Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ANGELICA
I needed to get out of here. Now that it was late I’d slip away and no one would know until at least morning.
By then I’d be long gone. I punched my duffle jacket into my pack, pushing it down as hard as I could.
It was the largest bag I could find, still it barely held the essentials: a pair of jeans, three pairs of clean underwear, socks, t-shirts and what jewelry I had after Silas destroyed my room.
The necklaces and rings I’d pawn to get out of here. The thought of that hurt, especially parting with the tiny gold angel pendant on the expensive chain mom gave me for my eighteenth birthday. You’re my angel, her words still rang in my head. The daughter I was meant to save.
But she didn’t save me and now the only way for me to save her was to get out of here and run as far and as fast as I could. The fur-lined hood peeked out. I folded it now and yanked the tie before flipping the weatherproof flap over and lifted my gaze.
That was it.
The last thing I needed.
I looked around to the room that’s become my sanctuary in a volatile, treacherous place. I heaved my pack up, my chest aching as I strode for the door, eased it open and slipped out.
“Are you going somewhere?”
I froze, my hand on the handle, then slowly turned. Gabe stood there in the space between our rooms, his careful gaze taking in my jeans, boots and cashmere top before he moved to the pack on my back. Pain flared in his soft, kind eyes. Cutting, cruel pain that hurt to see.
“Gabe, I have to.”
“Why?” His voice was wounded and husky, sounding cruelly young in that moment.
But he wasn’t young. I took a step and reached up, cupping the cheek of a man. “I have to.”
We never spoke about his brother’s hateful tone toward me. It was more from Theo and now from Silas, but there was a vein of indifference from Jude, one that ran from the patriarch of this family. The man who didn’t even know his wife adopted a daughter. One he tolerated.
“They don’t want me here.” I whispered.
“Fuck them. I want you. Doesn’t that count for something?” He searched my eyes.
I shook my head.
“Please,” he begged. “Please, don’t leave me.”
I didn’t have time to argue as he wrapped his arms around me, slamming me against his hard, trembling chest. Tears welled in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his waist. It’d been weeks since I had any kind of affection. Weeks since I’d had any kind of comfort at all.
“It’s okay.” I forced the words around the ache in my throat. “Come on. I’ll stay.’
He clung tighter. “You’re…you’re the only one who gets me.”
I looked over his shoulder as he curled his body, pressing against every inch of me.
The agony of betrayal cut deep as I shook my head, gripping his shirt at the small of his back.
I became aware of him, very aware. The way his arms were a vice.
The way he turned his head, drawing in my scent with deep draws of breath.
Heat moved through me, finding my cheeks and my belly, then moved lower.
No.
I shifted against him, brushing against the bulge at the front of his jeans before he pulled away. He looked embarrassed, instantly turning his body away.
“Hey.” I said suddenly. “How about we make some of that microwave popcorn and watch a movie.”
“As long as it’s not Sleepless in Seattle again.” He mumbled. “I swear I can recite that movie in my sleep.”
A hard bark of laughter tore free. I shook my head, playfully punching his arm. “Deal. You can pick this time, but if it’s Fast and The Furious I get to make all the car sounds.”
He grinned, meeting my gaze. “Deal.”
“You go start the popcorn and I’ll put this away.”
One nod and he was striding away, leaving me to head back into my room. The moment I closed the door the gravity of this hit me. How could I leave him…and now of all times? I stared at my room and that sinking feeling swept through me.
I couldn’t…that’s how.
The straps of my pack dug in as I pulled it free and tossed it on the end of the bed. But I didn’t unpack, not yet. That same fear only grew bolder. I had to be careful now. I had to play it safe. Keep my head down, say nothing even when Theo is a bastard.
I had to be invisible.
But I guess, I’d spent most of my life being that to this family…what was a few more months?
I headed back out, glancing along the quiet hallways as I made for the kitchen. The pop…pop…poppoppop sound of popcorn greeted me before that delicious buttery scent flooded my senses. I stepped in, folded my arms and found Gabe grabbing a large bowl.
We were more alike than the others. He was blood but he was softer than they were, kinder and sweet. I hoped he always stayed like that. He lifted his gaze, catching me staring and grinned. “What?”
I shook my head. “Nothing, just trying to work out why we’re so different.”
He laughed, but I could tell he wondered about it too.
“‘Cause not everyone can be strong and protective like Silas, or smart like Jude, or even outgoing like Theo. Sometimes there needs to be space for the quiet ones like us.” He gave a shrug. “We have our own place here, they just need to be reminded of that.” He jerked his head toward his brother’s rooms as the sound of the popping corn slowed.
That same agony inside me roared to the surface.
He always saw the best in people like that, especially his brothers…
and me. My pulse raced, that panicked flighty feeling took hold.
There was no way out of this for me. Keeping quiet until I could escape was one thing, but now after the reading of the will and being forced to stay here it meant I had to be more than quiet—I had to not exist at all.
“Oh, ouch that’s hot.” Gabe shuffled the bag from hand to hand, tugging at the opening until he upended the contents into the bowl and handed to me proudly like he was the one who tilled the soil and grew the damn thing.
I grinned, grabbing it while he made for the refrigerator and grabbed two colas following me into the living room.
He flopped down hard, in my head I could hear mom chiding him. Gabe, really? Can’t you just sit like a normal person?
For a moment. One perfect moment…life was normal.
He hit the button, scrolled through the movies finding some mind-numbing action movie for me to get lost in. I did, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it, until the rear door closed with a thud and the sound of footsteps echoed, heading our way.
Gabe glanced at his watch. “Huh, looks like an early night for a change.”
I peered at the time. “By early you mean eleven o’clock.”
He smiled, then hurtled a piece of popcorn into his mouth. “Early for them at least.”
I was already yawning, waiting for the movie to end, but as I caught Silas turning the corner and headed toward the study I knew that’d changed.
Gabe laughed and looked my way. I tried to pretend I was still watching, but I wasn’t. Instead I focused on the study door as it opened…until the rear door opened again minutes later. But it didn’t sound like Theo. The steps were slower and heavier, drawing both our gazes.
Silas stepped out of the study door as Lincoln stepped around, meeting our gaze and nodded. Only it lingered on mine, searching my eyes before taking in my body.
“Lincoln.” Silas called. “Over here.”
Gabe’s uncle turned away from us, we both found each other, surprised as Hell.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” Gabe murmured as Lincoln made for the study and disappeared with Silas behind the closed door.
“I have no idea.” I answered as that cornered feeling pushed in. “Maybe it’s business?”
“Maybe,” Gabe repeated. “And maybe not.”
It had to be. That’s all I knew. Because there was no way they’d know any different. Gabe turned back, yawning as the movie ended. “Ready for bed?”
I shook my head as tired as I was. “Another one?”
He looked exhausted, still he nodded and scrolled, finding something else to play. But I didn’t care about the movie, not anymore. I cared about one thing and one thing alone…them never finding out the truth.
They were in there for what felt like forever.
I waited…and waited…and waited.
Until finally the door to the study opened and they both stepped out.
But Lincoln didn’t head for the door, not right away. Instead they stared across the hallway at me. I tried not to notice, to keep my focus on the movie instead. But the weight of their focus grew so heavy it weighed me down.
“Tomorrow night.” I faintly caught the words from Silas.
“Until then,” Lincoln headed our way, stopping long enough to glance at the screen. “Nice to see you Gabe…and you…Angelica.”
My cheeks burned. All I managed was a weak smile and a nod before he left.
But Silas remained, standing outside the study…that hateful stare locked on me.