Page 58 of Broken Promises

I stared at Reid, anger and hurt swirling inside me. “Why didn’t you pay it?”

“I don’t live there anymore. You kicked me out, which was warranted, but you made it clear we weren’t welcome back. It’s not my responsibility anymore, Raven. It’s yours,” Reid saidsoftly, pity written all over his face. “He took out a second mortgage?”

“Everything we paid off was basically for nothing,” I choked out, realization hitting me right in the chest. Why had I thought someone was handling the bills after I’d kicked them all out?

How could I have been so fucking stupid?

“He fucked everything up,” I bit out, my fingers lacing through my hair and pulling hard with frustration, and I found myself leaning into Reid as he untangled my hands from my hair and pulled me against his chest.

Everything was crumbling, and I had no idea how to fix it.

Reid

I carefully led Raven to the couch and pulled her down onto my lap sideways so I could cradle her to my chest. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

If I could kill anyone in this world, it would be Clint fucking Pierce.

This was the risk we’d always taken to keep the house, and he could’ve even sold it out from under us if he’d wanted. Raven wouldn’t listen though, not being able to think about a life without Josh’s ghost in it.

It was my fault that she hadn’t known to take it over, and I wasn’t even sure if she knew how to make payments. I’d never taught her things like that.

“I’m going to kill him,” she said bitterly, clenching her fists and turning her panic into anger.

“I can kill him if you want,” Ander offered seriously, confusing me slightly when Raven let out a huff of laughter.

“You’ll make it hurt?”

“Absolutely.”

“What do you charge?” she teased, and I didn’t like the soft expression he gave her.

“I’d never charge you. You’re too pretty.”

I expected her to scowl or flip him off, but she just grinned at him. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“When the hell did you two start playing nice?” I asked, a little afraid to ask.

“I’ve learned to tolerate him,” she said with a shrug. I didn’t push her for more information, not since she snuggled into me a little more with a sigh. “I don’t know what to do, Reid.”

“I wish I’d never fucked up. I would’ve been with you when he showed up,” I said quietly, running my fingers through her hair and massaging her scalp.

“They’ve trashed the house,” she said quietly, defeat lining her tone. “Sold what they could and broke the rest. It’s like they never sleep, they just party all the time.”

“If you need somewhere to stay?—”

“She’s fine at my place,” Ander cut in, leaning back against the wall close by and crossing his arms.

“This was your mess to begin with. How come Stefano’s not after you too?” I demanded.

“He doesn’t know I’m here. We have an advantage.”

“What kind of advantage? What the hell are you going to do to the mafia?” I snapped, hating it when Raven got to her feet.

I thought she just hated us fighting about it, so I wasn’t expecting her to defend Ander.

“He’s your friend, right? Why don’t you trust him with this?” she asked as she moved to stand beside Ander to glare at me.

“I don’t trust anyone with you. Why are you defending him?” I asked with a frown, not understanding what the fuck was happening.

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