Page 22 of His Little Angel

Always in reach.

Always looking at me like I was the center of her world.

I slam my already bruised fist into the wall hard enough to rattle the frame, hissing as pain crawls up my arm. Blood streaks down my wrist in thin, messy lines.

She’s not his.

My—

The word lodges behind my teeth, hot and violent and so goddamn true it terrifies me.

Mine.

I hear myself growl. I’m losing language. Losing reason. Losing myself.

I don’t know what I’m going to do. Every possibility flashing through my mind would make even my brothers step back.

I need her here.

I need her in my office.

I need to see her face.

Right fucking now.

Before the curse burns me—and this whole building—down.

Chapter Ten

Mila

My car is parked on a hill overlooking the ocean.

I didn’t plan to be here—I just kept driving until the air stopped feeling like it was choking me. Now I’m here, having a full-body meltdown. I press my palms under my eyes, trying to stop the leaking. My face feels hot and tight. I keep replaying what happened in his office, fully aware it’s only making things worse.

He kissed me. And then—God—the way he pulled back and acted like I pounced on him.

“It’s a mistake.”

Those words could have been bullets, and they sure as hell landed like them.

I stuff the heel of my hand against my mouth to muffle my sobs. I’ve been crying for… I don’t know how long. I’m exhausted. I’m tired of the emotional whiplash—hot one second, cold the next—like he’s punishing me for existing.

I wanted him. I really, really wanted him. But it’s obvious now: either he doesn’t want me and he’s just being cruel… or he does want me and he’s furious with himself for it.

Either way, I’m done paying the price. I deserve someone who isn’t ashamed to want me.

I’m matching whatever energy he gives me.

He gives me cold?

Fine.

I can be Antarctica.

Any scrap of hope I’ve held onto for years—I torch it. Me and him? A closed, padlocked, burned-to-ashes chapter. It’s not his business to ask about other men in my life, and I have no idea why he’s doing it. Why is he so bothered?

My phone rings.