Claimed But Not Owned

Chapter 4

Sunlight spilled across King’s mansion as birds chirped outside the tall windows. Inside the bedroom, Raven was fast asleep, her breathing deep and even.King and Jordan stood over her.

“Between a pig and her, who snores louder?” Jordan asked with a grin.

King ignored the joke.“Give me that water.”

Jordan glanced around, spotted a glass on the bedside table, and handed it over. Without any rush, King tilted it and poured the cold water straight onto Raven’s face.

She jolted awake instantly, gasping as she shot up from the bed. Jordan burst out laughing.

“Oh s**t, man. You got her good.”

Raven lowered her head for a moment, water dripping from her chin. Her fingers balled into tight fists and her lips were pressed into a thin line, but when she lifted her eyes, her voice came out calm and steady.

“Are you crazy?”

The laughter died immediately.

No one has ever spoken to the Mafia Don that way before and nobody dared to. Jordan’s expression twisted. In a flash, he stepped forward, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and yanked her head back hard.

“Who’s crazy?” he shouted. “Who the f**k is crazy?”

“Jordan.” King’s voice cut through the room, firm and sharp. “Leave her.”

Jordan released her at once, but not before shoving her back onto the bed with force.

A small smile formed at the corner of King’s mouth.“Praise the heavens you’re not a man,” he said quietly. “Or I’d use your teeth to mow the lawn.”

He turned toward the door.

“Get ready and meet me in the living room.”

King walked out. Jordan followed close behind, throwing Raven one last murderous glare before the door clicked shut.

Alone, Raven sat motionless on the damp sheets. Her jaw tightened, and her fingers curled into the fabric until her knuckles went pale. A scream clawed at her throat, but she swallowed it down. Her gaze fell on the wall, then the door, searching for something or anything to take her anger out on. She forced her hands to unclench and drew in a slow,deep breath. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

King had a heart.

Not the emotional kind but the kind she wanted to rip out of his chest.

********

Raven came downstairs dressed simply in black cargo pants, a blue crop top, and black sneakers. Her long black hair fell loosely around her shoulders.

King sat in a large chair that belonged only to him, one leg crossed over the other, the side of his index finger resting against his upper lip. He watched her in silence as she descended the stairs.

She stopped in front of him and placed a hand on her hip. King still said nothing. He only continued looking at her with that same neutral expression.

“Are you going to say anything,” she asked, “or are you just going to keep looking at me?”

A few of King’s men exchanged brief glances. She stood in front of the most dangerous man in Chicago without a trace of fear.

King rose slowly from the chair. He took one step closer, his tall frame towering over her. The room went completely quiet with tension thick in the air.

“You know,” he began, “for a captive, you’ve got a big mouth.”

Raven tilted her chin slightly, meeting his eyes without flinching.“And for a man who claims to own everything, you seem very bothered by it.”

King’s hand lunged out and gripped her jaw tightly.His fingers tightened around it, his nails biting into the surface, but his expression remained unemotional.

After a moment, he finally released her. She stepped back a little, lifting a hand to her jaw where his fingers had dug in. It still hurt.

“Okay, everybody! Good morning!” Jordan’s loud, cheerful voice suddenly filled the room.

He walked in with too much energy, slapping a maid on the butt as he passed, then tapping one of the men on the cheek. When he reached King, he raised a fist, clearly expecting a fist bump. King ignored it completely.

“Come on, man,” Jordan said, arms still open.

“I don’t have all day,” King replied evenly. “Let’s get started.”

Jordan dropped his arms and grinned.“Okay, you’re the boss.” His eyes scanned the room. “So… where’s the b***h?”

“Oh, there you are,” Jordan said when his eyes landed on Raven.

King sat back down in his chair without a word. Jordan wasted no time. He went straight into the plan, explaining to Raven exactly how she would deliver the goods to the client in Indiana and collect the money in return.

Raven let out a short scoff.

“There’s no way I’m helping either of you with your dirty work.”

“Yeah, I know,” Jordan replied casually. “But you will.”

Raven stepped forward a bit, her voice slow and deliberate.

“Read my lips.”

She looked at Jordan first, then at King.“I am not helping you… or him… with any of your shitty work.”

Her gaze stayed locked on them,unwavering.“I would rather die than help you.”

King’s fist tightened at his side.

No one challenged him. No one refused his orders.Not even Jordan. Yet this woman had looked him straight in the eye and told him no.

Raven turned her back, ready to walk away.

“What about your sister?”