I head back to the bar, but Raven isn’t there. I’m not in a socializing mood, so I make my way to my room. I have a date with my punching bag. I find her there, in bed with her sketch pad.

“Are you okay?” she asks, looking up from her drawing.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“I heard a crashing sound coming from your office.”

“I’m fine. Gonna need a new burner phone, though.” I sit on the edge of the bed and peek over at her pad. “What are you drawing?”

She hands it to me and once again, her skill blows me away. It’s us. She’s on her knees, cocooned in big, black wings, only her face visible. There are tears on her cheeks. I’m behind her, wearing a Reaper’s robe. I have a scythe in hand, eyes a dark red. I know I’m not there as the one causing her tears. The determined expression on my face tells me she sees me as her protector. She’s closed in on herself, and I’m there as her guardian. Fuck me. All the anger drains from my body. Under the picture, she’s written “Rage” in a creative font. I pull her into my arms and kiss her forehead. I can’t even find the words to express what I’m feeling right now. One thing’s for sure, I’ll protect her with everything I have.

“What’s with this ‘Rage’ thing?” I ask.

She raises her shoulders in a shrug. “Didn’t you hear? It’s our couple name.”

“Yeah...but why that?”

“It’s appropriate, don’t you think?”

“How so?”

“Because.” She stares into my eyes. “It’s what we’re both feeling right now.”

And there it is. The two of us summed up in one word; linked, not just by our names but our very emotions.

“What do you think?” she asks.

Rage.

“I think it’s perfect.”

CHAPTER 10

***Raven***

I’m stuffed and pretty sure everyone else is, too. I don’t remember the last time I ate this much. Chopper and Nita are gods in the kitchen. Right now, everyone is gathered in the bar, having drinks while I’m sipping on sweet tea. Other than the Hunters, no one here is related by blood, yet they embrace each other as family. It’s different for me. Growing up, it was me, Lonnie, and Daddy. After Lonnie left, it was the two of us. Toni would come over sometimes, but that was about it. I’m not used to having so many people around, so many people who consider me family. Even the Hounds have a place amongst everyone today. The blonde—I found out her name is Britney—has been shooting dirty looks at me, but I’m determined not to let her spoil my night. All the others have been super nice. I wonder why they’re called Hounds. Gage is nestled next to me on the couch, so I might as well ask.

“Gage?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Why are the girls called Hounds?”

“It’s short for Hellhounds.”

“But why?” I push for a better answer. “Hellhounds are three-headed dogs with serpent tails.”

“Someone knows their Greek mythology.” He chuckles.

“Tell me.”

“Okay, fine. It all ties in with the whole death theme. See, Cerberus, he was Hades’ guard dog.”

“Yeah. He guarded the entrance to the underworld.”

“Right. He kept the dead in and the living out. Think of the MC as the underworld. The members are the dead, and everyone outside of the club is the living.”

“So...they’re like guardians for the club? I thought they were here to suck dick.”

He laughs, his chest shaking beneath my cheek. “They do that. But they also cook, do laundry, that type of stuff. They basically take care of the guys who don’t have old ladies.”

“Okay. So, everything they do is to keep outsiders – the living – from entering the underworld where they have no business being?”

“You got it.”

Hmm...interesting.

“Does that make you Hades?” I ask.

“I guess so.”

And I guess I’m Persephone? The difference is I came willingly and he’s not the one who ‘deflowered’ me. I can’t help but see the similarities in our situations, though. As I look around the room at all the happy faces, I relax in Gage’s arms. Today’s feast might be considered my pomegranate seed. I’ve eaten Hades’ food, and this is now my home.

Allah moves into his DJ booth and people start pairing up to dance. After a few songs, he catches me watching him and waves me over. I peek up at Gage and he encourages me with a nod. When I get to him, Allah jerks his head at his laptop.

“You wanna learn?”

“What? You gonna teach me?”

“Sure.” He shrugs. “If you want to.”

I stare at him with a raised brow. I’m probably the only person who’s been this close to his equipment, and now he’s telling me he’s going to let me touch it? Wow.

“Okay,” I answer with a bit of hesitation.

“This is Virtual DJ.” He points to the screen. “These are the decks. Basically where the music plays from.”

I listen carefully to my lesson as he talks about crossfaders, beats per minute, syncing, effects, and samplers. He shows me how to play a song and then tells me to try it. I look through his files and find the perfect one then point to the microphone.

“Does this work?”

“Yeah. You wanna say somethin’?”

At my nod, he stops the music and pics up the mic.

“All right everybody, settle down and listen up.”

He hands me the mic and I take a deep breath, looking around the room. Everyone’s watching, waiting expectantly. My gaze slides to Gage, and the supportive smile on his lips gives me the courage to go on.

“It’s Thanksgiving. A day of gratitude and to celebrate family. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to connect with my mother and little sister. Not only that but...I just wanted to say I consider everyone in this room my family. You don’t know how much it means to me that you all accepted me during a time when I had no one else.”

I look to Chopper, Nita, and Ellen. They took me in, no questions asked, and I need them to know how much I appreciate them. As if she can read my mind, Nita mouths, “I know.” I nod and look around the room again.

“Everyone knows what happened to me. You’ve also seen that I haven’t been myself. I’m still not, but I’m getting there. It’s all because of your president.” I turn to face him, letting him know I’m about to talk to him and not the entire room. “Gage...you’ve been patient, understanding, kind, and supportive. I know it hasn’t been easy for you. You’re tired and angry and frustrated, but you never show it. To me, at least.” Dr. E squeezes his shoulder so I know I’m right. He’s probably the one getting the brunt of it. “There are a lot of things I have to be thankful for,” I continue. “But most of all, I’m thankful for you. I really don’t know what I would do without you. So, thank you. Thank you for being...you.”

Just like Allah showed me, I add the song to the deck, and Jessie J’s “Flashlight” begins to play. He keeps his eyes glued to me but as his expression changes, I know he’s paying attention to the words of the song. By the time it gets to the chorus, he’s out of his seat. I meet him in the middle of the room. He tugs me into his arms and right here, in front of everybody, he kisses me. It’s not sexual, but it’s not entirely platonic, either. I feel a sliver of something dart through my body. Again, not sexual, but I feel it.

Maybe I’m not broken after all.

***Gage***

After spending most of the day with Raven at her psychiatrist, Dr. Jayne, then taking her for her first physical therapy session, I bring her back to the clubhouse. She wasn’t too keen on either, but at least she’s agreed to continue. I’m glad she’s finally getting the help she needs, both physically and emotionally.

Before we walk through the doors, the roar of motorcycles comes from the gates. Ace. I take a deep breath and turn to face him as he rides up.

“Get inside,” I instruct Raven.

“Why?”

“Just go.”

“Fine. Jeez.”

Ace walks up carefully, his eyes darting around the compound. The man he brought with him is doing the same. I promised him a chance and he’ll get it. If I have to kill him, it won’t be an ambush. He’ll see that shit coming.