’t even suspect her.” Those big dark eyes of his met Raven’s in apology, the shattered expression in them rending a fissure in her heart for the indomitable man who risked so much for them only to be double-crossed by one of their own.

“I’m leaving your little cult.” When a second passed and nothing happened, an enraged growl worked up Trish’s throat. “Why can’t I change?” She threw herself at Raven, screeching in impotent rage.

“Not so fast.” Dominic snagged her arms and wrenched them behind her back. When she put up a fight, Dominic slammed her against the wall, uncaring of any pain he inflicted. “Did you think we were fools, and only you could see the truth? Did it never once cross your mind that there was a reason we stay with her of our own choosing?”

He shoved her away from him as if unable to stand touching her. “Get her away from me.”

“My pleasure,” London rumbled, taking her arm none to gently, dragging her from the room.

“You’re all fools. She’s nothing but a pretender. She’ll get you killed.” Her frantic voice became unintelligible the further they drew away.

Raven pinched the bridge of her nose, her whole body throbbing from the body slam and the snap of power that felt like it’d pulled her guts inside out. “What are you going to do about her?”

Dominic remained quiet for a time. “You have to understand that we can’t allow her to be free.”

She nodded, but couldn’t speak. With all the power she extended, she expected to feel weak or tired. Instead, she had too much. She shrugged out of Jackson’s hold and began to pace. Energy tingled along her fingertips, ready to come at her call. Too ready. The damn thing was changing on her again.

“Raven?”

“What?” She snapped then drew to a halt, realizing Dominic had been speaking to her. “Sorry.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, fine. It’s been a long day.”

He paused before speaking. “Then we’ll discuss this later. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest.”

Without replying, she nodded. She was through the door when she realized the guys hadn’t followed. She pivoted, ready to enter the room again when they spoke.

“Has she always been able to prevent a person from shifting? To be able to yank them from a shift?” That was Jackson, always suspicious. She stifled a grunt of disgust, determined to listen.

“No, but she very rarely shares anything personal. I don’t know if this is new or not.” Dominic’s voice faded as if he moved further from the door. She gave a second to consider if they could sense her then dismissed it. She wasn’t budging.

“Has she been acting out of character recently?” He sounded hesitant.

Taggert broke the silence first. “From what?”

Dominic snorted. “She doesn’t allow anyone close to her.” She could hear the growl of impatience in his voice and could picture him snarling. “I swear each time I see her, she’s changed more, has less control.”