Salvation (Angels Halo MC Next Gen 1)

“Depends on how you look at it. Make this happen for me, and we could even say I owe you one.” I gritted my teeth, already wondering if I was selling my soul.

With Paige, it was anyone’s guess.

Chapter 6

Lexa

“Where you going, honey?”

I stopped in my tracks on the way to the back door. Slowly, I turned to face Mom, who was sitting at the kitchen table with Dad and Aunt Flick. Cups of coffee sat in front of them all, and huge slices of cheesecake had been placed on the table for the two women that I was surprised were untouched. Cheesecake didn’t last long when it came to Mom and Aunt Flick. It was one of their comfort foods.

“I was going to go to the library and get some reading done,” I told her, lifting the books in my arms to show her. “I couldn’t concentrate with Max, Reid, and Garret playing video games so loudly upstairs.”

“Well, don’t be out late,” Mom said, sipping her coffee.

“I won’t,” I promised, moving toward the door once more and doing my best to avoid Dad’s gaze.

“Lexa, could I ask a favor?” Aunt Flick asked before I could reach my destination.

Shifting the books in my arms, I turned to face her. “Sure, if I can help, I will.”

“Nova and Garret are going to New York tomorrow, and I was wondering if you could fly out with them, make sure they get to Ciro and Scarlett’s. It will only be overnight. The Vitucci jet

will bring you back the next day.” She pushed her uneaten cheesecake away, and I knew she was beyond upset about something. “Normally, I would go, but something came up and I can’t. But if I cancel, Nova will lose her damn mind, and I really can’t deal with that shit right now.”

I nearly groaned. What she meant was she needed me to watch Garret and make sure he didn’t set the Vituccis’ private jet on fire or drive the pilot and other crew so crazy they decide to crash to put themselves—and the world in general—out of their misery. Nova could have made the flight on her own given the number of guards Ciro sent to accompany his cousin’s children to New York to ensure their safety. But it was more than likely that Garret would cause pure carnage if not kept in constant check.

“But what about the shop?” I hedged.

“I’m going to work at the shop tomorrow, honey. There are a lot of things I need to make sure are taken care of before I start treatment, and I’d feel better if I took care of them now, rather than leave you in the lurch later on while I’m down and out,” Mom assured me. “We would both really appreciate it if you could go with the kids. Garret doesn’t listen to anyone else but me, Flick, and you. It would really be helping us all out.”

Pressing my lips together, I gave in. “What time do we leave tomorrow?”

“You will need to leave here by six in the morning. Just pack a small carry-on, enough for a few days,” Aunt Flick said, her eyes full of thanks.

“But you just said it was only overnight,” I corrected her.

She shrugged. “Who knows, maybe you’ll want to go shopping. Theo Volkov wouldn’t mind spending time with you, I’m sure.”

My eyes narrowed on her and then my parents, but if I called them out on what I suspected, I knew it would only cause more trouble for me. My guess was Dad—or any number of gossip gremlins—already told Mom about Ben and me, and they wanted me as far away from Creswell Springs as possible.

“I’m leaving,” I told them, opening the back door.

“Don’t be late,” Mom called after me. “You still need to pack.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered to myself as I slammed the door and practically sprinted to my car.

The sun was going down as I drove through town and parked at the library. It was in the middle of town, and anyone coming from the police station would have to drive by it. I parked right on the street out front and walked in, waving at the librarian as I went straight to the back where I’d always studied in high school.

It was quiet back there, away from everything and everyone. Other than the librarian and a few people using the computers up front, there wasn’t anyone else in the building, though. School was out as of that afternoon, and I was the only person in the county trying to read my course work for the next semester. Not that I needed to, now that I’d applied to Trinity. I would have to buy all new books for my scheduled classes come fall.

But my parents didn’t know that yet. No one did, and I wasn’t going to say anything about it until I had everything sorted and settled. Once I had my admittance confirmed, my courses scheduled, and my books bought, no one could argue with me if they didn’t like it.

Like Dad.

He couldn’t wait for the fall so I would be back in Oregon, he’d said that morning after Ben left the shop. My father wanted me as far away from the sheriff as possible.

And yet there I was, waiting for the man to see my car out front and come find me.