Page 6 of Dark Tangled Truths
Annie swallows and glances at me before returning her gaze to her mom. “Someone left a rose on my desk during the play.I picked it up to move it out of the way, and it cut me. But it wasn’t just a prick. It burned and the wounds blistered. The pain was intense and I couldn’t even think. We didn’t know what was happening, so Hawk had Mia drive me to urgent care. The staff couldn’t figure it out either, but there must have been something on the stem that got into the wounds. The actual cuts aren’t severe. Just a lot of them. There was some swelling and blistering so they wanted to make sure I wasn’t having an allergic reaction.”
Heather steps into the room. She still seems really off. Like something is bothering her about the whole thing. Like she’s missing a piece to the puzzle.
“Isn’t Chase in your play?” Heather asks. “I’m surprised he didn’t help you. He always seemed so nice.”
Annie gives me a wary glance before meeting her mom’s eyes. “Did you get my text, Mom?”
She smiles and waves her hand. “Yes, you two broke up. That happens in high school sometimes, but it doesn’t mean you two don’t care for each other still. It may come back around. Maybe he gave you the rose to apologize?”
“If he gave me the rose, it didn’t work. Besides, I don’t think we’re going to get back together.” Annie glances down at her hand.
She doesn’tthinkthey’ll get back together? What the fuck? What all was in that text to her mom? Just that they broke up? Not all the shit Chase put her through? All the reasons they shouldn’t be together? Obviously nothing about us.
Because if Heather knew what Chase had done, she’d be the worst mother ever if she wanted her daughter to get back with that asshole. And while Damon’s opinion of Heather is low, I don’t know what to think about her.
Heather cocks her head. “Do you want to talk about the breakup?” She glances my way. “Maybe later? We could watchour favorite movies and have pizza on the couch.” Her eyes sparkle and she smiles as her eyes light up, which makes her look more like Annie. “Just the two of us tonight. What do you say? Girls’ night. It’s been forever.”
When Annie turns to me and gives me a smile, I return it and squeeze her hand. We take what we can get from our parents. Her mom wants to spend time with her. Besides, I need to fill Damon and Cam in on everything, and we need to figure out who targeted our girl.
“I need to get going anyway. I’ll text later.” Standing, I run my hands over my jeans. Every instinct wants me to lean in and kiss Annie goodbye. Honestly, I don’t want to leave her, even if it’s with her mother. I blow out a breath and turn to Heather. “It was a pleasure, Mrs. Ward.”
She gives me an odd, assessing look. “You can call me Heather.”
I nod and with a quick look back at Annie, I head out.
Damon
I grab the towel to wipe the sweat off my face and pick up my phone. There are multiple texts on the group chat with the guys. And more recently, a few from Evan.
I click on the ones from Evan first.
Little Devil:
I’m okay
Hanging out with my mom tonight
My brow furrows. She was at rehearsal and should have been home an hour ago. Dinner isn’t for another half hour. I grab mywater bottle and head upstairs while opening the texts from the guys. A rock settles in my gut with every text. Evan was hurt at rehearsal, and Hawk took her to urgent care.
Cam has someone looking at the rose that apparently hurt her so severely she needed to go to urgent care. What the fuck.
Me:
Come over
Hawk:
On our way
I walk out of the gym and make my way through the house to where I know Heather and Evan will be. I just need to see her with my own eyes.
The movie is loud and the lights are dimmed as I walk in the back of the rec room where I showed Evan my blackmail. She’s curled into the corner of the couch under a blanket. Something happens on screen and they both laugh.
My gaze flicks to Heather, who sits close and has everything within reach for Evan. She’s taking care of her daughter after ignoring her for weeks. My lips press together.
The need to scoop Evan up and take her upstairs where I can check over every inch of her is almost overwhelming. My gaze zeroes in on the bandages on her hand. She turns suddenly and locks eyes with me. Her smile is soft and happy, not begging me to save her.
She’s good. It doesn’t stop the need to check her over, but I can let it go while I find out from Cam and Hawk what we know so far.
