Exodus (The Ravenhood)

“You want to keep this civil? Fine, indulge me. How is Sean?”

“Married. Happily. He runs the garage now. He’s got two kids.”

I swallow. “T-that’s, that’s wonderful.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you still close?”

“No.”

“Why?”

His eyes ignite, and this time, it’s take no prisoners. “I’m done here,” he snaps, picking up the pen and holding it toward me. “Sign. And go home.”

“No. I think I’ll hang around for a bit. I’ve got old friends to see. How is Tyler?”

He takes an aggressive step forward. It’s almost as if he’s in pain staring back at me. Greedy, I eat the feel of it up because being within feet of this man has heightened my senses to a point I didn’t think I was capable of anymore.

He reads me easily.

“Times have changed. This is the last thing that ties us.”

I tilt my head. “Is that so?”

“Just fucking sign,” he orders in warning. “I want to be done with you.” I flinch, and for the first time since he entered the room, his eyes soften, but I’m already hemorrhaging.

Hate him. Please hate him.

“Sign,” he utters, his voice low. It’s as close to begging as he’ll get.

The air stills the longer we square off, and I know he’s with me. We’re both fighting the draw, fighting the shift between love and hate. The longer we’re in the room, the more it blurs, and the angrier I get. But I’m not going back on the promise I made myself.

“I want the truth.”

“Prepare to be disappointed.”

“Meaning?”

“Don’t push me, Cecelia.”

“Don’t push you? Oh, you silly bastard, it’s about to be a shoving match,” I grit out, lifting my chin. “I deserve answers.”

The door opens, and Ryan steps in. Tobias’s glare lands on him, but Ryan’s eyes are on me.

“We okay in here?”

“Fine,” I answer quickly, though I’m anything but. I’m coming apart the more the seconds’ tick past. “We just need another minute.”

Tobias doesn’t spare Ryan a word as the two have a silent but loaded moment before he closes the door behind him.

Tobias looks back at me incredulously, before shaking his head in disgust.

“What?”

“Of course, your fucking lawyer is in love with you.”

“He’s a dear friend I trust, and he’s the best at what he does. In fact, he’s about to put your balls in a vise, so you might want to play nice. This is business, and I’m keeping my silly heart out of it, you taught me that, remember? And who better to teach that lesson than a heartless man?”

He slides the documents across the table.

“Sign it.”