“He doesn’t love you, Angelina.” I try to keep my tone steady, even if the truth will likely hurt.
She’s in shock, and she needs to come back to reality before something terrible happens to Echo.
I squat down in front of her, and sadness coats her eyes. It leaks down her face. She’s pretty, naïve. Rhett’s type.
“Tell mewhat happened.”
Ryan stands, threading his hands through his hair and pacing the room. He’s in shock, and repeating Echo’s name through his mumbles. He’s falling apart like I want to—like the pieces shifting around inside.
I can’t.
For her, I need to do what I do best when faced with a worthy opponent—maintain my focus and don’t take my eyes off the enemy.
“She was going to end it with himfor you.” The way the last part spits out makes it clear she’s still a little disillusioned over her relationship with my brother. “That’s not how it was supposed to happen.”
“How was it supposed to happen?” My blood boils at the question. At the thought of them using Echo as some kind of pawn in whatever sick game they’ve been playing.
Angelina isn’t upset that Rhett was with Echo. She’s mad that Echo was going to end it. And everything about that fact is concerning.
“Once he got what he wanted, he’d finally be happy, and he’d realize he was meant to be mine.” It’s nearly a whisper, the faintest smile ghosting her lips. “I did everything he asked of me. I pretended we meant nothing to each other. I let him try to convince himself he still wanted to marry her. I even hurt him when he asked me to. He knew I didn’t want to, but he needed it, and I love him.”
“You hurt him?” I grit my teeth and try to pretend to give a shit because at least she’s talking. I need to keep her talking to figure out why Echo is gone, and Angelina looks like she’s been hung up by her neck.
“I told him there had to be another way.”
“But he wouldn’t listen?”
Angelina shakes her head. “Echo was too busy with you to care. And people were starting to notice she didn’t spend any time with him. At least the shooting diverted their attention.”
“You two planned that?”
“I didn’t want to.” She sounds disgusted at the accusation. “Ihadto. He was only with her to get what he needed.”
“Which is what?”
She shrugs. “He didn’t tell me everything.”
Of course he didn’t. He’s an evil asshole, but he’s not stupid.
Angelina’s eyes darken the longer she watches me. Some kind of wickedness slipping out with her gaze. And even if my brother used her, she’s not innocent. Whatever twisted things play in her mind have her pupils blown wide, edging on excitement.
“Does Rhett have her?” My gaze once more falls to the darkening bruises on her neck.
Angelina pulls her lower lip into her mouth and nods.
He has her, and if she’s not answering her phone, it’s not good. While I thought he was the one brother who escaped the poison laced in Kingsley DNA, he’s no better than me or Adam. He’s worse even. A psychopath who’s been hiding in plain sight.
A monster who has Echo.
“Where would he take her?”
Angelina shrugs. “Don’t know and it doesn’t matter. He’ll realize his mistake. He’ll find me once he’s done.”
It’s something she shouldn’t wish for, but she repeats it because she can’t help letting the delusion settle in. It’s more comforting than the reality of the bruising around her neck. More peaceful than accepting Rhett no longer has any real use for her.
“He’ll find me.” Angelina closes her eyes and tips her head back against the wall. “He’ll love me.”
Blind faith when all the proof says otherwise. Doesn’t matter. She can drown in her delusions. All I care about is Echo.
