didn’t you tell me before?”
“I didn’t know how to.” Kissing my head, he tucks me into him protectively. “You were already drowning in so much guilt that Harvey couldn’t go home and your dad wasn’t here, all the while looking after August and helping him get better. I didn’t know how to tell you this and make sure you didn’t burden yourself with this misplaced guilt. You finally trust me enough, so believe me when I say this wasn’t your fault, sweetheart.”
“What if he hates me for being the reason he came back to no family?” I clutch his shirt between my fingers.
“He doesn’t hate you, baby, and he has a family. Harvey has two brothers, a mate, a clone, and an amazing best friend.”
“Monkey,” I remind him.
“Of course, add an adorable nephew in the mix, and there’s no way he is ever alone.”
“He doesn’t hate me?”
“No way.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” Angel easily lifts off the ground with me in his arms, leaving behind a place full of my guilt and hurt. “Come on, let’s go home before they think you got kidnapped again.”
I gasp, genuinely shocked by his dark humor, “I didn’t know you could make dark jokes.”
“Anything to see you smile.”
CHAPTER 24
The siren I love to hate
Nevaeh
“Shake the can before you open it. It’ll make the flavours mix nicely.”
I should’ve known better than to trust Hazel. When has Sharky ever given someoneadvice?So why am I surprised that the moment I open the can—after shaking it profusely to get better flavor, the drink splasheseverywhere.
From my hoodie to the kitchen counter, even the ceiling is dripping with soda. A loud ring of laughter drowns my horrified gasp, and I turn around to find August doubled over in hysterics, next to the woman I should’ve killed a long time ago.
Dumping the can in the trash I take off towards them, intending to watch the siren’s souls reach purgatory, but before I can get my hands on either of the tricksters’ Hazel makes a run for it with August on her tail.
“You’re a dead woman walking!”
Rushed footsteps echo the hallway followed by Angel rushing into the kitchen, panting heavily like he ran two floors to get here—which he did. I’m not surprised he got here so quickly when I shrieked like a woman on fire. This man is so tuned into everything I do that I was expecting him to be herebeforeI shook the can.
With frantic eyes, Anxo scans me from my wet strands to the pool of sticky liquid I’m standing in. “I heard you scream.”
“That evil siren told me to shake the fucking can!”
Angel shakes his head disappointingly, “Oh, sweetheart, I thought you knew better than to trust Hazel being nice.”
Grabbing a rag, he runs it underwater and wrings it. Tangling his fingers in my hair, Anxo tilts my face up to clean the mess. My shoulders slump when he peels off the soaking hoodie and throws it in the trash because there’s no saving it anymore. He stills me to clean my face, and I relax as the sticky feeling goes away.
While Anxo runs my hands underwater, I come up with plans to get back at Hazel. Preferably when she least expects it.
“Done. Now, do you want me to kiss you silly to turn that frown upside down?” The intensity of his gaze burns in my stomach. Like he senses the sudden need running through me, Anxo pulls me against him, and I get lost in the searing kiss he offers.
We would’ve stayed in our own world that’s filled with kisses if Seiji hadn’t popped out of thin air and threatened to throw up all over the kitchen if we didn’t stop.How do I never notice him sneaking up on us?
Angel reluctantly steps back to glare at Seiji, who hides his mischievous smirk by taking another bite from his apple. Anxo doesn’t even attempt to chastise Seiji; instead, he hides his face in my neck, and I know his exhaustion has finally stripped the last of his energy.
Angel has been dog-tired this last week as he guides Harvey through the process of handing over War to the rightful heir. There was supposed to be a grand event for Harvey’s coronation, but those plans got derailed when my sister and best friend announced they were hoping to getmarriedon the same day to avoid another event.
