Page 61 of Scarred Angel

“It’s fine.I’mfine. Just light, clerical duty. I’ve basically been sitting the whole time,” I lie, even as a dull ache starts to climb my spine.

“You’re a terrible liar,” she snaps. “You forget I have access to surveillance. I saw you in the range bay.” She pauses, and I can hear her exhale…frustrated, tired, scared in that way she’d never admit. “Val…you’re vulnerable. And we have enemies. You know that.”

I push to stand, bracing against the counter, the fucking crutches looming in my peripheral.

“When has that ever stopped us?”

“Ugh, you’re so stubborn. At least call my mom. She’s not busy. Her exhibit ended two hours ago.”

“I’ll think about it,” I say, my finger hovering over the end call button. I love Remi with every fiber of my soul, but I’m not in the mood for another reminder of how useless I am right now. Especially after being stood up by Maksim yesterday. If I were honest with myself, he’s the reason I needed to get the hell out of my place. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, my thoughts racing a mile a minute, taunting me with reminders of how foolish I’ve been.

Stop running.

It’s what I said to him just before he finger fucked me just feet away from my family. Again, no call and no text. I could scream.

“Val?”

“What?” I snap and immediately regret losing my temper with her. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind. We’ll talk later. Okay?”

She’s quiet for several moments.

“Okay, I’ll wait to hear how Maksim pissed you off.”

Of course she knows. “Only if you promise not to punch him in the dick.”

I might need that for later.

I’m pathetic, I know.

“I can’t make those types of promises, but I’ll think about it. In the meantime, take it easy.”

“I will. Besides, Hermes and Apollo haven’t left my side.”

“Hermes and Apollo can’t stock inventory, Val.”

“I love you,” I say flatly, pure dismissal.

“Yeah, yeah. Bye,pendeja.”

The call ends, and I shove the phone into my back pocket, exhale through my nose, and push all thoughts of Maxsim out of my head. I’ll deal with him later. For now, I’m going to focuson getting through this shift without having to prove Remi right. Times like these make you realize how much we take for granted. The simple act of walking and shifting gears.

Fuck, I miss my car. Miss racing.

“I see your phone still works. So youhavebeen ignoring my calls.”

That voice scrapes down my spine like nails on a chalkboard. I lift my gaze to find Cole just feet away, hands shoved in his pockets, and a face begging to be punched.

“Get out.”.

“Val, come on, at least let me talk.”

“I think I’ve heard enough from you.” I straighten, every ounce of patience gone. “Or did you forget when you told Romina you wanted to lick her asshole while you fucked her friend?”

The color drains from his face, then floods back an angry red. His eyes dart around the range, scanning for witnesses.

Pussy.

“I was drunk, okay? I wasn’t in my right mind,” he says, inching closer.