Chapter 4: Un-Needed Rescue

Raven moved from one wandering hand to the next. Her ass was getting more action this one night, than in the last six years, she pondered darkly. She was also beginning to hear bits and pieces of important information about lost girls.

“You hear Randy’s girl has gone missing now.”

“Damn, that’s like the second one this month. I’ve been taking my girl to the bathroom, and when I’m not home, Sam’s got her.” The lean greasy man tugged on the chain of the girl next to him. “Isn’t that right, pet?” She nodded with a tense smile.

‘This is disgusting,’ thought Raven, pouring a drink for the man greasy was talking to. ‘Once I get my bearings here, I’ll kill every one of these bastards.’

The man grabbed me forcefully, pulling me to his lap. “Want to be my pet, love? You’re awfully pretty and I’ll reward you greatly.”

Before Raven could reply, “Let her go, she’s mine,” a harsh growl came from the entrance.

Raven turned to see Oliver. He walked up to her, picking her up, and flung her over his shoulder. “Hey,” protested Raven.

Everyone seemed to ignore her. “Don’t touch her again.”

“Of course, Oliver,” fear laced his words.

“Ahh, Oliver, I knew you’d come around eventually,” Leo patted Oliver’s other shoulder. “Didn’t expect you to be so possessive off the bat though.”

Oliver grunted and walked out of the room, carrying Raven. Once outside she twisted in his arms, aligning her feet, and pushing off him, completing a backflip. Maybe this will be her first kill of the night. “What the Hell?” Raven glared at him.

“I already told you I’d pay you double to go home. What the hell were you doing there?” Oliver looked furious, not even taking notice that she was in a fighting stance.

“I didn’t need your rescuing. I was doing just fine,” spat Raven, even as she was angry at him, she couldn’t help but feel a pull to him. Despite that she didn’t need saving, it sent a warm feeling through her knowing that he had. ‘What was he doing there?’ questioned Raven.

“You don’t know those men. They are dangerous, perverts,” proclaimed Oliver, taking a step towards her.

Raven took a step back, “You must be one too, if you were there.”

“That’s actually the first time I’ve been in there. I saw you on the screen,” explained Oliver.

“Oh, so you get your jollies that way,” shot back Raven.

“No,” denied Oliver, he wanted to explain to her, he wanted her to know he wasn’t like them.

“Whatever, you wasted my time and money,” Raven turned to leave. Oliver reached out for her shoulder, before he knew it, or expected it, she had flipped him on the ground, and her foot pressed against his throat. He stayed there more out of surprise and curiosity. “Billionaires can get away with exploiting helpless women, so why shouldn’t I exploit them for their money. I was never afraid of getting hurt.”

Raven was showing more of her cards with this man than she had wanted. She released him and started walking away.

Oliver quickly got off the ground, dusting himself off, he moved after her, but kept a distance for her comfort. “I’m not like them,” he called after her.

“You could have fooled me,” replied Raven. “That man in there was afraid of you. If you were different, you would get rid of that room.”

“I’m working on it,” responded Oliver.

Raven spun around, “And how are you going about that, Mr. Billionaire, who thrives on these profits?”

“Hey,” he moved up in front of her annoyed. “That’s my father’s business, not mine.”

“You had to start from somewhere.” Raven crossed her arms.

“We can’t choose our family,” remarked Oliver, holding her eyes.

Raven cleared her throat and turning back around, he tagged along. “Why are you following me?”

“I want to make sure you get home safe this time.” Oliver pulled off his jacket. When he had taken her, her coat was left behind. He laid it across her shoulders. She gave a subtle jump at the unexpected weight, if he wasn’t watching her so closely, he wouldn’t have noticed.

She pulled the jacket tighter around herself, “Thanks.” Her gratitude made him feel warm.

“Do you want to grab a quick coffee? My treat.”

Raven stopped walking, looking at him closely, ‘What’s this guy’s deal? Why do I want to say yes so badly?’ “What’s your end game?”

“I’d like to start over. Be complete strangers, forget who I am, forget who you are, start fresh? Truthfully, you’re still a mystery, you know who I am. But I would like not to have prenotions.”

Raven was silent for a few seconds, ‘Getting closer to him, could get me closer to my targets, but…’ “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“I do. I’m not asking you to date me,” Raven was about to object, but Oliver seemed to know where she was headed, “Or be my mistress. Friends, I want to be friends.”

‘That would still get me what I want,’ assumed Raven. “Alright, coffee.” Oliver couldn’t help but grin. “Tomorrow though. Coco’s place. You know of it?”

“I did, but that went out of business two years ago.” Oliver looked curiously at her. “I take it you’ve been out of town for a bit?”

Raven nodded, “It’s been some time. Rosie’s café?”

“Yeah, that one is still around. Seven?”

“Make it nine, I’m usually a night owl. Thanks for the chivalry, but I can make it from here.”

“Wait a minute,” Raven glanced back at him. “What’s your name?”

“Victoria.”

Oliver nodded, and watched her walk away, once she turned the corner, he couldn’t take it anymore. He jumped on top of the building, sprinting to the edge to make sure she was safe. When he looked down at the sidewalk, she was nowhere to be seen. His wolf growling in frustration.