22. Jerome

Chapter 22

Jerome

M y knuckles whitened as I gripped the steering wheel, jaw set in grim determination. The speedometer needle was pushing further to the right, edging into territory that spelled recklessness. But I didn't flinch. Time was a luxury I couldn't afford, not with Raven's life potentially hanging in the balance.

Come on, come on . I urged the car forward as if it could respond to my desperation. Hold on, Raven. I'm coming.

The landscape blurred past me, trees and fences merging into a continuous streak of green and brown. My mind replayed the last conversation I had with Raven, my voice a mixture of steely resolve and barely concealed anxiety. It was unlike me to show any hint of fear, which only served to fuel my own concern.

Suddenly, the familiar outline of Raven's property loomed ahead. Without hesitation, I slammed my foot onto the brake; the tires screeching their protest as rubber burned against the asphalt. The high-pitched howl pierced the quiet countryside, sending birds scattering from the nearby trees.

"Damn it!" I cursed as the car fishtailed slightly before coming to an abrupt stop at the front entrance. I threw open the door, the metal clanging loudly in the silence that followed the echo of tortured tires.

The scent of burnt rubber hung thick in the air, mixing with the faint whiff of danger that seemed to emanate from the house itself. I shook my head, trying to clear it, to focus on the task at hand. I needed to get to her to ensure she was safe.

My boots hit the gravel with an urgency that matched the rapid drumming of my heart. I paused for a fraction of a second, allowing my trained eyes to sweep the area—left to right, then right to left—etching every detail into my mind. The overgrown pathway, the wind whispering through the trees, the distant rustle of leaves—all registered as potential threats.

"Nothing out of place... yet," I muttered under my breath. My inner voice, a constant companion, echoed my thoughts. Stay sharp, Dawson. This isn't a drill.

I approached the imposing iron fence, its spikes reaching towards the sky like the fingers of a giant trying to snatch at the clouds. I knew better than to waste precious seconds searching for an entry point; time was a luxury I couldn't afford. With practiced ease, my hands found purchase on the cold metal, and I hoisted myself up with a fluidity that defied the bulk of my muscular frame.

"Come on, muscles, don't fail me now," I encouraged myself silently, feeling the strain in my biceps as we bore my weight.

The ascent was a dance of precision and power—each movement deliberate, each breath measured. At the apex of the fence, I paused, balancing effortlessly. For a moment, I was a statue cast in iron, a silent guardian against the backdrop of a darkening sky.

"Almost there, Raven," I whispered, envisioning her face, fierce and beautiful, as if she could hear me. With a swift motion, I swung my legs over and landed on the other side with a soft thud that barely disturbed the stillness of the evening.

"Let's hope that was the hardest part," I thought, brushing off the insignificance of the physical obstacle compared to what might lie ahead.

And with that, I surged forward, propelled by duty and the unspoken promise made to the woman who had somehow managed to breach the walls I had built around my heart.

My hand shot to the holster at my side, the leather a familiar comfort against my palm. The weapon slid out with seamless precision—a cool extension of my own resolve—as I flicked off the safety. My fingers wrapped around the grip, firm and unwavering. "I'm coming for you," I breathed, the words a silent vow that tethered me to the mission at hand.

I scanned the house's facade for any telltale signs of forced entry or struggle. The structure loomed before me, its windows dark and inscrutable, a fortress hiding untold dangers within. I could almost feel Raven's presence behind those walls, her strength a beacon that drew me onward.

With each stride towards the house, adrenaline surged like an electric current through my veins, sharpening my senses to a razor's edge. The night air rushed past me, cool against my heated skin, as I closed the distance with a predator's grace. "Focus. Every second counts," I reminded myself, heart hammering a relentless beat in my chest.

As I neared the door, I steadied my breathing, preparing for what lay on the other side. Each step was a promise, each breath a commitment. Nothing would stop me from ensuring her safety. Nothing.

My heart pounded in my chest, a metronome keeping time with the urgency of my steps, when the crack of gunfire shattered the silence of the night. The sound, jarring and all too familiar, echoed through the dark expanse, a chilling reminder of the stakes at play.

"Raven..." My breath hitched as I advanced. The very air around me seemed to vibrate with the reverberations of the shots. I clung to the hope that I had taken cover, that her resilience had kicked in. I trained her well. She knows what to do.

Another shot rang out, closer this time, its sharp report cutting through the distance between us. My training kicked in, honing my focus to a fine point. I moved with purpose, the weight of the gun in my hand a constant reassurance. Each step was propelled by the need to protect, to serve, to save the woman who had become my charge, my responsibility... my reason.

"Can't let you down," I grunted, vaulting over a low wall that bordered Raven's property. The gunshots were a call to action, each one heightening my senses, narrowing the world down to the task at hand. Protect Raven at all costs.

I landed on the other side, knees bending to absorb the impact. My eyes scanned the shadows for movement, for the threat that lurked unseen. There was no room for hesitation; every moment of delay was a moment too long.

"Almost there," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. The mantra became my rhythm, propelling me forward as I approached the house, ready to confront whatever awaited inside.

"Raven, be safe," I breathed, the plea laced with an edge of command. The bond of protector and protected, soldered in trust and mutual respect, now tested in the crucible of danger.

The next gunshot was a thunderclap, urging me onward. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for what was to come. I rounded the corner of the house, weapon raised, every muscle tensed for the confrontation ahead.

"Here I come."

My boots pounded the earth, each step a resolute drumbeat in the cacophony of chaos swirling around Raven's once tranquil home. Shattered glass crunched underfoot, a testament to the violence that had shattered the night. The air was heavy with the acrid tang of gunpowder and the bitter undertow of fear. It clung to my senses, a tangible shroud of dread that thickened as I drew closer to the epicenter of turmoil.

My chest tightened, imagining her caught in the crosshairs of peril. The thought spurred me faster, breaths coming in sharp bursts that did little to quell the inferno of anxiety licking at my insides.

I couldn't afford doubt; it was a luxury that belonged to another life—one where Raven's smile wasn't a beacon worth every risk. My heart hammered out a rhythm that matched the urgency of my strides, a relentless reminder of what was at stake.

Got to keep you safe . The words punctuating the space between the staccato of distant gunfire. That was my mission—my sole purpose—and nothing would stand in my way. Not the danger that awaited, nor the shadows that danced menacingly across the house's fa?ade, threatening to engulf everything I cared about.

She was a fighter, her resilience a match for my own, but even warriors needed allies. And I would be hers—unyielding, steadfast, until the threat was no more than a memory etched in the scars of our shared battles.

The unknown loomed before me, a specter poised to strike, but I was no stranger to the dance with darkness. I'd emerge victorious, for her, always for her.

My mind played a treacherous game, images of Raven—bound, frightened, or worse—flashing behind my lids with every blink.

The house loomed larger now, its windows darkened, eyes keeping secrets. Another gunshot cracked the silence, a violent punctuation that set my nerves alight. I didn't flinch—not anymore. The sound was a call to arms, a signal that beckoned me forth into battle.

My fingers tightened around the grip of my weapon, the familiar coldness a harsh contrast to the heat of my blood. Adrenaline surged, a tidal wave crashing through my veins, sharpening my senses to a razor's edge. I was close, so damn close.

I breached the perimeter of the property, a final obstacle between me and destiny. My body tensed, ready for the onslaught, ready for anything. Or so I thought.

With a last burst of speed, I reached the door, my hand poised to turn the knob. Time slowed, each second stretching into infinity, a universe waiting to unfold.