Page 98 of Wicked Promises
I only found out Amber knew where her daughter was when we were fourteen. Margo refused to give her anything—the brave, beautiful girl managed to stand up to her own mother. That was when I decided I had to be easy on her.
Move Margo one last time and make sure Amber wouldn’t be able to find her. Give her enough to send her away—either out of town or on a nice, happy overdose.
Of course Mom has her.
Cleaned her up.
There’s some sort of leverage there, I just can’t see it yet.
I groan. I need a clean shirt, to brush my teeth, shoes. And to wake Eli up.
I wake him up first, calling him from where I stand.
“You know it’s not time for school, dickhead.”
“We have to run an errand,” I inform him. “Be ready to leave in fifteen.”
“Fuck.”
I hang up on him and go back downstairs. Margo has curled into a ball in the middle of my bed. I crawl across it and hover over her, leaning down to nuzzle her neck.
She makes the sweetest noise, reaching up and sliding her hand into my hair.
I don’t usually tell her, but I love when her nails scratch my scalp. I press a kiss to her neck, moving up to her jaw, then just under her ear.
She turns her face, catching my lips with hers, and smiles. “That’s one way to say good morning,” she whispers. Her hand leaves my hair, trailing down… “Caleb, why are you already wearing jeans?”
I steal another kiss. “Because I have to go.”
“How much longer do I have?” she whispers.
“To sleep?” I glance at the clock. “Another few hours. Two.”
“Good,” she murmurs, rolling over and giving me her back.
I shake my head, grinning, and sweep the hair off her neck. I nip the shell of her ear, then whisper, “Dream of me.”
It’s hard to leave her, but I do it. She’s breathing heavily by the time I grab my boots and jacket and climb the stairs.
I have to work hard to ignore the ball in the pit of my stomach.
“Where are we going?” Eli asks.
He’s got a black beanie over his blond hair, black jacket, black jeans. He could be ready to rob a bank or pose for a freaking fashion magazine, and that irritates me.
“Mommy dearest called.” I open the door. “Said some nonsense about her apartment being broken into and losing everything.”
“So we’re running to her rescue?”
“She also said she’s been living with Margo’s mom, getting her clean.”
Eli’s eyes widen. “Ah.”
“And, apparently it’s her fault Amber got addicted in the first place? I’m eager to hear that story.”
We climb into his car.
“Where’s she staying? Maybe we can be back before my parents notice we’re gone.”