Page 86 of Angel

‘Maybe because you packed up, skipped town, and vanished on your own damn recognizance,’ I shot back, my timbre dropping to a lethal, icy calm. ‘You pulled a disappearing act, Evangeline. You now don’t get to demand status updates.’

She let out a ragged, hysterical sob, her breathing strained with blind rage.

‘I hate you for this, Angel. I loathe that you married Roxy instead of me!’

‘Like I said, woman, you’ve no say in the matter.’

I was starting to enjoy this.

She sobbed a beat before her tone turned syrupy sweet.

‘Can’t we just catch up to talk it through, my angel? Please?’

I uttered a harsh, mocking laugh.

‘I’m not interested in catching up with someone who treated me like shit on our wedding day. I have to go.’

I severed the connection and, growling in disdain, tossed the device onto a deck chair.

Squeezing my temples, I let out a frustrated growl.

‘Fucckk.’

That’s when I caught the whisper of feet and spun around on the tiles.

I found Roxy standing at the open glass door with a short silk robe on and nothing else.

She arched a brow and pursed her lips.

‘Evangeline?’

I took note of her wary voice, her guarded face.

With a twist of my mouth, I gave her a curt nod.

‘I figured,’ she murmured, crossing her arms against the morning chill.

I huffed, my jaw tightening.

‘She wants me back. Says she regrets it all.’

‘She took you for granted once, Angel,’ Roxy stated, the light in her eyes dimming. ‘So you gotta know it’s within her to do it again.’

I chose silence, mulling her words.

‘You’re your own man and can make your own decisions,’ she continued. ‘But it seems like she’d just end up using you. She walked out on you many times. She’ll probably do it again. Let her live with the biggest regret in her life. That’s how she’ll realizes how much she messed up.’

She stepped closer, her expression shifting to one of deep empathy.

‘Forget her. If you’ve found your inner peace, hold onto it; that’s gold.’

‘Have I, Roxy?’ I growled, the internal doubt gnawing at my ribs. ‘Have I? Secured peace?’

She shrugged, refusing to hand me an easy out.

‘Only you can answer that question.’

‘I don’t think I could ever count on a person who betrayed me in such a nasty way,’ I muttered, staring out at the grey horizon. ‘I don’t rejoice in her misery, but she’s grasping a painful lesson. I’m learning one too, on who to lean on. Can’t trust anyone these days.’