Page 73 of Where We Found Our Home
“No,” I croak.
“Because your very existence is proof that angels exist. I knew the moment I laid eyes on you that my life had forever changed. For the better. I didn’t recognize it at first. I tried to fight it. I tried to keep my heart locked up, but your beauty, your compassion, your strength, your smart-ass mouth, and your love were stronger than any chain I could wrap around it. This guy, whose name I won’t even say because he’s not worth the time, wants to snuff that out. He wants to take all the magic that is you and deprive the world of it. Don’t let him.” So as I said, I didn’t want to hear this. I try to stop the sob from escaping my lips, but it’s too late. “Angel.”
I cut him off. I really can’t handle this. I can’t. I can’t even hear that nickname right now after what he just told me. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“I will call out.”
“No, please don’t. I can’t have anything else on my conscience right now.”
“I can’t just leave this like this.”
“Just please go to work. Call me tomorrow and we can talk about it face-to-face. I can’t promise I’ll change my mind, but we can talk.”
“You promise?”
Shit.“Yes.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too, Lincoln.” We hang up and I hate myself even more. I hope he can forgive me for lying to him. I hope he can forget me eventually. I’ll never forget him for as long as I live, but that’s my penance to pay. He deserves better than that.
My phone rings again but I don’t have the emotional capacity to handle another fucking phone call. It’s Sasha. Shit. I can’t ignore Sasha’s call. After everything that happened with Nevaeh, I owe her one last call. I steel my voice because I can’t risk her seeing right through me.
“Sasha, hey.”
“Hello there, old friend.” My blood runs cold at the sound of that voice.
“What the fuck do you want? Why do you have her phone?”
“Oh, I’m just making friends. You seem to be so good at it. I thought I’d give it a try.”
I hate him. I hate him with every fiber of my being. “What do you want me to do, Eddie? Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt her.”
“How amenable of you. I think it’s time we have a talk face-to-face. What do you think? Why don’t you come join your friend and me at this coffee shop of hers, and I’ll consider letting her live.”
There’s a beast inside me, begging to come out. I’m ready for whatever comes next. “I’m on my way.”
“Good. And Ciara?”
“Yes?”
“I would advise you to come alone. Don’t call the police or anyone else. If you want her to survive, that is.”
He hangs up on me.Hang on, Sasha. I’m coming.It’s time to end this once and for all.
I run out my door, but at the last moment I leave it slightly cracked. Even though Lincoln is at work, I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’s going to send one of the guys to check on me. I’m hoping my door being open will let them know something is wrong, and they’ll get in touch with him.
Please catch my meaning, Linc. Your sister needs you.
Lincoln
Iknow Ciara better than she apparently thinks I do because I know she’s bullshitting me about waiting until I get off shift to leave. She’s convinced that the only way out of this is to give Eddie what he wants, and I refuse to accept that.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” Kai answers my call immediately.
“Hey, man. I’m sorry to bother you on your day off, but can you do me a huge favor? Can you go by Ciara’s place? I think she’s gonna try to leave while I’m at work, and I just wanna hold her off.”
Kai knows about my fight with Ciara last night. He was the one I called to talk me down while I was sitting in my car watching her building.
