Page 1 of Angel

Chapter 1

ANGEL

‘Ijust can’t do it, Angel. I’m so sorry.’

The words, coming from Evangeline’s mouth in her breathy voice, rocked me.

Hell, they flamed me.

‘What did you say?’ I muttered in disbelief.

I gripped her as she stood in my arms on the terrace of The Estate at Flagstaff Dock, our wedding venue.

It was a few hours before we were slated to exchange vows in front of friends and family.

Her breath reeked of the stomach-turning sourness of stale bourbon.

Judging from her dilated pupils, her high was courtesy of Jack, blended with some micro-dosed stimulant.

Damn, her sobriety was in flames.

When and where had she broken her promise to me, to herself?

Outside, the sun shone, the lakefront gleamed, and the lawns glinted with emerald luster.

The wedding tent was going up as the voices of servers and our arriving guests drifted up to me.

All oblivious to my growing shock and agony.

I held her closer, pleading.

‘Evangeline, I’ve loved you all these years through good and bad. We’re ready to say our vows. You can do this.’

My coarse timbre was laced with frustration and confusion.

Yet a quiet voice in the back of my mind told me it was pure delusion to force a wedding while she was so out of it.

However, we’d poured money, hours, and our souls into this day.

We had 200 expected guests, a celebrant on their way, ice sculptures, and a top-shelf open bar ready to roll.

If I could talk her down from this ledge right now and pump enough espresso into her system, I’d handle saving her tomorrow.

She shoved me away and staggered a step back.

‘No, honey, we won’t be saying any vows today.’

Her delivery, slurred yet stripped of all emotion, cut deep into my soul.

The rush of blood in my ears turned into a roar.

I swallowed hard, pushing a hand through my hair, growling in frustration.

‘Evangeline, are you for real?’

Reaching for her again, still disbelieving, I buried my face in her neck, whispering our true and tried promise.

‘You’re the angel in me, and I’m the angel in you, Evangeline. Don’t do this.’