Free RAW by Kelly Favor

be stronger for you,” she told him.
    “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met,” he said. “I’m in awe of you.”
    She laughed through her tears. “That’s ridiculous.”
    “Not to me it isn’t.” He cupped her face in his hands and then kissed her softly.
    After the kiss, she felt a little better. “Thanks,” she said.
    He chuckled. “You just had a freak out, that’s all.”
    “Yeah. I guess.” She still couldn’t shake the awful sensation that they didn’t belong there.
    “You guess?”
    She looked at Elijah. “He was pretty touchy when you asked him how he made money.”
    “Probably because he doesn’t make much of it.”
    “But you asked for a reason, didn’t you?”
    Elijah grinned. “You’re too smart for your own good, kid.”
    “Tell me.”
    He exhaled. “Well, you’re really not going to like him after I tell you this part.”
    “Great. Just say it, don’t torture me. Did he used to work for the Taliban or something?”
    “No, but he did used to deal.”
    “He’s a drug dealer.” She couldn’t believe how insane Elijah was. She glared at him. “You brought me to a drug dealer’s house?”
    “Calm down and lower your voice,” Elijah said. “He’s not dealing anymore.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Because, he left the game when he left Boston. That’s why he owes me. He made a bad deal and got caught holding a lot of product that he couldn’t move. The dudes he owed money to wanted to kill him, but I stepped in and vouched for him. They let him slide.”
    “And so he had to leave town?”
    “Yeah.” Elijah shook his head, looking far away, as if lost in the memory of it.
    “My Dad ended up paying off Trey’s debt. So I owed dear old Dad for that, and I paid big time.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bring up bad memories.”
    “It’s fine. But the thing is,” Elijah said, meeting her gaze, “I’m pretty sure that Trey straightened out after that. Sure, he moved into the woods and he got a little bit weird living out here, but he’s kept a low profile ever since.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “I can’t be one hundred percent sure. But I’m as close to it as I can get, and we’re running low on options right about now.”
    “Okay,” Caelyn said. “I’m done complaining.”
    “Good. Because I think I should go back out and hang with Trey for a bit, meet Paris, be a friendly houseguest.”
    “I’ll come with you,” Caelyn said.
    “You don’t have to.”
    “I want to.” She smiled. “I don’t want to miss a single moment I could spend with you.”
    He smiled back. “Me either.”

    ***
    They didn’t meet Paris until lunch.
    Elijah, Caelyn and Trey were in the cramped kitchen, where Trey was making them grilled cheese sandwiches on the old fashioned stove, trying not to trip over the stack of boxes that leaned perilously close to the flames.
    When Paris entered the kitchen, she was wearing a t-shirt that showed her midriff and shorts that looked like they would need to add a few inches to be considered Daisy Dukes.
    The first person Paris saw when she came into the room was Elijah. Her half-open eyes widened. “I didn’t know we had company, Trey,” she said.
    He turned to her, spatula in hand. “You’d have known if you weren’t passed out like a kid after prom.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t be mean, Trey.”
    “I’m cooking. Want a sandwich?”
    “Yes, please.” She rolled her eyes, then turned to Elijah. “I’m Paris,” she said, holding out her delicate little hand to him.
    Caelyn felt a sudden flash of jealousy—something she hadn’t ever experienced with Elijah. And she wasn’t sure where it was coming from.
    “Elijah,” he said. He didn’t seem particularly interested in Paris.
    But Caelyn had to admit, the girl was the type that guys seemed to flock to at bars and clubs and parties. She had cute little breasts, and the nipples were visible through her revealing t-shirt. Her stomach was flat, and she had a