Page 30 of The One

“Your brother has a bit of an obsession with you.” My arm tightens around Angel, hating to think about that little fucker. The sick things he likely did all while thinking about Angel.

“He hates me. Brent has spent most of his life terrorizing me.”

“He is a fucking psycho, so that might be what gets him off,” Nikolai mutters, shaking his head. He’s still not over Brent and Becky, and I don’t blame him. He wants his revenge for what they tried to do to Riley.

“Some of the girls, the ones he picked, bear a resemblance to you,” I tell her, wanting it to come from me. She tenses. “He built a show shrine to you. Took pictures of you without you knowing.” I push down my temper to get the rest out. “In your home.” Angel turns in my arms. “In?—”

She places a finger on my lips. “I get it. You don’t need to say any more.”

“If you want to say goodbye—” Matteo says.

“What?” Angel turns back toward him.

“He’s here.” Matteo nods toward the van. “We’ll be taking your brother and father back home.”

“I don’t want to say anything to him.” I hate how defeated she sounds. She’s too pure and innocent for any of this.

“All right, then. We need to get moving.” Matteo taps his watch.

“Come on, Angel.” She doesn’t stop me from leading her back up to our place. Nikolai and Riley follow behind us.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she asks as soon as we enter. Angel walks over, picking up the kitten, hugging it to her chest.

“I’ll stay if that is what you want.”

“You said it was your kill.” Angel repeats what I’d said downstairs.

“It’s my right, but no, I don’t have to take it.”

“But you want to.” I do. I want to snap the little fucker’s neck, but first I want to hear his scream. To torment him the same way he’d done to Angel all her life.

“I want to please you more.” A small smile pulls at her lips.

“Go,” she says.

“I’ll be staying too.” Riley sits down on the couch. Nikolai won’t be missing this. I may be the primary on this one, but I’ll make sure he gets what he needs out of it as well.

“Go,” Angel says again, but I don’t move. “I’m not going to run.”

“I was going to lock it either way.” I’m honest with her.

“I know.”

I walk over toward her. “Tell me not to go.”

“I won’t do that, Abel.”

Fuck me. Why is she doing this?

“Go. I’ll be here when you get back.” She licks her lips. “Then we’ll talk.”

Is this some kind of test? I don’t fucking know.

“Come on.” Nikolai's hand comes down on my shoulder.

“I’ll be back, Angel.” She doesn’t stop me when I lean in and press a kiss to her mouth. Then I follow Nikolai out and back down the stairs. This time, making sure to lock the door behind me.

18

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