Low Sided A.J. Downey (ebook reader macos TXT) 📖

make her feel like somehow any of this was her fault when it wasn’t. It was this Max guy’s fault.

Raven was too sweet, maybe a little naïve, but I couldn’t picture her doing anything to cause anyone any kind of upset. It just wasn’t her. She was a pleaser by nature – a healer, a fixer, and a radiant light.

“I’m listening,” I assured her when she fell quiet.

“We walked for a long time around the park, and he invited me back to his place for a glass of wine. He seemed genuine, but he wasn’t and when he kissed me it,” she shuddered, “it felt off and I wasn’t okay with going further so I got up to leave and—” She huddled in on herself and shuddered against me. I held her tight, kissing the top of her head.

“You don’t have to tell me anymore,” I said.

She sniffed and said, “He raped me, then put me in the back of a ride share to take me home. I begged the driver to take me to the hospital instead. They called the police who didn’t seem to really want to take my report. They kept twisting my words and… and I feel like it was a miracle at all that I got through that and to the prosecutor.”

“They get him?” I asked, feigning innocence of any knowledge of how this shit turned out.

“No,” she said hollowly. “The police came, two men in uniforms, to fire spinning practice. They arrested me, wouldn’t tell me what for, and took me away but not to jail. They drove me to the bottom of a parking garage, threw me on the ground and Max was there. The three of them kicked me halfway to death. That’s how I knew what to do about your ribs. They told me to drop the charges or they would tear my life apart, make me disappear. I was so scared. They knew where I lived, they could hurt my tribe. I didn’t know what else to do so I called and refused to cooperate and then the messages started coming, telling me to keep my mouth shut. I got rid of my phone, packed what I could, and ran.”

She sobbed a little, a bubble of misery choking off her words and I held her. This fucking guy… I’d never killed a man before. Came close but had never sealed the deal. I aimed to make sure this fucker could never do this to another woman.

“All I can see when I dream is that goddamn gold crucifix swinging on its chain in front of my face as I waited for him to be done with me. I was so scared that with anyone else that would be all I would ever see… but you… thank you,” she murmured thickly.

Yep. I was gonna fucking kill him…

“Hey, Fen, you busy?” I asked, striding across the field. Several goats brayed.

“Depends on what you want,” he said, in the process of pouring feed into pans.

“It’s your specialty,” I said.

“I only have two specialties, and since you aren’t pretty enough for the first, then it’s gotta be settling a score,” he said, shoving one of the more demanding goats away with a boot.

“Yeah,” I said. “I know you’ve gotten used to handling these goats, but I have a pig that needs to be dealt with.”

“You know I love fresh ham, bacon.” He grinned savagely and pushed another goat away. “Fuck, now I want breakfast.”

“We can take care of that, but I found out a few things. Pig fucked Raven over, and I want to fix it,” I said.

“What kind of payback we talking about? You gotta be careful when taking a pig to market.”

“Oh, that’s what I was hoping you would say.” I grinned. “This guy raped her, then when she filed a complaint, they put the boots to her, medium style.”

“Medium style, huh?”

“Medium style, enough to send someone to the hospital, but not enough to kill ‘em. You know, enough to send a message and make sure it stuck – in her case drop the charges and keep your mouth shut.”

“No shit?” he asked. “That’s why she’s skittish, eh?” He looked thoughtful and angry. I could tell, he didn’t need any winning over.

“Yeah, that’s why she’s skittish. That’s also why she’s living in Rat City, in an off-the-grid apartment, and walks everywhere. The pigs have her blackballed.”

“And taking this one to market will fix it?” Fenris asked.

“I think so. You know how these jagoffs are, they rally around their own, but you take that one out, they go back to covering their own asses.” I growled and crossed my arms.

“You’re still on parole, that’s playing with fire,” he said.

“Raven was a fire spinner, it seems fitting?” I shrugged. “And besides, it could be a public service, something nice to do for her, sure, but the rest of humanity will surely benefit, too.”

He nodded and poured the last grain bucket. “She’s weird. I like her,” he said. “And yeah, I’ll take care of it, just tell me who this walking bag of pork rinds is and consider it done.”

“No, not like that. I’m not asking you to take care of it, I’m asking you to help me with this. I want to take this guy out, with my own hands.”

“Oh, that sounds like the old Mace, and fuck yes. Count me in. What about the club?” he asked.

“I don’t want to bring the boys in on this. If things go sideways, that would put them at odds with an entire police force. They don’t need that hassle, not on my account,” I said. “Maybe the prospect, though. Yeah. He could use some real experience here.”

“The nervous kid, oh Thor’s hammer, yes, the prospect should be involved.” Fen laughed. He took a slow breath and closed his eyes. I took a small step back. Fen took some of this stuff really serious, and when he opened his eyes again, he almost seemed like a