Page 146 of Never Fall for an Angel

As if I fucking could.

My hand falls to my side, a bitterness sliding down the back of my throat.

“I can’t risk you being by yourself out here. Phantom will go, too.”

If something were to happen and the waves were too rough, no one would be able to get to her. Not to mention, with Paulina around, I’ll have the peace of mind that she’s eating and taking care of herself. Leaving her out here alone to sit with nothing but her thoughts and the nightmares that plague her dreams, I’m not sure if I’d come back to my wife . . . or what’s left of her.

Tears well in her eyes, but they don’t fall.

It still feels like I swallowed glass, though.

“Okay?” I ask, the hole in my chest aching more prominently today.

She nods, pulling her towel tighter around herself.

“I’ll get dressed.”

An hour later, we pull down the drive of the Oak Ridge Lodge. An overwhelming sense of foreboding hangs in the air as the oversized inn comes into view, nestled amongst the Mount Baker National Forest.

I fucking hate this place, but right now, it’s the safest place for Mila with me out of the state.

I expect her to ask when she sees the old stone fortress, but she doesn’t, remaining silent.

Fuck, she’s been silent since we left the island two hours ago. I don’t know why I expect any different.

I pull around to the side and stop in front of the employee entrance, exiting the car. Mila follows, but Levi hangs back, leaning against the side of the car. He hates this place as much as I do. Phantom, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier to piss all over everything in sight. Oddly enough, a sense of pride washes through me because I hate this place.

“There are my babies,” Paulina gushes, rushing out the door and beelining straight for Mila. Surprisingly, Mila goes into her arms, letting her hug her.

Must be fucking nice, I think dryly, well aware that I have no one to blame but myself for the fact that my wife won’t let me touch her.

“Rought night?” Collin chuckles, sensing my dark mood when I grab Mila’s bag and head inside.

I swear to fucking God . . .

“You have no fucking idea.”

He follows me when I bypass the front lobby and head straight upstairs to the live-in quarters. It’s where Paulina and Bella live, so I know she won’t be alone while I’m gone.

“You’re sure about this?” Collin asks, stopping in the doorway to the suite I use if I’m ever here, his icy blue stare cocky while he watches me sit Mila’s bag down on the large, Alaskan king bed.

“No.”

“You know, you don’t have to go.”

I grit my teeth. As if it were that fucking easy.

“I do.”

He steps into the room, his hands in his pockets. I can tell he wants to say something, but right now, I’m really not in the fucking mood.

I should be back on the island with Mila, talking this shit over. Not running off to find the man who raped her in the hopes thatmaybewhen I’m done, I’ll be able to piece some sort of life together with her.

“She’s a strong girl,” Collin starts, looking at the bag on the bed. “Full of light. Beautiful . . .”

Did I bring my gun in with me?

“Someday, someone’s going to snuff that light out,” he says quietly, his gaze meeting mine, saying everything I know both of us are thinking. “Think about that while you’re gone.”

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