Page 139 of Crave

Angelica’s fingers tightened on the gauze as she pressed it against my wound. She was careful now, gentler than before, like she was trying to make up for something.

As if she fucking could.

How the fuck could she?

This was just another ambush right? Another fucking betrayal.

First, the recordings of my mother.

Then, the recordings of her…at that fucking place called the Order.

No matter how you looked at it?—

It was her name stabbed right in the middle of it all.

All the way into my goddamn chest.

I let her do it. I let her hover over me, hands shaking, breath too fast. I let her pretend she was helping.

Then I grabbed her wrist.

Her breath hitched.

The entire room stilled.

I dragged her closer, her knees knocking against mine, her pulse leaping under my fingers.

“Whydo they wantyou?”I said, voice like gravel. Low. Dangerous.

Her eyes snapped to mine.

“What the fuck are you hiding from us?”

Her lips parted, but nothing came out.

She froze, the guilt rolling off her in waves.

Jude straightened. Theo stopped pacing the damn bathroom. Gabe exhaled slowly.

But it was her, I was fixed on. Every goddamn reaction. Her body locked up, her fingers twitching like she wanted to rip herself out of my grip and run. But that’s all she did right?

She fucking ran.

Not anymore.

I tightened my grip, even as I oozed fucking blood I had the strength to pull her closer. “Tell me.”

She swallowed hard. Her eyes wide and haunting. “I?—”

“Say it.”Theo’s voice snapped across the room, sharp and jagged.

She jumped. Her breath shuddering. Her body shook.

Jude’s footsteps pounded against the floor as he stormed toward us. He grabbed the back of her neck, forcing her to look at me.“Look at him! Tell him! TELL US!”

She broke.

Her trembling lips barely parting as the words hissed out. “I…I can’t.”