Read The Debt 6 for Free Online Page B

phone and saw that it had no service.   How would she contact anyone if something happened?  
    What if she wanted to leave?   They had no car, no form of transportation or communication with the outside world.   They were miles away from any help.   Jake could fall and break his leg walking in the woods and she’d never even know where he was or have the ability to call for an ambulance.
    Not to mention, on the off chance that one of their enemies somehow figured out where they were hiding.   They’d be sitting ducks, alone in the wilderness with no ability to flee or call for help.
    Then the tears came.   Jake had somehow gotten her to trust him completely, to put herself in his hands without even having the faintest idea what he intended to do to get them out of this mess.
    So far, from appearances, it seemed that he wanted to hide from the world in this remote cabin and polish his gun collection all day.
    It was no way to live and it wasn’t going to solve anything.
    Jake had a tour to promote his new album that he needed to finish, and his reputation was at stake.   Not to mention the financial toll of cancelling such a big tour after everything else that had gone wrong recently.
    On top of that, Raven had her own responsibilities.   She hadn’t been in touch with Skylar, and her friend needed her support.   Skylar was sick and scared and now Raven had just disappeared on her without a word about where she’d gone.  
    As Raven waited for Jake to return, the sky darkened and then it began to rain.   The rain was heavy and without mercy, and she heard it spattering rhythmically on the rooftop and windows.
    If Jake had been there with her, it would’ve been romantic.   They could have cuddled up together, kept one another warm.
    Instead, she was shivering and alone and frightened.
    The minutes ticked by as the rain continued to pour down from an angry sky.   Hours later, he still hadn’t come back.
     
    ***
     
    By the time Jake came back to the cabin, Raven had nearly given up hope.   Her heart filled with relief when he came through the door, soaked from head to toe.   He’d gone out shirtless and his upper body dripped with the rain.   His pants were completely waterlogged, and Jake pulled off his shoes and then his pants immediately after getting inside.
    Raven ran over to him.   “Are you okay?” she said, wanting to hug him and yell at him all at once.
    Jake didn’t even look at her.   “I need a drink,” he said, as he stepped out of his pants.   He was in his boxers, which were also completely wet and clinging to his legs and hips.  
    “Jake, you can’t just leave me like that.   I was scared.   My cell phone doesn’t work—“
    “I said, I need a drink.”   He strode into the kitchen and rummaged for a moment before coming up with a bottle of vodka.
    “Do you really think that’s such a good idea?” Raven said.
    Jake looked at her and his eyes were darker than the skies outside.   “I think it’s a fucking fantastic idea, actually.”   He spun the cap off the bottle and it fell to the ground and rolled under the sink.   Then Jake tipped the bottle to his lips and took a long drink, closing his eyes as he did so.
    Raven couldn’t believe what she was seeing.   “So now you’re just going to get drunk?   Is this why we came all the way out to the middle of nowhere?”
    “Maybe,” he replied, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.   He rested his hips against the countertop and waited, the bottle casually propped up on his leg.   “Maybe that’s what the doctor ordered.   I’ll knock myself out and wake up tomorrow and the world will look different.”
    She glared at him.   “And maybe I’ll look different, too.   Isn’t that what you forgot to say?”
    Jake’s lip curled.   “Everything’s not always about you, Raven .”
    “That’s because it’s always about you, Jake.”
    He smiled.   “Now you’re getting it.”
    “I just wish I