Page 160 of Pretty Broken Wings

I frown.

“Where are you going?” Axel asks.

“Out. I’ll be back.”

Then she shuts the door, and she’s gone.

My gut twists. That was odd. Was the blood triggering for her?

I stride for the front door, pull the door open, and squint in the bright light outside. I can barely see the movement of her car pulling away.

“Where the hell is she going?” Axel asks.

I don’t answer him. Because I don’t know.

CHAPTER EIGHTY

It’s been thirty-eight minutes since Raven left. I pace back and forth. Something isn’t right. She ran out of here like someone was chasing her.

Like she was running.

I rip at my hair. What could have made her run?

I know. It was the intimacy. We slept in the same bed as her. Gage explained later that she said she never shares a room. We pushed her too hard. Now she’s running scared.

How do I know? ‘Cause I’m scared as balls, too. It’s what I would have done.

Fuck. She’s running with so much money it’ll be damn near impossible to track her back down.

I realize that I’m terrified in a way I can’t laugh off. Every second that she’s away, my chest feels tighter. Like it’s solidifying into a solid block of rock. Like I’ll never feel again. Like I’ll become the old me before I knew her.

“Why the fuck did I not put a tracker on her?” I kick the couch, sending pain up my toe.

“She’s coming back.” Gage’s voice is weak.

No.No, no, no. If Raven runs, she’ll always be afraid. She’ll never let herself feel. She’ll become me.

And I refuse to let her do that to herself.

I’m going to find her. And when I do, I’m going to plant a tracker on her car so she can never get away from us. I storm to the front door when it bursts open.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

I was a coward and ran. Not away, but to the store. I don’t know how to deal with death. Especially the death of an asshole like Rich. I figured maybe they needed a little space?

I stare at the flower section. Rich was awful, but I’m sure his death means something to the twins, especially to their mom.

I pick out a dozen red roses for her, then put them back. Is that too romantic? What if they remind her of him?

I work myself into a mess over the flowers, not sure which ones to get. And deep down, the fear that I’m not needed anymore beats a steady pulse in my brain.

Not needed. Not wanted. No longer useful.

I’m sure they found the glasses by now.

I’m not sure which flowers I end up picking. Somehow, I end up back in the car, staring at the dash. Old habits scream at me to run. To leave before they can reject me.

But then I remember Gage’s gentle touches. Axel’s controlled power. The way that they both made me feel safe for the first time in… forever.