Broken Trust(Devastation Duet #2) - Winter Paige Page 0,12
winner there.” He smiles at me, and we turn to head home.
Climbing onto the back of Abel’s bike, I can feel Jonah watching from the patio, so I yell up.
“Make LA your bitch, Jonah.” I blow him a kiss, and he grins, catching it. “And sing for me.”
Thirty minutes later, Abel and I are pulling off the road by the clearing.
“Why are we here, Abel?”
“Come on. We’re doing what I should have done for you two months ago.”
“I can’t,” I whisper, my whole body trembling and pulling away. “Abel, I can’t do this, please.”
“You can, and you will. You want to move on? You want to heal? You have to start here. We are going back into the pit, but you have to face this first.” He takes my hand. “You don’t have to do it alone. I messed up before, but let me help you now.”
I nod, walking the path in silence. Letting go of his hand, I step over the fallen tree with a sob. A few more steps, and I’m standing in the spot where Joshua proposed to me, where we lost our virginities together, and where he died. My knees buckle as a scream rips from my very soul, but instead of hitting the ground, I’m in Abel’s arms.
“Let it all out, Darlin’.” He holds me until I am all out of tears and my sobs have gone quiet.
“I have so much hate inside me, Abel.”
“Use it.” He lifts me to my feet. “You have to leave the tears here though, Darlin’, and cut out the partying. You had your fun, but I need you clear headed for this. You know the world we live in, and those things will make you vulnerable. You want your justice, Eliana?”
“More than anything.” I suck in a breath, standing taller.
“Then fucking take it. This is it. I’m with you.” He kneels in front of me, taking my hand. “I will never fail you again. I have found my voice. Now the question is will you find your sword?”
“Abel, I never lost my sword.” I help him stand. “I just didn’t realize I still needed it. My eyes are open; let’s head home.”
Chapter Five
Costin
‘’He has her.” Jaxx stands from his bike, walking to me. “Kick off your lights.”
“Say where?” I turn off my bike, leaving us in the dark.
I want to, but it’s probably best I not know where to find Jonah. I saw the video. Hell, Jaxx said there were four hundred-thousand views within the first three hours and thousands of comments asking about Jonah’s new love. Just what we needed, more eyes on her.
“Safe and close,” Jaxx huffs, turning toward the sound of Abel’s bike as it slows to a stop.
“The hell, big guy? Why are we out here? You know that Joey Ramone is in for the night, and I’m not wearing that pendant. Plus, bugs, man…”
“We need to talk.” Jaxx steps into Abel’s headlight, and she immediately looks pissed. I have never seen her look at him with so much disgust.
“Great, come on out, Costin. I know you have to be here, too.” She jumps off the bike and marches our direction.
“Munchkin, let us explain.” Jaxx reaches for her hand, but she quickly yanks it away, causing him to flinch.
“Oh, no. Nope, this wasn’t a little mistake, Jaxxson. You all left me. I trusted you, all of you, and you failed me completely. I would never have done that to any of you. Ever,” she shouts.
She’s right. She would have killed herself fighting for any one of us.
“Princess, we were wrong. We just didn’t know how to help. Your pain was-” She raises a hand, halting me.
“Mine, Costin. My pain. For me to deal with however I needed to in order to make it out the other side. You all took that away from me.” She stands taller, shoulders back, eyes blazing. “I’m taking it all back. Now. I’ll fight whoever I need to in order to set this right. Does that fight include the two of you?” She looks from me to Jaxx.
“No, Munchkin, never. I’m so sorry. We just wanted you safe. We were wrong.” He pulls her into his chest. “Forgive us, please.”
“You, Jaxx. Out of everyone, I never thought you would abandon me.” She hesitantly wraps her arms around him. “You were always in my corner.”
“I never left. I just made a bad call. I’m here, whatever you need. I’ll do anything.” He steps back, looking her over, brow furrowed, “Are you