Page 214 of Toxic Kiss

“Haven…”

She ignores me as she pulls out her bag, opens a drawer, and starts tossing in clothes. I grab her and tug her away.

“Stop. We’re not leaving.”

“I’m not letting her get away with this shit anymore.”

“I know, and we’ll get it cleared up. She wants us to leave and come running. She’s trying to scare us out of hiding.”

“We’re not hiding.”

“Aren’t we?” She lifts a brow. “You know what I mean. We don’t have to go back yet. Let’s take one or two more days before we’re drawn back into the chaos. Isn’t that why you brought me here?”

Haven sighs.

“Fine, but you really can’t be shocked by this. Your mother lies like it’s her full-time job, and most of them are about me. How many times has she gotten me in trouble with my father for something you did?”

“You’re right.”

Haven’s eyes narrow into a suspicious glare.

“You’re right…that’s it?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

“I just expected an excuse to follow it.”

Sitting on the bed, I pull her down beside me.

“No excuse. I’m to blame for why my mother thinks she can get away with whatever she wants, especially with you.”

Haven covers her face, and I watch her closely. Finally, she removes her hands and looks at me.

“There’s something that I need to tell you,” she says, and looks worried.

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“Your mother is sleeping with Declan.”

“You knew?”

“You know?”

“When did you find out?”

“The day you were admitted to the hospital. The only person who knew where you were was Declan. He had to be getting something on the side to sell you out. I guessed sex.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“So how did you find out?”

“Same way I found out about the kidnapping thing…Vex. I dared to turn on my phone.”

“Ah. A mistake?”

“A big one.”

We sit there in silence for a beat.