Page 7 of Break Me Gently

Chapter 4

Zach

I looked down at the skinny boy at the door. Nerd coat zipped to his chin, holding a plastic bag with a Christmas present poking out.

“What do you want?” I asked, almost bored, leaning on the doorway.

“Uh. Mrs. Rayne and Amber invited me,” he said, trying to look behind me.

“I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans,” I said, about to tell him to get to fuck.

“Good of you to join us,” the old prick said, placing a hand on my shoulder and removing me from the nerd’s path. “Come in.”

The flash of light made me turn.

Amber stood on the last step.

Luke had his arm around the nerd and began to lead him to the family room.

“Your mum was asking for you, Amber,” he added.

She flew down the last step and rushed ahead of them. Her jeans were too tight for her. The blur of blue vanished quicker than I wanted it to.

There was a sudden scream.

Amber.

I ran into the room, but she was hugging Isabella. I frowned as they pulled back to hold hands. They both started jumping up and down like a pair of clowns.

“Argh. I want to help. Can I be a bridesmaid? Oh, oh, oh. Will Rhea be the matron of honour? Will the wedding be in a church? Oh, Mum. It has to be a church wedding. That’s so romantic.”

I stared at their hands.

The diamond would be visible from the space station.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me, son?” Luke murmured, moving beside me.

My jaw clenched and my muscles tightened until my fists balled.

“Amber will become a Newbury now,” he whispered, covering his mouth like he was unveiling a conspiracy. “My new daughter.”

Amber was always Amber Rayne.

From the moment the small wedding registry took place to the signatures on the adoption papers.

“Excuse me,” he said, and walked away.

I watched him hug Amber. He turned them until all I could see was Amber’s back and his face. He planted a kiss on the top of her head.

Her mother didn’t care—she was too busy admiring her new man and the ring he’d put on her finger.

Then Luke raised an arm and she joined them.

A group hug.

Oh, I was staying for all the holidays.

This man was a fucking parasite.