Page 153 of The Masks She Wore

?I released a breath, turning back to the windshield as I fell into my seat. My dad had killed her parents just before mom had put me in that program. A few months before. Maybe mom knew that. Maybe the person she was trying to train me to fight against was my own father. Did she know who it was he was working for? Did she know anything about it?

?After another few seconds, I released a breath and got out of the car, looking over to find Jack leaning against his own, hands in his pockets, his eyes steady.

?I gave him a nod and walked over to Beth’s side. With ease, I pulled her into my arms, Jack meeting me at her front door so I could get her to bed.

?“What is her part in this?” Jack finally asked when we left the house, locking the door behind us.

?I felt such anger fill me as we headed for his car. “She was trying to protect me. She was trying to figure out how to fix me without destroying me in the process.”

?“I’m sorry, Rae.”

?I shook my head, feeling the anger roll under my skin. “Don’t be. It’s time we return the favor.” I looked over. “He killed her parents too. It wasn’t an accident. It was murder.”

?Jack’s eyes hardened. “As if I needed another reason to put a bullet in his head.” He opened the door for me and helped me in. “We’ll fix this, Princess, I promise.”

?Yeah, we would. If I had to die to put this motherfuckerin his place, then so be it. So long as Charles Alascer no longer walked this world, I would rest in peace.

~~~

I took out my earrings, finding my eyes in the reflection of the bathroom mirror.

?I still looked exactly how I had before I left the house. I almost felt unfulfilled with how little effort it had taken this evening, but what should I have expected? Azrael was right. I built it up into thisthingwhen all it had been was questioning a friend.

?I was more annoyed at myself than anything else, and I could clearly see the annoyance grow as my lips curved down.

?I took my bracelets off and set them down with a clatter.

?I exchanged the ponytail for a high bun and turned on the water, going through the tedious process of washing my face. When I finally straightened, Jack was standing a few feet away, one of our towels in hand.

?I found his eyes for half a second before taking the towel and patting my skin dry.

?“You okay?”

?I tossed the towel to the counter and stalked out of the room. “I’m annoyed,” I answered truthfully. “You tortured me into remembering Charlote Alascer but I’m still weak like Rae.”

?“Rae was never weak.”

?I rolled my eyes and sat on the bed, reaching for my heels. “Rae posted on social media. Rae was careless in who she talked to, interacted with. Rae allowed Max into her life and accepted her role as Ms. Elite without question.” I found his eyes. “She was weak.”

?Jack came to a stop in front of me. “Rae did her job. Your job.”

?I set my heel down and sat back. “She gets nervous when readying herself to speak to someone about something important. Charlotte never would have allowed that.”

?Jack studied me carefully. “Were you nervous because you were scared or were you nervous because you didn’t want to lose something important?”

?I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

?“I’m on the side that keeps you from second-guessing yourself just because Azrael got in your head.”

?I scoffed and reached for my other heel. “Azrael didn’t get in my head.”

?“He gets in everyone’s head. Even Malachi’s. You had to consider everything, Princess. If Viv was working for your dad or going after you for revenge, those were important things to think about. You waiteduntil you knew Viv was drunk enough to answer your questions and not call anyone if she was working with someone. It was a smart move.”

?I set my other heel down and found his eyes. “Charlotte would have drugged her, strapped her to a chair, and forced the answers out of her.”

?Jack smiled softly. “While that would have been fun, it also would have been counterproductive. Malachi was right, but I think the implications he gave were far from that.”

?I searched his eyes, leaning back on the bed. “Why would he imply that she was bad? What was that about?”

---