Page 46 of Angel

“Fine,” I shouted. “Maybe you’re open your eyes before it’s too late, and see how unreasonable you’re being. I’m here trying to help, and you’re turning me away.”

I waited for her to slam the door in my face, but her eyes brimmed over with tears.

“There’s more I don’t get,” she said. “What does your family have to do with it?” she asked. “Where did they stand? They had to have either taken a side or played a role in all this. Were they with my parents or this Moretti guy?”

I straightened up, dropping my hand from the wall. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“Your family could have been involved in my parents’ murders.”

“They weren’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they’re myparents, and I know them.”

“Am I supposed for feel comforted by that? You lied to me! Why should I trust anything you say?”

I didn’t get another word in. Paige slammed the door.

I wanted to break that door down and make Paige listen. Or drag her in my arms to remind her I was on her side. But there was nothing left to say right now. Not now when every instinct told me to get inside by force and make her listen. I needed to get my anger in check, so I left.

“Take me home,” I told the driver as I climbed into the waiting car’s backseat.

The sparkling, multi-colored lights of a city alive after dark spun by the window. I’d spent most of my adult life in New York, and many childhood summers in Atlantic Beach. I had walked in and out of many women’s lives. Paige was the first time I wanted to stay put.

I wasn’t going to let her go this easily.

Still, even if I could get this marriage to Moretti called off, I’d still have to deal with the fact that I lied and betrayed whatever trust she had in me.

My phone rang. Hoping it was Paige, I yanked the phone from my coat pocket. Nope. Dominic’s name lighted up the screen.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Pops agreed to meet with us. Tomorrow.”

“Great.”

He paused. “You don’t sound too excited.”

“I am,” I said. Dominic didn’t need to know what was going on with Paige. I was more interested in why he thought Moretti might have been party to Paige’s parents getting murdered, but Dominic wouldn’t answer that question even if he knew the answer.

“Have you heard from Sophia?” I asked instead.

“Yes. She just flew in from a job.”

“Oh.”

Paige had seen her? Did this have anything to do with Paige’s unexpected turn on me? The only person I could think would clue Paige in to Moretti was her sister.

I pursed my lips. I couldn’t blame Sophia. She was only trying to take care of Paige.

Just like I was.

“I’ll text you the time as soon as I know,” Dominic said.

“Okay. Thanks again.”

“Let’s hope this works out.”

He hung up, leaving my ears buzzing.