Page 169 of Never Fall for an Angel

“Never said I hated her for it. Just said she did and that you still decided you wanted to marry her.”

“What can I say?” I grunt, lighting up the end of a cigarette. “I’m a glutton for punishment.”

Or a fucking masochist.

Levi just shakes his head, chuckling. He opens his mouth, but before he can say whatever idiotic thing he was thinking, his face falls, and he groans.

“Not again.” I look back to where he stalks over to Screaming Pete, who’s consequently pissed himself all over again. “Should have put diapers on you two.”

Grabbing my phone, I head up the stairs to our borrowed bunker, nestled into the woods of New York, and breathe in the crisp—clean—night air.

I let it out, watching the steam from my breath dissipate.

Fuck, I’m exhausted. Levi is, too, but we’re so fucking close to getting some answers, that we can’t afford to stop now.

I’m getting closer.

I grab a chain around my neck and tug the little band out, holding it in the night. The jagged stone in the center glistens in my palm. Running my thumb over the smooth platinum is what keeps me grounded, lately.

It also reminds me why I’m doing this in the first place.

She may not know why I married her, but I do.

Mila Rae Carpenter is mine, and I’ll write it in the blood of any man who tries to take her from me to prove my point.

MILA

Going to catch a cold out here in the evening air.”

I look up from where I’m sitting on the back terrace behind the family quarters. It’s become my secret place to come and hide when inside gets too loud and when my head feels like it’ll explode if I don’t get away.

The only difference is tonight, Paulina found me.

It’s not like it’s not safe. There are guards stationed all over Oak Ridge Lodge. Not to mention, wherever I am, Phantom is usually only a step or two behind me. Tonight, he’s lying at my feet.

I promise you’ve never felt safety like having a giant wolf protecting you twenty-four-seven.

“I’ll be okay.”

The truth is, I’ve been cold since Christian left three weeks ago. Like permafrost has settled into my bones.

I can’t escape the feeling that something bad is going to happen. Or maybe it already has, and I’m just too blind to accept it.

I’ve spent the last two weeks helping Bella with all her last-minute banquet plans. I met Robert, the man she’s been seeing, and had dinner with him and the rest of the family. I’ve spent countless hours staring at the canopy hanging over the bed, and I’ve even taken so many walks with Ava that I’ve memorized the walk through the trees.

I’m finally finding a place in Christian’s world, and I must admit, it feels good to finally have some sense of purpose.

—Even with Talia looming like Satan’s little helper wrapped in Gucci.

She was moved to the lodge, but that doesn’t stop her from making her presence known. She has an entire entourage of people that follow her around, laughing at her stupid jokes and otherwise, fluffing her ego.

She shows up for dinner every night and I sit in uncomfortable silence while she recounts old stories of she and Christian’s childhood together to Paulina who appears to barely pay attention.

Fortunately, with Bella in attendance last night, she quickly shut it down, and Talia sulked for the rest of dinner.

Life has moved on without Christian Cross here.

Unfortunately, I haven’t.

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