Claimed But Not Owned

Chapter 5

“What about your sister?” Jordan called out.

Raven stopped immediately.

“What was her name again?” he asked, voice light and taunting as he walked toward her.

Raven spun around fast.

“Don’t you dare touch my sister.”

Jordan only smirked. He snapped his fingers. One of the men stepped forward and handed him a tablet. He turned the screen toward her.

The screen showed a live video of Nia at school, laughing with her friends, completely unaware.

“There’s a sniper nearby,” Jordan said calmly.

“One word from me… and your sister dies.”

Raven’s body went rigid. Every muscle locked. She didn’t want to help them. She would rather die than become part of their world. But Nia…

Jordan watched her struggle in silence for a few seconds. Then he lifted a hand and pressed a finger to the earpiece in his ear.

“Kill her.”

“Wait!” Raven’s voice cut through the room, sharp and desperate. “I’ll do it.”

Jordan’s smirk widened into a satisfied smile.

“Follow me.”

Raven turned to King. He stood up and walked past her like she didn’t exist. Two men immediately closed in on her. One pushed her shoulder, forcing her to move. The other grabbed her arm. Raven yanked her arm free.

“I can walk by myself,” she said.

They headed outside the mansion doors.

A blue farmer truck waited in the driveway, its bed loaded with brown cardboard boxes stacked neatly. The plan was simple and clean. The kind of thing you see in movies when a clean job needs to be done quietly.

The brown boxes were fake produce crates. Inside each one were just vegetables and fruit. The real drugs were hidden beneath the false bottom of each crate, wrapped in plastic and disguised as extra produce. No one would look twice at them.

Raven was going to drive the truck herself across the border into Indiana. She would deliver the crates to the buyer, exchange them for the money, and drive back exactly the same way. The plan was airtight, low-key, and perfect.

“Okay, nice plan,” Raven said with a shrug.

“There’s a reason you’re driving alone. Don’t make me use it,” King said.

Raven went completely silent. She could feel a lump in her throat. She searched his face for any sign of a joke, but there was none. He was stone-cold serious. One wrong move and she would be dead. Nia’s life would be on the line.

She gave a small nod. “Can I go now?”

“Yeah,” Jordan answered.

Raven climbed into the driver’s seat. The men stepped back. King watched from the doorway with a blank expression. She turned the key. The engine turned over smoothly. The truck began to move. It rolled through the gates and disappeared down the long private driveway.

“You think we can trust her?” Jordan asked, watching the truck leave.

King’s brows furrowed at him.

“Isn’t this your plan?”

Jordan opened his mouth, then closed it again.

“Get to work,” King ordered.

He turned and walked back inside with his men.

Raven drove on the road, her heart pounding in her chest, her palms sweaty and her fingers cold on the steering wheel. She kept praying to God with every passing second.

Then the radio crackled to life.

“Raven?”

The sudden voice made her lose control of the steering for a second. The truck swerved slightly before she corrected it, almost hitting another vehicle.

“Whoa, girl. Calm down. It’s me, Jordan.”

Raven let out a shaky breath of relief.

“Just act natural,” he continued. “I’m going to guide you to the buyer. Where are you now?”

“I’m close to the border already.”

Traffic thickened as she approached the checkpoint. Long lines of cars crawled forward under the harsh daylight. Uniformed officers moved between the vehicles, checking papers and looking inside cars and trunks.

She stiffened, her breathing catching at the sight. These weren’t the usual customs officers.

“Jordan…” her voice was low and tight. “The FBI is here.”

On the other end of the line, silence stretched for a beat.

King’s voice cut in, sharp and cold. “How the f**k did this happen?”

“I—I don’t know,” Jordan stammered, staring at the monitor. The small hidden camera inside the truck showed Raven’s tense face as the line of cars inched forward.

Finally, it was her turn.

Raven’s stomach twisted hard. She eased the truck to a stop and rolled down the window. She put on a brave smile.

An officer stepped up to the driver’s side.

“Good morning, ma’am.”

“Good morning, officer,” Raven replied.

Even though her mind was racing, she forced herself to stay calm. Her voice came out steady.

“I need to see your papers,” the officer said.

Raven’s heartbeat quickened. On the other end of the radio, King and Jordan watched the live feed in silence. Their entire plan now rested in her hands.

“Oh… I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t bring them,” she said carefully. “I’ve crossed this border a million times and no one’s ever asked for papers. But if you think I’m a criminal, you’re free to search the truck.”

King’s jaw tightened. “What the f**k is she doing?” he murmured under his breath.

The officer studied her for a long second. “Step out of the vehicle, please.”