Page 39 of Pretty Broken Wings

How can I work like this? I can’t work like this. I don'twantto work like this.

This town is fucked. I need to go. My hands shake as I count the cash in my wallet. I don’t have enough to move. I have enough for gas and a hotel room for maybe… two nights?

I let my head fall back on the headrest. That’s not enough. I need more. I need at least enough for a rent deposit somewhere else. At the thought, tears fill my eyes.

I need more money. I can do a few more days, right? Maybe I can convince Gage to pay me at the end of every day.

That is, if he keeps me on after today. I power my phone back on. Sure enough, there are two missed calls and a text asking where I am.

I groan. What do I tell him? His asshole brother tricked me into thinking he was him? And what will I do when Axel lies his ass off about it? Because he will. Who’s Gage going to believe? The girl who broke his glasses and clearly can’t stand his guts? Or his literal twin brother?

Right. I’ll just keep my head down and earn as much as I can, then leave town.

I check the clock. It’s only ten thirty. I’ll just tell him I slept in and pray that he keeps me on.

I hit redial and bring the phone to my ear. I feel my hand shaking.

Gage picks up on the first ring. “Raven?”

“Sorry, I overslept. I’m on my way.” I crank the car on.

“Christ, woman.”

There’s silence, and I worry he’s going to fire me right then, so I start talking, “I won’t take a break, and I’ll work late; I’m so sorry. I’m coming.”

Silence again, then a deep sigh. “Whatever. Just get here.”

I drive to the front before realizing I don’t have any lunch with me. And I’ll be damned if I eat his food again after all this.So I pull my car up to the front of my place and jump out to grab the extra rice I had from the night before. As I do, I notice there’s a piece of mail in the small mailbox attached to the front of my house.

I grab it and shiver as I unlock the door. Fuck, it’s gotten really cold here really fast. I grab the food, toss the letter on the front seat beside me, and then fly across town.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

This girl, I swear togod.

I’ve gone through a pack of gum while pacing and waiting for her. Does she think the whole world revolves around her? The trial istomorrow. Axel told me I could use the glasses for the trial itself, but today, I still need to prepare.

My grandfather clock chimes again, and the song plays halfway through. It’s ten thirty.

I run a hand through my hair again when there’s a hasty knock at the door, and Buddy jumps up. I stride over as Buddy races with me, then yank the door open.

There’s movement, and a wash of Fiji scent pushes past me. “Sorry.”

Buddy’s jumping around, yipping in excitement, which just pisses me off more. Buddy doesn’t even greet me like that; what is her deal?

I brace myself for Raven’s attitude, but she just greets Buddy when she goes to the couch.

“Do you want to get started on the reports from two months ago?” Her voice is tense.

I stalk to the couch and grunt, “Yeah.”

Papers rustle, and then she starts reading. It’s not until the clock chimes again and the bells start going off that I realize I haven’t paid attention to anything she’s been saying. I’m just sitting tense, waiting for her to yell or pull her damn knife again. A little tingle runs across my skin at the thought.

“Is that a clock?” Raven asks.

“What?” I clear my throat, shaking out my arms.

“The chiming.”