Page 178 of Never Fall for an Angel

That seems to be the only thing I’m fucking good at anymore.

What do you think God does to men who capture angels and clip their wings? Steal the light from the heavens and corrupt it?

The gun drowns out any of the voices in my head with the sharp ping of a steel hitting steel.

Unfortunately . . . it can’t drown out my sister.

“Hey! Asshole! I’m trying to talk to you.”

And I’m trying to ignore you.

“I’m not in the mood, Bella.”

In fact, the only thing keeping me from marching back upstairs and tying Mila to the bed is the knowledge that even if I’m pissed off, I know it would terrify her and my irrational fear of her being afraid of me.

Not that it matters. I gave her freedom. I opened the door for her to leave and after everything that’s happened between us, I know there’s no reason she’d stay.

Bitterness slides down my throat, sour and violent.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I grit my teeth, lowering the assault rifle back to the table in front of me. The private shooting range at the back of the property is in the trees, shielded from the lodge. It’s one of the only places on the property you can be alone and a place I used to frequent often.

“Practicing.”

Bella’s eyes widen before her brow furrows.

“For what?”

My temper flares and I jam a new mag in.

“Do you want something, or did you just come out here to be a pain in the ass?”

Bella cocks her head, her hands on her hip. Somedays, she reminds me so much of our mother, it’s haunting.

“Why did you invite Talia to the banquet?”

I cock a brow at her, unease swirling in my chest.

“I didn’t.”

“Bull. She says you did,” she snaps, crossing her arms over her chest. “She also says you speak to her every day.”

Fucking women.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull my phone out and toss it on the table in front of her.

“You want to verify, go right ahead. I haven’t spoken to Talia in a year.”

Conveniently, since the last time I was home.

“Well, she’s causing problems. Do you know how rude she was to Mila?”

I grip the gun tighter, my knuckles cracking under the force.

“Mila’s not my problem anymore.”

Bella stares me down.

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