Page 64 of Monster Mania

Crow closed his eyes. “Don't do this.”

“Do what?” she asked.

Razor pushed himself to his feet, and Monster let him. “Tell her why her father never let anyone touch that grave.”

Angel's face went blank. “What grave?”

Razor smiled. “The one under the fake headstone.”

Jackhammer's stomach tightened, and Angel shook her head. “It wasn't real.”

“Yes, it was,” Razor insisted.

“No. Dad built the cemetery himself,” she said.

“He built the decorations,” Razor explained. He paused and smiled at her. “He didn't dig the grave.”

Angel looked at Crow, but he wouldn't meet her eyes. “Who's buried there?” she asked. Nobody answered, and Angel stepped toward him. “Crow.”

“Lina—” Crow started.

“Who's buried there?” she repeated. Crow's expression changed, and Jackhammer knew before he said it that whatever came next was going to destroy another piece of Angel's past.

Crow looked at her. “Your mother.”

Angel stopped breathing, and Jackhammer caught her when her knees buckled. “No.”

Crow's eyes filled. “I'm sorry.”

“My mother left us,” she insisted.

“No, she didn’t,” Crow said.

“Yes, she did,” Angel spat.

“That's what Viper told you,” Crow said.

Angel fought Jackhammer's hold. “Let me go.”

“Angel,” he breathed.

“Let me fucking go!” she ordered. He released her, and she stumbled toward Crow. “My mother left when I was nine.”

Crow shook his head. “She died when you were nine.”

Angel stared at him. “No.”

“Your father buried her behind the clubhouse,” Crow said.

“Why would he do that? Why would he lie to me?” she asked.

Crow looked at Razor before he answered her question. “Because your mother found the first ledger.” Angel went completely still, and Jackhammer felt the hair rise along the back of his neck.

Angel whispered, “What?”

Razor's gaze locked onto hers as he corrected Crow. “She didn't just find it.” There was a long pause. “She wrote it.” Angel’s gasp filled the barn, and somewhere outside, a motorcycle engine roared to life.

GHOST