Raven's Song

The End of It All

Five Years Later

I looked down at the address carefully written on the slip of paper in my hand and then up at the brownstone. The sounds of New York City were replaced with the pounding in my ears. Taking a deep breath, I glanced over my shoulder. Alec stood on the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets, watching me closely with a guarded smile on his face.

I returned his smile before I turned and rang the doorbell.

The sound of a small dog barking greeted me before the door pulled open. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up into those all too familiar dark eyes.

Tylor wore a gray sweatshirt, black jeans, and high-top sneakers. His hair was still the same. Short on the sides. Longer on top. He had a tattoo peeking out from the collar of his shirt and the sleeve of his shirt as he reached to push open the screen door after ordering the small white dog to sit and stay.

"Hey," he said softly as he leaned against the doorframe. He looked past me to Alec and then back. "That's not unexpected."

I swallowed hard and wished I could tell him Alec was just there as a friend, but it'd be a lie. He'd transferred to my college sophomore year after finally finding a surgeon who could fix his shoulder, and we'd been together ever since.

"You look good," I said finally. Tylor's eyes returned to mine. There was a new scar by his eyebrow.

I reached up and gently touched it. He didn't move as I traced its path down the side of his face. I wrapped my arms around him. His body stiffened. I didn't know if it was because of Alec or what he'd been through in our time apart or if he didn't know what the hug meant, but his arms eventually encircled me tightly.

"I missed you," I whispered.

"I kept tabs on you," he murmured before he pulled away. "Come in. Alec can, too, if he wants, but I get it if he doesn't."

I glanced over my shoulder at Alec and gave him a reassuring smile before I turned back to Tylor. "I'll gladly come in."

Tylor stepped out of the way to let me pass. It felt like stepping into the past. The house was old and whoever had decorated it had made everything fit. I didn't hear anyone around, but I highly doubted we were alone. My dad had told me last year his unit had a hit on Tylor being connected to a well-known mafia, but when Tylor had been captured by the authorities, nothing could be pinned on him. That was probably how he'd afforded a brownstone after his father's money had been used for restitution.

I followed Tylor to the kitchen where a pot was boiling on the stove. "I heard you're still in it."

He glanced at me before he turned his attention to the pot and poured a box of something into the pot. I assumed it was noodles or rice, but I couldn't see the label. "Yeah."

"So you haven't found them all." I sat at the small table and picked up an apple, turning it over in my hand as Tylor stirred the contents of the pot.

"Yes, but no. I've found the big one, but I can't get to him." He turned and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm working on it."

"I'm sure you are. He's not a threat to me, then?"

Tylor's brows rose. "Oh, anyone connected to me will always be under a threat, Kenna, but you don't need to worry."

"Because you've grown your empire large enough again."

He shrugged. "Perhaps."

I put the apple back. "You were never going to get out."