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Chapter 3

"What did you call me back there?"

"Haven."

"Why did you call me that?"

"I didn't want Darnell hearing your real name if he somehow managed to retain consciousness; he would have told my father, who would have been able to find you. Corvus is a very unique name and I'm willing to bet my life you're the only person in the state of Washington with that name. So, I just said the first thing to come to mind."

"Why was Haven the first thing you thought of?"

"For some reason, I feel safe with you, like a haven, we just met and I'm already feeling this way. Can I ask you something?

"Sure."

"Where did that come from?"

"Where did what come from?"

"That speed, that anger, that rage, that violence. You don't seem like the kind of person to be so violent. But you had a blatant disregard for another life just now, that wicked kick looked as if it could've taken Darnell's head off, I'm not sure if he's even alive right now."

"I don't know what you mean, but I knew what he was thinking. What he wanted you to do. I hope he isn't alive."

"You're fucked either way, we both are, once my father finds out what you did; he'll come looking for you and he'll make me tell him everything to find you."

"Is that why you screamed?"

"What do you mean; I didn't scream Corvus."

"Yes, you did I heard you scream when I punched him."

"Corvus, I swear to you I did not scream."

"Whatever then, also I'm not worried about him finding me; I'll pull up to wherever he lives, walk you inside, and drag Darnell's body in behind me."

"You snuck one part-time drug user; my father doesn't fight fair. All of his idiots will come after you at once, and after what you've just done, they won't stop until you stop breathing."

I did a double take at Skylar with my eyebrow raised, "Was that supposed to scare me? Was that supposed to push me away and have me running for the hills? If so, it failed."

"I'm not trying to push you away; I just don't want to see you hurt over me."

I could feel her look at me but I knew the cold and dark expression on my face stunned her.

"You're not afraid? My father will kill you; he's killed before so there's no doubt in my mind he will again."

"I don't care, death doesn't scare me. My mother taught me never to fear death, to welcome it as an old friend; because when he comes for you there's no stopping him."

She sat there in silence; I could feel her eyes on the side of my head still, so I glanced over at her and looked her up and down.

"You said before you're not going back tonight, right? Would you like for me to get you a hotel room?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

I set my GPS for my home and leaned against the window as I drove. About thirty minutes into the drive, my phone rang.

"This is Corvus."

"My friend, would you care to tell me why there's an unconscious man in my parking lot?"

"He tried assaulting me and my friend. Self-Defense."

 As the phone hung up, I reached over and caressed Skylar's cheek. Another thirty minutes passed before I pulled into my garage and lightly shook her awake, she sat up slowly and looked around her surroundings before looking over at me.