Page 100 of The Shadow Sanctum

“Look at you with a sense of humor,” I murmur.

“I imagine my sense of humor is better than the albino’s.”

“Luna.”

Angel looks at me. “Hm?”

“Her name… It’s Luna.”

“So you’ve said.”

I open my mouth, ready to defend Luna, but… I’m not even sure how. It seems ridiculous to ask Angel to tiptoe around the insecurities of the person who enslaved his wife. The second time.

I close my mouth and pretend to look for something on the empty stage.

“You love her… Don’t you?”

Silence passes between us, but he doesn’t go on or press. He’s not kidding. He’s not teasing. He’s serious.

“Is it that obvious?”

“To the general public, no. To me, yeah. Kind of.”

My lips purse as I nod. “Caught me doodling her name, huh?”

“Mm, no. You’re pretty careful about not mentioning her. But you’re also really fucking good at weaseling your way in and out of whatever you want. You shouldn’t still be here.”

“The kids are sick.”

“You could’ve let me handle it.”

“I wouldn’t have left you here.”

Angel chuckles, but it’s low enough not to turn heads this time. “Of course you would have… I love you, man. I do. But you’re not one for self-sacrifice."

“I’ve got a body full of burn scars that says otherwise.”

“You’ve got a body full of scars that prove you feel guilt. That’s not the same. I’m not saying you’re a bad person, I’m just saying you’re only a hero when your conscience wants you to be.”

I shake my head as if he’s wrong, though my shoe kicking at the ground shows my nerves. I still my body and try not to be offended. Try not to fight against the comment.

Because it’s true. Luna once pointed it out to me.

I’m selfish. I am.

“My point isn’t to shit on you,” Angel says, his shoulder bumping mine. “I’m saying I love you. And I’ve never been prouder of you.”

My brow creases.

He shrugs.

“If the albino bitch really did lure you here, manipulate you, beat you, force you to traffic women, stick a bomb around your neck and dump you in the middle of nowhere with a guy who wants to strangle you… Then I’d say you’re a better man than I am. Liberty is the love of my life, and I’m thinkin’ at least one of those things is grounds for divorce.”

Wiping my hand down my face, I fight a smile. “It’s Luna.”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

When I look at him, he’s smiling.