Chapter 80: Actions and Consequences 1

Draven’s POV

Jade was getting better than usual. At least she could speak more clearly now. At least the time given to her to recover had been well used.

"Jade, how are you doing?"

"How do I look, Draven?" she asked, smiling.

Strong lady. I’d always admired her.

"I was so scared when I saw you like that. I couldn’t imagine something like that happening to you..."

"I’m fine now. No need to be scared," she cut me off before I could finish.

Jade tried to stand up. I helped her. She straightened up and stood on her own two feet.

"Thank you, Draven. I don’t know who else would’ve done this apart from you. You’ve been with me through all of this," she said.

I felt a warmth spread through my chest hearing that from her. I had been with her the whole time. I hadn’t even cared to check what was happening on the outside.

"Can we go see everyone outside now?" I asked.

She got a little shy about it. She didn’t want to go at first, but I convinced her.

"They’ll be so happy to see you."

She stepped outside and the noise that erupted was immediate.

Everybody was overjoyed to see her.

"Welcome back, Jade," everyone said one by one, coming forward to shake her hand and pull her into hugs.

When Dorian reached her side to embrace her, he shot me a deadly side-eye. Something was off and I knew it. It was bad enough that someone was working to make me an enemy inside this clan. That was fucked up.

"Welcome back, Jade. We’re so glad you’re safe and sound," Rex said last, stepping forward to embrace her.

"How are you, Rex? I heard you got injured yourself," Jade said.

"Oh, it’s nothing I couldn’t handle. Just a small scratch, that’s all," he replied.

The fuck? Why was Rex lying like that? That was so corny of him. But then again, if he’d died, he wouldn’t be standing there running his mouth. Life was the luxury that gave people the freedom to talk however they pleased.

I said that to myself and left it there.

Rex brought out drinks for everyone.

"We have to do something for Jade and myself," he said once the drinks had gone around. "Cheers to Jade and me ... for lives well preserved. And cheers to all of us, the Mafia Wolves, who don’t give up and don’t back down."

"Cheers!" everybody echoed together and threw back their drinks.

We scattered across the room, cups in hand.

"Jade!" Rex called out to her and the entire room went quiet.

"I wanted to settle something before it escalates," he said, and I immediately knew what was coming.

Damn. I’d forgotten to warn her while we were in the room. I was so focused on her recovery that it completely slipped my mind. I should’ve told her to be ready for a question like this.

"What is it, Rex?"

"Word’s been flying around that you’re fucking Draven ... our newest intake."

Her eyes flew wide open.

"What! Who said that? What the hell!"

"Doesn’t matter who said it. What matters is that it was said," Rex replied.

"I’m not fucking Draven. I’m not fucking him," she said firmly.

"But he’s been on your ass for days now and it’s becoming a little too much," Dorian added.

"Oh, is that why you went to the boss with it? You assumed something and just spat it out? You’re a fool," Jade shot back.

Dorian made a move toward her. The men beside him grabbed him and held him back.

"Anyway, that settles it. I only wanted to hear it from your own mouth," Rex said.

"Thank you for giving me that privilege, Rex," Jade said.

"It’s because of you I gave it. You know me well enough. You know what happens to people who lie to me, right?" Jade nodded. "Alright."

"Jade’s coming back to the kitchen, isn’t she?" Gia asked. She had been stuck cooking all this time and was clearly done with it. Such a tomboy.

"Yes, I’m back, Gia. Thank you. I hope you’re happy now," Jade said with a smile as she walked toward the kitchen counter.

"We’ve missed your food, Jade. How about you make us that cornmeal?" Rex asked.

Jade laughed. "I can do that. I’ll warm your bellies." Everyone cheered.

I slipped back inside to draft a plan to go after the people who had done that to my Jade.

I ran a background check on every member of the Glocks rogue wolves. They were all badasses. But they were going to die and that was the only thing that mattered.

I’d only handled a gun for a short period of time but I was ready to pour every ounce of my anger into those bastards.

I was so caught up in my feelings for her. At that point, I could’ve done anything for Jade.

I zeroed in on one of their members ... specifically the one who’d been in the room with Jade when we went in to rescue her. I tracked him down by a face sketch I made from memory.

The ugly-looking bastard. I ran a full background check on him. Found his family. Found where he lived.

All this technology was at the fingertips of the Mafia Wolves and they weren’t using it for anything. That was a waste.

I mapped out a plan to go pay that bastard a visit. He went to his nephew’s school to pick him up every single day ... playing guardian. That was his routine. That was his weakness.

I was deep into drafting the plan ... figuring out how to slip out without raising suspicion ... when Jade walked into the room.

We hugged.

"Draven, what was that out there?"

"That was Dorian and Rafael. Looks like they’ve got eyes on us," I said.

"Oh fuck. I didn’t implicate myself, we were careful ... we made sure nobody saw us so..."

"I think Dorian’s had it out for me since initiation night. I messed with him then and he hasn’t forgotten. I don’t know what Rafael’s angle is, but they both want to bring me down," I told her.

"Then we can’t be seen together anymore. We’ve got eyes on us. I had to lie to Rex because that question hit me out of nowhere," Jade said.

"That’s probably the smartest thing we can do for now," I agreed.

She looked at me for a long moment.

"We shouldn’t even be doing this, but..." She kissed me, slow and deep.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"For you. Please, let’s keep this on the low for now," she whispered.

She said something was cooking outside and turned to leave. But as she moved toward the door, her eyes landed on the paper sitting on my bed.

"What’s that?" She moved to pick it up. I stepped in front of her. She kept pushing, which only made her more curious.

"What are you hiding?" she asked, reaching around me and grabbing the paper before I could stop her. She looked it over and her expression shifted fast.

"What! Draven, what do you think you’re doing?"

"I can’t let them walk free for what they did to you," I said.

She took my face in both her hands, one palm on each cheek.

"You think that’s your battle to fight? Why do you think Rex left it alone? Those people are dangerous. Don’t even think about it," she said.

"I’ve got it all figured out, Jade. Nothing’s going to stop me."

"Of course something will ... I will. You say you’re doing this for me, so I’m telling you to stop. Your greatest joy should be seeing me alive and standing right here in front of you. Not this." Her voice began to rise. "What has come over you, Draven?"