Page 1 of Crave

Chapter One

ANGELICA

“He murdered her,can you believe that?” The woman’s whisper drifted from the back of the crowd. “He killed his own wife in cold blood before he turned the gun on himself.”

“Dear Heavenly Father,”the Priest called a little louder. “We ask you to heal the broken in heart and bind up their wounds. Mercifully look upon those who are bereaved here today and take them into your arms.”

“They say the study was a mess, blood splatter all over the walls and the floor.”

I stared at the casket in front of me as it was lowered into the earth.

THUD.

Cold dirt hit the shimmering oak as it sank deeper.

“Can you imagine that?Imagine the kind of man who’d take a gun and?—”

Movement came further up the line of men beside me. Silas wrenched his head around and the vile whispering ended instantly. No words were needed…not when you felt the choke-hold of his wrath.

THUD.

I flinched hard.

Promise me.My mom’s faint words resounded in my head.Promise me on your life, Angel.

THUD.

Swear.Mom’s voice pushed in.I need you to swear to me.

That ache in the back of my throat clenched. I need you to?—

I closed my eyes as that desperation grew louder and that same panic returned.

I NEED YOU TO SWEAR.

THUD.

Jolt. My body jerked and trembled. Fingers clenched tight around the icy ache.

The piercing squeal of tires followed in my head. The memory more vibrant than the plague of blood red roses covering the two caskets in front of us.

I need you to swear on your life. SWEAR TO ME ON YOUR LIFE. SWEAR IT. SWEAR IT!

“I promise,” the words were nothing more than the movement of my lips, uttering the words she desperately needed to hear. “On my life, I swear.”

THUD.

The soft smack against my arm made me open my eyes. I glanced at Gabe. Red-rimmed eyes shimmered with tears, pleading for someone to ease his pain. I couldn’t ease his pain, no more than I could ease my own. Still, I took his hand, my knuckles aching and throbbing, finding the warmth of his. His soft, sad smile made my chest hurt even more.

Theo never moved beside him, hiding pin-prick pupils behind dark sunglasses, staring at nothing. Jude was next, his head dropped, his shoulders curling under the weight of not one casket in front of us, but the two of them. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his grief all consuming.

But not Silas. There was no bowing from the man who stood at the head of our line. No, there was no sign of emotion at all. Not until he slowly turned his head and that hateful bottomless glare settled on mine.

My pulse quickened.

They can never know.Mom’s plea resounded.Angel, they can never know.

“That concludes this morning’s sermon. The family has asked that you respect them in their hour of need. Any form of well wishing may be directed at the small and intimate gathering we have provided. If you want, linger for a moment and express your love for Dante and Meredith, then please feel free to?—”