Chapter 5

_Raven's POV_

The day of the dinner finally came. I felt nervous all afternoon. I kept checking the time. When it was almost evening, I stood in front of my closet and sighed.

“I don’t need to dress up,” I told myself. “It’s just dinner.”

I chose dark jeans and a simple top. I tied my hair back and put on my jacket. When I walked into the living room, my mom looked up from the couch.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“I’m going out,” I said. “With a friend.”

She smiled slowly. “A friend?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Just a friend.”

“A boy friend?” she teased.

“Mom,” I groaned.

She laughed. “What’s his name?”

“Raphael.”

She tilted her head. “That’s a nice name. How long have you known him?”

“Not long,” I said. “He goes to my school.”

She stood up and fixed my jacket. “Be careful, okay? And be back by ten.”

“I will,” I said. “I won’t stay out late.”

The doorbell rang. My heart jumped.

“That must be him,” my mom said. “Have fun.”

I opened the door and saw Raphael standing there. He was dressed neatly and everything he wore looked expensive.

“Hi,” he said. “You look nice.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “You do too.”

As we walked to his car, I noticed his watch and his shoes. They looked like designer brands.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

In the car, he glanced at me. “How have you been?”

“I’m okay,” I said.

“Has Cassian bothered you again?”

“No,” I answered. “He stopped. He hasn’t talked to me for the last few days.”

Raphael’s jaw tensed for a moment. “Good,” he said. “Maybe he understood the warning.”

We drove to a small restaurant near the center of town. The lights inside were soft and warm. It was not too crowded. Just enough people to make it feel safe.

Raphael held the door open for me again. “After you.”

A waitress with a bright smile walked up to us as soon as we stepped in. “Good evening,” she said. “Table for two?”

“Yes,” Raphael answered.

She led us to a small table by the window. I liked it. I could see the street outside. I could see the exit. It made me feel less trapped.

The waitress handed us menus. “My name is Sophie,” she said. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Sophie,” Raphael said.

I opened the menu. There were so many choices. My eyes went to the prices first and my throat tightened. They were not crazy high but still higher than the places Mom and I went to.

“Order what you like,” Raphael said quietly, as if he could read my mind. “Don’t look at the price.”

I bit my lip. “I don’t want to choose something too expensive.”

He smiled. “You are my guest. I invited you. So pick what you want.”

My cheeks warmed. I looked back at the list and chose something simple. “I will take the grilled chicken with fries,” I said when Sophie came back. “And a lemonade, please.”

Sophie wrote it down and turned to Raphael. “And for you?”

“I will have the steak,” he said. “Medium rare with roasted potatoes. And water is fine.”

“Coming right up,” she said and walked away.

I folded my hands on the table. My nerves were still buzzing.

Raphael leaned forward a little. “Tell me about you,” he said. “What do you like to do? Any hobbies? Sports? Extra classes?”

I shrugged. “I read a lot,” I said. “Mostly at home. I don’t really do sports. I used to paint a little. But not much now.”

“Why not?” he asked.

I looked at my fingers. “Life got busy. And then… it just felt useless.”

“It is not useless if it makes you feel alive,” he said softly. “Maybe you should start again.”

His words warmed something small inside me. “Maybe.”

“What about school?” he asked. “Any subjects you like? Any you hate?”

“I like literature,” I said. “And history. I hate math.”

He chuckled. “I’m good at math. If you ever need help with homework, you can ask me.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“I know I don’t,” he replied. “I want to. I told you. You are not a burden.”

I met his eyes. He was not joking. He was calm and serious.

Our food came. Sophie set the plates down in front of us. “Grilled chicken and fries for you. Steak for you. Can I get you anything else?”

“No, this is perfect,” Raphael said. “Thank you.”

“Enjoy,” she said and left.

The food smelled amazing. I took a bite. It tasted even better than it smelled. For a moment I forgot my nerves. I just enjoyed the warmth in my mouth.

Then I felt it.

A stare.

The back of my neck prickled like cold fingers had brushed my skin. I shifted a little in my seat and looked around the room.

That was when I saw him.

He sat alone at a table on the other side of the restaurant. He had dark hair and dark eyes. A serious face that did not change. He was not eating. He was not talking. He was just looking at us.

Looking at me.

A chill ran down my spine.

My gaze dropped to his hand. He was holding his phone up. Not like someone who was checking messages. Not like someone bored. The camera was pointed our way.

At me. At Raphael. At our table.

My heart started to race. I stared at him. My breath was stuck in my chest.

The man seemed to feel it. His eyes met mine for one sharp second. Then he stood up. He lowered the phone, grabbed his jacket and walked away fast....too fast....like he did not want anyone to stop him.

The door closed behind him. He was gone.

But the fear stayed.

“Raven?” Raphael’s voice pulled me back. “Are you okay?”

I turned to him. My hands were shaking. “There was a man,” I said. “He was just there. At that table. He was looking at us. I think he was filming us with his phone. And then he left when he saw me looking.”

Raphael’s eyes darkened. He glanced toward the empty table, then back at me. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “Why would he do that? Who was he?”

Raphael sat back. His face was calm but his jaw was tight. “Don’t worry,” he said slowly. “I am trained in martial arts. I can protect you. Do you doubt me?”

I shook my head at once. “No. I know you are strong. I just… I wonder why he was doing that. It felt wrong.”

“There are many perverted creeps nowadays. Maybe he is one of them. Some people like to film girls without their consent. They hide in crowds. They think no one will notice.”

My stomach rolled. I felt sick.

“Hey,” he said softly. “Look at me.”

I lifted my eyes.

“Don’t let him live inside your head. He does not deserve that power. He is gone now. You are here with me. You are safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. Don’t let him ruin your evening.”

His words wrapped around me like a warm coat. I took a slow breath....then another. The knot in my chest loosened just a little.

“Okay, I’ll try.”

He smiled. “Good. Now eat before your food gets cold.”

I picked up my fork again. The fear did not vanish. It sat in the back of my mind like a shadow.