Page 260 of Never Fall for an Angel

It’s time for us to move on. Be a family.

Looming over him in the darkness, his eyes are wide with fear and pain.

Good. Now he’ll finally know what it feels like to wonder if you’re going to die or not.

He struggles feebly underneath me, his hands clawing at my wrists to pry me off, but it’s no use.

“I always liked Mom better,” I murmur, though I’m not even sure he hears me. His hands fall away from mine to the bed with a thud, his eyes glazing over. I listen to the sound of his wheezing breath until it fades, and even then, I don’t let go.

Now, I won’t stop until he’s dead.

When I’m sure he’s gone, I release my hold, cracking my knuckles in the silence of the room. The machines keeping him alive start to beep frantically, and I take that as my cue to leave.

With one last parting look, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.

William Cross signed his own death warrant the moment he hurt my family.

I’m only sorry my sister will be the one to find him.

CHRISTIAN

Two Years Later

Istop at the foot of the tree house nestled high in the top of the old oak tree behind our house.

“You know you can’t stay up there forever, right?”

Slowly, a blonde head with bright blue eyes peeks out over the edge at me, the rest of her face hidden behind the shelter of the tree hut.

“Says who?”

I cock a brow at her. One thing having kids teaches you is patience. And how to limit your use of the word fuck.

“Says your mother.”

She shakes her head, leaning out further. There’s a split second of panic in my gut when I think about her tumbling over the side, but it quickly dissipates.

Kid’s a fucking spider monkey.

“That’s a lie,” Lily points out with a cheeky grin. “Mom wouldn’t say that.”

“Then, I said it.” I take hold of the rope ladder, holding it steady. “How about I make you a deal? You come out for an hour, and if you aren’t happy, you can come back here.”

She stares at me for a beat as if she’s trying to pick out the catch in my statement. There isn’t one. I know my wife and daughter well enough to know sometimes shit gets overwhelming, and they need a moment to themselves.

“Did Mom make chocolate cake?”

I smirk.

“She did, though, I did see Uncle Levi eating abigpiece before I came out here. It might be all gone.”

In a flash, she scrambles towards the ladder, swinging down until she falls flat on her feet in front of me.

She’s getting bigger. Healthier. She’s always been small for her age and still is, but at least now, there’s a new light behind her eyes.

After a year in our family, she’s come a long way. When we first adopted her, there were some difficult moments. We worked through them as a family, and now, it’s like she’s been here her entire life.

Except for those times when she needs to hide.

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