Page 106 of Love Me Not

“I can’t… It can’t be, right?Nine years ago.New York.My parents.”Lux nodded, moving closer.“Did your mother…”

I couldn’t bring myself to finish that sentence as I grabbed her shirt.Tears were already filling my eyes.

Lux’s expression had never wavered, only showing me the calm, collected version of her.But when she finally spoke, my heart sank down to my feet, creating a chasm where it once was.A blackened, dark hole void of hope.

“I think it would be fucking crazy if it's true.But… Angel, she's a horrible person.I wouldn't put it past her to have taken a few lives.So let's wait to see what Laura and Mia can dig up, okay?We can’t get carried away.Right now, we need to focus on keeping Bella here.We can figure out the accident later.”She held my chin, making me look at her.“And if it’s true, we’ll deal with it together.”

I nodded and leaned against her chest, inhaling deeply.In and out.In and out.Just like I taught Bella.I let her warmth and sureness envelop me, finding comfort in her.I pushed away everything else.

It was just me and her.And all we wanted to do was keep the little girl we loved safe.That was it.That was our reason, and I just needed to focus on it.

Though I had a feeling that I would need something much stronger than breathing exercises to get me through the next twenty-four hours.

Chapter28

Lux

There was one thing I knew about my mother, and it's that she would always try to find a way to surprise me.

Not this time, though.I knew it was coming when we failed to drop Bella off at her house the day before.The only thing that surprised me was that she hadn’t come sooner.

I had taken Bella out of school for the week while we sorted this out.The last thing I wanted was for her to show up there and actually kidnap the little girl.After I saw her at the park attempting to do just that, I just didn't trust Bella out of my sight.

My mother had been blowing up my phone since the day before.Calling, texting, leaving threatening voice messages I forwarded to my lawyer, until finally I just went ahead and blocked her completely.She then got a hold of Juliette’s number—I didn't have to wonder from whom—and started doing the same until she blocked her as well.

Luckily, she didn't know how to use social media for the most part, so she hadn't found any of our profiles, but honestly, it was only a matter of time.She was nothing if not persistent.

I got up from my place on the couch while Juliette and Bella shot me worried glances.They were huddled together under a blanket and had controllers in their hands, but they’d paused the game they’d started playing after getting up at the crack of dawn.

We knew this was coming.We could handle it.

We had opted to stay inside for the day for fear that she might get to Bella somehow—or find someone to do it for her.Paranoid behavior maybe, but… who knew?

“If you keep this up, I'm calling the cops,” I threatened, and the pounding stopped immediately.

“If you do, I'll tell them the dirty secrets you're hiding!”she yelled, her voice raising an octave.“Do you think they'll let you keep Bella then?”

I opened the door and crossed my arms, blocking her way in case she meant to walk in.

“I have rightful custody,” I explained.“You taking her wouldliterallybe kidnapping.”

“I'm saving her!”

I exhaled and pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

“I suggest you stop this,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.I had to buy Mia and Laura time to find out the rest.“Unless you want me to bring up your fake donations to the children's center to the police.Or maybe the influence thosedonationsbuy you?Orange isn’t really your color.And, oh my, what would your friends think?I can’t imagine.”

“What are you talking about?”she asked, but there was a hint of alarm to her voice that told me Mia's information was spot on.

"You heard me.And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.Want to threaten me with my relationship with Juliette and how we met?That’s fine, I can dig up your skeletons too.So go ahead, yell louder.”

She stood there, fuming.

“I'm taking you to court,” she finally said, and then paused as if she was waiting for me to beg and plead her to stop.

Not going to happen.

“If you do, I'll spilleverythingI know.”

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