Page 65 of Jake's Angel

Liz’s head tilts to the side as she studies me, smirking. She doesn’t say whatever she’s thinking. Instead, she rubs her finger along the frame of the picture I’m holding.

“I don’t remember drinking much, but I guess the alcohol must’ve gotten to me. I’m fine. She doesn’t need to check on me.”

Liz waves me off. “You were here with me and needed to take the edge off. Had I known you were such a lightweight, I’d have slowed you down. I assumed, being friends with Sadie, you could hold your liquor.”

“Sadie drinks?” I saw her take a beer at the clubhouse, and I know she drinks when she goes to parties, but I’m not about to rat on her.

Liz laughs, wagging her finger in my face. “You’re loyal. That’s good. You’ll need to be for the things this life?—.”

Whatever she’s about to say is cut short by a loud ruckus and voices shouting from the front of the house. We both walk out into the hall, closing the door behind us, not wanting to wake Sadie. It’s probably better until I know what’s happening.

“She knows nothing about our world. We need to make her aware of the dangers, of the enemies who may be after her.” Mack says, frustrated.

“We will need to teach her the truth aboutthisclub. We aren’t the assholes trying to make money running illegal businesses or whatever other bullshit lies Maggie’s cunt of a mother spewed about us. Avery needs to see who we are for herself. She needs to learn she’s safe. We’re her family,”Gabegrowls back. He looks like he hasn’t slept much. His hair is disheveled, dark shadows mar the skin under his eyes.

Apparently, he needs more coffee. He’s grumpy this morning.

“Are you sure after everything, the best idea is to keep her in the dark about the Devil’s Order? We don’t know if they’re still coming for us or if Spider was working alone.”

What the hell are they talking about?

“Do you think keeping things from her is a good idea, Gabriel?” Caleb doesn’t seem happy with Gabe. “Mack has a valid point. She’ll be more apt to accept protection if she knows the truth.”

“She already knows Cusenza is looking for her. That’s enough for her to worry about for now. If we tell her too much, she’ll take off and we need her here where we can protect her.” I’m about to round the corner when Liz’s hand on my shoulder stops me. She puts a finger to her lips and holds tight to one of my biceps.

“Let me get this straight. You want tolieto heragainto teach her she can trust us?” The sound of Jake’s voice as he comes to my defense settles something inside me, allowing my shoulders to relax. He sounds dumbfounded and annoyed by Gabe’s logic, and I find it somewhat reassuring to know someone has my back.

“Yes.” Gabe replies. “We need to ease her into the truth. Right now, we have two potential problems to deal with. The first is my little girl meeting and learning about her family. Hell, getting her to even accept I’m her father is proving to be difficult enough.”

“And whose fault is that?”

Gabe glares at Jake. “As she gets to know us, I’ll tell her about Maggie’s accident and the Devil’s Order myself. But …”

Liz pulls my arm, drawing me back into the bedroom.

The Devil’s Order? Murdered? I can’t do this.

Liz spins around, pulling me into a hug, and the dam breaks. I sob into her shoulder, soaking up every ounce of comfort she’s willing to give. The heavy weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders and the internal war raging inside me are too much to bear.

Liz pulls back, smiling softly. She turns us to the dresser and picks up another photo.

It’s a picture of Gabe holding me up in the air, twirling me around. Liz tells me, “He used to love to spin you around. The man carried you everywhere. He hated for other people to pick you up.” She laughs. “Gabe was so paranoid, always chasing after you. Gabe was so reluctant to let you go for fear you’d fall and skin your knees.”

The thought of the large grizzly of a man being shaken and nervous lightens my mood.

“For a long time after you were born, whenever people would come to visit, he would hesitate to let them hold you. He was always so protective of you. Of both of you.”

“Of course, Maggie and Lisa never let him keep them from holding you, and he wouldn’t dare try to tell me no.” She raises her eyebrow at me and smirks.

“Is Gabe really afraid of you?”

“Of me? No. I’m married to his father, whose sole purpose in life is to make me happy. Or so he says.” She smiles mischievously. “I don’t always make it easy, but he comes through every time.” She winks.

I turn my head over my shoulder to ask, “Why?”

“Because according to Caleb, it’s easier to get rest at night if his ol’ lady is happy. It’s a lot harder when you have to sleep with one eye open.”

I don’t know how she does it, but somehow Liz has managed to lessen the rejection I’ve been clinging to. The feeling of being abandoned and unwanted doesn’t have as strong of a grip on myheart at the moment. It feels like I was once loved, cherished, even.

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