An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 18: Pulling The Trigger

CORVINA HAWKE

Trish:

Give us half an hour, Hawke.

We have nothing yet.

The texts blinked at me as I settled inside the town car. I wanted to yell at the phone that I didn't want to spend another moment with Warren, that I wanted to go home and disappear under my covers. But I sighed.

"What's the matter?" Warren asked, making me glance at him. I shook my head, slipping my phone back into my purse.

"I-I don't want to go back home just yet." I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could, not daring to meet his gaze. His hand slipped onto my thigh and I tensed. Flames licked up my spine, setting me on fire and I shifted, making his hand fall off.

"Where do you want to go?" He questioned but I didn't bother to answer. I simply shrugged once more, looking out of the window.

Silence ensued my shrug and I started to worry that he was going to suggest that I come with him to his place. "I know a place where we could go." He murmured after a long moment, making me glance at him finally.

"Where?" I raised my eyebrows on him. He didn't answer me, just called to the driver and gave directions to an address I didn't recognize. I sat back in my seat, clutching my purse until my knuckles turned white. At least he wasn't taking me back to his hotel penthouse. I just hoped Lily and Trish were done with what they came for by the time Warren got back.

The rest of the ride was silent. I didn't make an effort to make conversation and neither did Warren. I waited for my phone to vibrate inside my clutch but it never did. By the time the town car came to a stop outside a high-rise apartment building, I was almost half-asleep.

"Raven." Warren nudged me gently, pulling me out of my half-asleep state. I straightened, humming under my breath in response. "We are here." He whispered as if he didn't want to startle me. I was fully awake now, opening the door and stepping out.

Rounding the car, he joined me and with his hand on the small of my back, led me into the building. I wanted to tell him to remove his hand but his touch was steadying despite him being the cause of my anxiety.

A waft of air-conditioned air greeted us as we stepped through the door and the man standing by the automatic doors smiled at us.

"Mr. Hale." He tipped his head toward Warren. "The penthouse is ready for you." He added, making me shoot a look at my "date."

"Thank you, Francis." Warren answered as he led me deeper into the building. We headed straight for the elevator and only once we were inside that I turned to him.

"Where are we?" I questioned, my voice surprisingly steady despite being in uncharted territory.

"My brother's secret apartment," Warren replied. I nodded mutely as he pressed the button for the penthouse. I'd forgotten how rich the people of my–our–world were. We were both outcasts, sufficient in ourselves but miles away from where our people stood. Perhaps that was another reason why I was so reluctant to hurt Warren. He was a familiar face in an unfamiliar world.

"Make yourself comfortable," He said as we stepped into the penthouse. "You didn't want to go home yet so I thought we could spend some time here before you made your way to your house." He gestured at the lavishly decorated penthouse. It was much more vibrant and showy than the place Warren was staying at.

"Have I ever told you that you are absolutely insane?" I asked him as I shrugged out of my coat, placing it on the back of the couch before seating myself on it.