Page 16 of UnWholly Angels
Nick moved to stand beside Chloe and gripped the back of his neck. “Dude, I promise I haven’t known this whole time. And Chloe was only trying to protect Maya. We didn’t do any of this to hurt you, I swear,” he insisted.
I stared at him, trying to process everything I had just learned. Suddenly, a realization hit me like a freight train. “Nine months ago, you told me about this ‘hot cam girl’ I just had to check out,” I snapped.
“You knew it was Maya. It’s been her the whole time, hasn’t it?” As the words settled in the air, a small whimper came from the stairs, but I ignored it, too angry to focus on anything else.
Was Maya part of this sick joke?
Maya had to have known that was my screen name...
Right?
Please don’t let her be in on it?
Chloe answered before Nick could. “You were watching her this whole time. How come you never noticed any similarities?” She narrowed her gaze at me. “You can be so dense. Why do you think we sent you her page?” She narrowed her gaze at me. “We were desperately hoping you would see the similarities: brown eyes, the freckles, and her…softness. The way that woman still remains so loving is nothing short of a miracle. I was just hoping something inside you would see that too.”
I stood still, chest tight, and unable to answer when another sound drew my attention to the stairs. Looking up, my chest tightened at the sight of Maya sitting on a middle step, her eyes filled with tears as she held her bandaged arm against her chest. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think of a single thing to say. All I could do was stare at her, the anger and betrayal stealing my ability to breathe. Maya’s face scrunched with confusion, like my words were sinking in, and at any moment, the lightbulb would go off. Suddenly her head snapped up, her eyes wide with either realization or...shock?
Nick broke the silence as he took a step in my direction. “Angel, you have to believe us,” he pleaded. “We didn’t have a choice.”
Keeping my eyes locked with Maya’s, I clenched my fists and forced myself to speak her way. “I promised to protect you. Ilovedyou, but clearly you never loved me,” I said, my voice sounding lifeless. She tried to speak, but I cut her off. “I bet you and Rocco laughed your asses off after I was hauled away that night. Non-compliant, weak Riley was out of the way. I spent three years behind bars for a crime I didn’t commit. I didn’t deserve that, Maya. You have no idea what I had to do to survive.” I walked over to the stairs until I was inches away from her. I could see her trembling, but I didn’t care. “I hope it was worth it,” I hissed before reaching under my shirt to yank my necklace off and throw it at her feet.
A sob escaped her lips as I turned away from her, ignoring Nick and Chloe’s protests as I left the house and stomped toward my car. I fished my keys from my pocket and got in, ready to race away and never look back. As I turned the key in the ignition, I felt a pull in my chest and glanced back at the house. I knew I shouldn’t leave, but staying would only do more damage. I needed to find a way to numb the pain and shock rushing through me.
Shaking my head, I turned to my center console and opened my GPS. When the voice command was ready, I searched for the only place I knew could solve this problem.
“Show me the nearest liquor store.”
Chapter Seven
Maya
Three Weeks Later
Iboiled the pack of noodles and vegetables, careful not to wake Chloe with my noise. The Palmers had graciously taken me in three weeks ago, but I still felt like a burden. On top of navigating my presence in their home, Nick and Chloe were also feeling the strain of Riley’s absence. No one had spoken to him since the night he discovered the truth about me, aside from Nick at practice or something. Even then, it was never direct conversation, and he left after every event without a word. I couldn’t say I was surprised by this, but that didn’t take away the constant ache of worry in my chest. I was also still processingthe knowledge that Chloe hid the truth about DeviantKing. I had entrusted them with my cam link, believing they would only share it with people they personally knew were not connected to me. The idea of the cam link being the catalyst to reconnecting with Riley made me sick to my stomach. We didn’t deserve that; hedidn’t deserve that.
My thoughts shifted from Riley to the pot of noodles still in front of me. Catching it before the water boiled over, I moved the pot away from the heat as I tuned in to the one-sided conversation behind me.
Serenity, the four-year-old apple of Nick and Chloe’s eye, was flipping through a board book and finding colors for her baby brother, Nick Jr., who was safely strapped in his lounge seat beside the kitchen table. Since having the baby, Chloe had been in overdrive and desperately needed the rest. Offering to help with the kids was a small but meaningful way for me to feel useful in the house, while also preventing Chloe from asking questions she wouldn’t want the answers to. I would do anything for her, including waking up at six in the morning with both of their children so she could get an extra hour of sleep.
What I wouldn’t give to sleep for a solid hour in general...
Shaking my head, I helped Serenity into her chair and placed her breakfast of fruit and yogurt in front of her. Pouring my noodle breakfast into a bowl, I placed it on the table before scooping Nick Jr. out of his seat and holding him close. His happy baby babbling eased some of the tension in my chest as I sat across from Serenity, who was still flipping through her book. Maybe these early mornings did come with just afewperks. Being the cool aunt definitely had its advantages.
Apparently, I wasn’t as quiet as I thought, because after a few moments, I felt a soft hand clamp down on my shoulder. My chest immediately tightened, and I caught my breath while looking over my shoulder. I was relieved to find Chloe behindme, sporting a messy bun and glasses halfway down her nose. "Comfort food, I see,” she teased, smiling at the newborn tucked in my arm while gesturing to my now-cold noodles. “What a filling breakfast."
"Listen, food is food. You should be glad I’m even eating this early." I held up the bowl, tipping it toward her face. "Want some?"
"It does make me happy to see you eating at all," she replied before heading to the freezer and retrieving a carton of ice cream. I laughed softly, like her choice was any better than wax covered noodles. Chloe ushered her daughter into the play area, who was furious to be told that only adults could eat ice cream for breakfast. Once Serenity was distracted by her toys, Chloe leaned against the counter, lost in thought. Her mouth hung slightly open as if she were trying to find the proper words to say before finally deciding on, "So, are you ready to talk? I’ve given you plenty of time and space…Spill.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you want me to say?” I asked, adjusting the baby in my arm.
Chloe sighed heavily, as if my remark was the bane of her existence. “Literally anything. The escape, how you’re healing...how you’rereallyfeeling about all things Angel Kingston...” Her tone was meant to be light, but it didn’t meet her eyes.
I turned away, trying to hide the tears starting to pool on my lashes. “There’s really nothing to say. Even if there were, he certainly doesn’t want to hear it.” More tears slid down my cheeks as I met Chloe’s worried gaze. “As for the escape...I didn't think you’d enjoy finding out that not only did I kill someone on my way out the door, but I really liked it. His blood dripped into my mouth at one point, and I felt powerful.” I scoffed at the memory, but meant every word.
She stared blankly at me for a moment, and I didn't have the chance to continue before she started laughing hysterically. Pushing my noodle bowl away, I wiped my face and stared at her in confusion.
"Why are you laughing at me?" I groaned.
