CHAPTER THREE

RAVENNA

~~~~~~~~

"You bloody cocksuckers! Come on out. Come out here and take me on. Stop acting like pussies and face me!" I yelled as tugged against the ropes that had me tied to a chair. To say I was having a shitty night wasn't an understatement. The consistent drip-drip sound of water irritated me to no end.

'So much for getting fucked on a car tonight,' I thought as I remembered Drake's promise.

Speaking of Drake, I wonder if he was worried about me. Was he looking for me? And my Nana? Fuck! She was probably pacing around now even though I had clearly told her not to wait for up for me. Thinking of her made panic rip through me. I couldn't die now. I was the only family she had left. It would kill her if she lost me.

"Where the fuck are you pussies?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

They had me locked in a basement and I've been awake for a while now, yet they refused to come down here. Suddenly I heard the sounds of locks sliding open as I struggled to get free. It was pointless anyway. The next sound I heard was the sound of feet coming down the stairs.

"There she is," the hot guy from the car said. "The woman of the hour herself."

I glared at him as my inky black hair curtained my face. "Fuck you, asshole! Why the fuck am I here?"

"Ravenna," a masculine voice thick with emotion said making me freeze. I hadn't even noticed his presence.

"Uncle Leo." My voice was filled with disbelief. It's been long since I've seen him. Ten years to be exact. He looked the same way he did only now he had white hair that peppered his temples and some of his black hair.

"What are you waiting for, Andrea? Untie her," Leo instructed as emotions swam in his eyes.

The hot guy who I just learned was Andrea pulled a knife from his holster and cut the ropes. I rose from the chair, stretching out my limbs. Without any warning whatsoever, Leo pulled me into a hug. Years of unfamiliarity made my arms stay at my side. Even if he noticed, he didn't mention it as he pulled back, but he kept his hands on my shoulders. "How have you been, Ravenna? I've been looking for you ever since the very moment I got the news of your parents' death. Where have you been all these while?"

"It's a long story," I said stiffly.

"I've got all the time in the world. Tell me everything," Leo said with a beaming smile.

"Well if we're gonna have a conversation, I'd like to do it somewhere else. The sound of water dripping in here grates on my fucking nerves," I said eyeing the basement with irritation.

Leo chuckled. "Come on. Let's go talk in my study. I'm sorry for the reception you received. With the current lifestyle you have, Andrea suggested it to be the best."

"Right." He knew I was a wheelman. I couldn't believe that someone had been watching me and I hadn't noticed. I was beginning to slip off my game. I followed him up the stairs and out of the basement. "Everything still looks pretty much the same," I commented as I stared at the pictures and paintings hung up on the wall. My heart ached as I came across a picture of my parents, Razor, and a young me smiling widely at the camera. This particular picture was taken a few weeks before the burning of our house.

The memory of that day played in my mind. I had just gotten Razor as a present for my birthday. Immediately after we had taken a picture, he had peed on my father's Italian leather shoes and Dad had blown a gasket. An involuntary sob tore out of me at the memory. Leo put his arms around me a stray tear ran down my cheek. I wiped it with the back of my palm, sucking in a huge breath. "I'm fine. Let's go."

I didn't wait for his reply before pulling away from him and continuing down the hallway before yanking open the door to his study, stepping in and plopping down on the chair opposite his. He came in seconds later and dropped into his massive leather chair. He cleared his throat. "Ravenna, whatever I'm about to tell, don't let it change the opinion you have of your parents, because they were great people."

My shoulders stiffened. I had a feeling I wouldn't like what he was about to say, but I prepared myself for it anyway. "Go on."

"Your father didn't always keep his nose clean. What I mean is that he didn't always work on the right side of the law," Leo said adjusting his perfect tie.

"Dad was involved in criminal activities?" I asked with disbelief. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to believe him. Dad never kept late nights. He never acted suspiciously. He was always kindhearted and helpful to others. Criminals didn't act like that. They were supposed to be coldhearted and uncaring. Right? Right?!

"He was the head of an organized crime family," Leo said, softening his voice as if that would soften the blow of his words. It didn't. I was shocked beyond belief.

"Excuse me?" I managed to choke out.

Leo had a sympathetic look on his face. "That's the truth, Ravenna. Your parents tried all their best to keep that lifestyle away from you. They made your childhood as normal as possible so you could be happy, but the time has come."

"What time?" I had a feeling that I knew what he was trying to say, but I wanted him to say it first before I started to freak out.

"It's time for you to take over the reins. It's time to take over your father's place. I've been acting as a fill-in all these years. It's time for the official leader to step in. That rightful leader is you."

I stood abruptly, pushing the chair backward. I shook my head. "No. I'm not doing this." I wasn't ready for this. "I'm not going to do this. I won't put a target on Nana's back like this."

"Like you aren't already. You are a wheelman for crying out loud. This is different. You're going to have extra protection for her. This is your father's legacy, Ravenna. Don't let it go to waste."

"I- I need time," I stuttered. My head was pounding from all the information I'd just taken in in the space of a few hours.

Leo nodded in understanding. "I understand." He scribbled what I assumed was his number on a paper before handing it to me. "Call me when you make a decision, but do it fast, Ravenna. We don't have time on our hands. I'll have Andrea take you back."

I nodded, swallowing. Just when you thought I'd gotten out of this life permanently, I got sucked back into it.