Page 27 of Crave

ANGELICA

I neededto get out of here.

And I needed to get outnow.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my mind racing as I dragged the soft bristled brush through my hair, trying to work out what exactly changed in the hours since the reading of the will. What should’ve happened was rage, and retribution. For Silas to go on the warpath he always did and shut everyone out…especially his uncle, Lincoln.

But that’s not what happened.

Not at all.

Instead, it was the opposite. Secret meetings in our father’s study. Dark, ravenous stares across the living room, directed at me. It was enough to give me nightmares.

Did Silas want me out? Even if the will told me I had to stay. I hoped so…it’d give me an excuse to leave. He might even give me money…then, I’d be gone for good.

Gabe’s pain would be solely directed at Silas. They’d all fight. Which was exactly what I needed. That’d give me the time to get as far away as possible and try to forget what happened.

I dropped the brush, grabbing my cell instead and stared at the empty screen. Penn hadn’t returned my call. In fact he hadn’t returned any of them, which freaked me out even more.

I pressed the button, waiting for the message bank to pick up. “Penn, it’s me. I’m starting to worry. I need to get out of here and I need to do it now. Please, call me back as soon as you can. I’m worried.”

Terrified more like it.

Still, I couldn’t wait. I swept my hand over my dress, grabbed my purse from my ruined bedside drawer and quietly hurried out of my room. The house was quiet, my brothers were probably still asleep. I glanced at Gabe’s door as I passed, fighting a pang of regret and kept walking.

My heels hit lightly. I lifted them, muffling the sound as I reached for the rear door and fumbled for the lock. It gave a clunk making me wince as I yanked open the door. One panicked glance over my shoulder and I opened the door wider and stepped outside.

“Going somewhere?”

“Jesus!” I screamed and stumbled sideways, finding Silas leaning against the wall outside. “You scared me half to death.”

I glanced at the town car where the driver stood, his sleeves rolled up as he cleaned the windows.

“Well?” Silas pushed.

“Nothing…I mean nowhere. I was just heading to the mall.” I rushed, panic setting in.

“The mall.” He pushed off the wall. “Right, let’s go.”

“With you?”

He stopped and slowly turned. “Sure, why not.”

Fear nailed me to the spot. I glanced at the driver as he finally straightened, noticing us. My pulse raced, I wanted to do more than just go to the mall. I wanted a backup plan to escape this city given the chance. I met Silas’s scowl. I couldn’t do that with him looking over my shoulder.

“There a problem?”

“No.”

“Then by all means.” He swept his hand toward the gleaming black BMW. “Consider me your private chauffeur.”

I swallowed hard as he turned, made for the passenger’s door and opened it. Tattoos peeked out from the sleeves of his leather jacket. I stared at them, trying to quell my racing pulse and headed for the open door before I slipped inside.

The scent of leather and that new car smell filled my nose. I breathed deep, watching Silas skirt the front of the car and climb in behind the wheel. The door closed with a soft thud behind him. He glanced my way and pressed the button starting the engine with a growl.

Silas pushed the car into gear and punched the accelerator, leaving the powerful beast to respond. I clawed for my seatbelt, staring at the Ares’s family driver still standing behind the car as we tore past.

“The mall, huh? You sure you don’t want to go anywhere else?”