The Debt 4 Read Online Free PDF Page B

about interviews on multimedia platforms, town hall forums, Jake
apologizing and then starting a national anti-bullying foundation where he
would donate millions to charity.
    Each new idea seemed more ridiculous and
transparent than the last.
    Meanwhile, Raven stood there, thinking and
thinking about what had been presented to her.   A chance to go home,
with Jake, and tell her story in her own way.   A chance to face her demons head on, to
face down the bullies, the cruel people that had lied and hurt and tormented
her.
    As much as she distrusted Kurt’s motives,
he’d possibly come up with the one scenario that could give her what she’d
always been searching for—closure, vindication.
    Of course, this was where it had all been
leading the whole time, Raven realized, as her heart rate accelerated.   A jolt of energy ran through her body.
    She needed to go back home.   She needed to do it just as
much—no, more even—then Jake needed it for his own publicity
reasons.
    “Okay,” she said softly, “I’ll do it.”
    “Huh?” Jake said, glancing at her.   “You’ll do what?”
    Kurt put his empty beer down and folded
his arms, a tiny smirk playing on his lips.   “Please enlighten us,” he said.   “What are you willing to do, exactly?”
    “I’ll go home, with Jake, just like you
said.”
    “What about all that stuff you were
saying about not wanting to put your family in the spotlight?” Jake asked her,
his eyes suspicious.
    “Of course I need to check with them
first,” Raven said.   “But if they’re
okay with it then so am I.”
    “Are you sure?” Jake asked, his
expression deadly serious.   “Because
you can’t do this halfway.   We need
to know that you’ll go through with it no matter what.”
    “I’ll try,” she said.   “I’ll do the best I can, but…there are
issues between me and my family.”
    “Issues?” Kurt asked innocently.   “Like what?”
    She shot him a look.   “Don’t worry about it.   I’ll handle my own business when it
comes to them.”
    Kurt put his hands up.   “I didn’t mean any harm.   Just a question.”
    “You need to chill out,” Jake told her
quietly, but his voice was firm.
    “I am chilled out,” she whispered.   “Just tell your nosy friend to lay off
me for a minute.”
    Jake shook his head.   “Why don’t we call it a night?” he
said.   “You obviously need more
downtime, and you can call your folks back and let them know we’ll be visiting them.”   He stretched his muscular arms up in the
air.   “Come on, Kurt.   Let’s leave the lady alone for a bit.”
    Kurt chuckled as he exited, brushing past
her, giving her a sly grin.   “Talk
soon,” he said under his breath.
    Raven watched him go, practically
shooting daggers at his back as he left.   Jake turned once to look at her on his way out the door.  
    “You need to get a hold of yourself,” he
said, his dark eyes completely without empathy.   “This isn’t going to get any easier, and
you promised me I could trust you.”
    And then they were gone and she was alone
again.
     
    ***
     
    Some time passed before Raven could get
up the nerve to call her parents back.   She’d broken out in a cold sweat, and her heart was racing.   She felt like something awful was going
to happen, like she was about to die.
    Just
calm down, Raven.   They’re you’re
parents, not executioners.
    Or maybe it’s Danny calling from their
house
    She couldn’t possibly imagine why her
older brother Danny would be calling her from her parents’ house, though.   It had to have been one of her parents.
    They hadn’t left a message, but still…
    As she hit redial on her cell phone,
sitting on the couch, curled up in what was nearly a fetal position, Raven
wondered if maybe they’d somehow accidentally called her.
    No, that was really impossible.   An accidental phone
call after nearly four years without contact?
    She shivered, a tremor running through
her entire body