Dark Favors

Paige managed to escape the reporters and come to me, and she stood there in front of me. Annabelle, Caleb, and Amber all looked at her, and I did, too. She’d never been more beautiful. She’d never been lovelier. She was pale, and she looked tired, but she also looked so fucking brave that I couldn’t stand it. She’d done what nobody else had managed to do, including me. She’d finally done it.

“That was a very interesting turn of events,” I told her carefully.

“Thank you.” Her voice was a whisper. She sounded hoarse. Somebody needed to get her some water. As if on cue, a server walked by and I grabbed a glass of champagne from their tray. I held it out to Paige, and she sipped on it. Then she nodded, as if thanking me.

“You put on quite a good show,” Caleb said.

“I did my best.”

“I loved your idea for the article,” Amber said, hugging her, obviously comfortable with her. “And I’m so happy we’re going to finally release Rebecca’s project for the world to see.”

“Amber?” I asked. “You’re the reporter publishing the article?” I had no idea she was still thinking of going into media.

“It’s my first piece,” she confirmed. “And I think it’s going to be a good one.”

“I contacted Amber earlier in the week,” Paige explained. “I thought it would be good to have the media on my side. I don’t know if Josiah will go to jail or not, but hopefully, we’ll be able to get some justice for your sister.”

Then she looked at Annabelle, who was just gawking at her.

When they were close, it was easy to see the resemblance between them: the dark hair, the bright eyes, the button noses. Annabelle didn’t seem angry to find out she had a sister, which surprised me. Instead, she reached for Paige, and pulled her close into a tight embrace.

“I always knew my dad was keeping something from me,” she whispered. “I just never knew it was something like this.”

“I’m sorry,” Paige said. “I don’t expect you to want to see me ever again.”

“Are you crazy?” Annabelle shook her head. “I’ve always wanted a sister.”

Her reaction shocked me. Hell, it shocked all of us, but I don’t think anyone was more shocked than Paige. She just stared at Annabelle for a long time. Neither one of them spoke. Annabelle reached into her bag and pulled out a business card.

“Here,” she said. “Call me anytime. We’ll talk. Catch up. I’ll answer any questions you have about our dad.” Then Annabelle, being graceful and like a gazelle, turned and walked away. We just stood there staring after her, as though none of us could quite believe what had happened. Then the noise hit me all at once.

The room was still in chaos. People were yelling, talking, and shouting. The police were there, suddenly. Had they been there before? I wasn?

?t sure, and I was certain I’d have to answer questions, but first, I needed a moment. I grabbed Paige by the hand and pulled her through a side door, escaping into an empty hallway.

“You came,” I said.

“I came.” She looked up at me with tears in her eyes, as though she was just as shocked as I was that she’d managed to do it. She’d come. She’d come to the gala, and she’d stood up for my sister, and she’d stood up for her mother.

More importantly, she’d stood up for herself.

She’d put herself first.

She’d done a damn good job of it, too.

“You were so brave,” I pointed out.

“I had to be. Your sister deserved it.”

“I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“Well, you did send a dress,” she smirked even as her eyes were brimming with tears. “I couldn’t let it go to waste.”

I didn’t know what I’d done to have the universe decide to give me a second chance. I just knew that I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve any of it. Paige was incredible. Wonderful. Perfect. She was everything that I wasn’t, and somehow, despite everything that had happened, she’d managed to find a way to continue to love. I was being given a second chance. I wasn’t about ot screw that up.

“Paige, I need you in my life,” I told her. I couldn’t wait any longer. I didn’t know what was going to happen next, but I had a feeling that there would be detectives called in and that lawyers would be getting involved. Things were about to be pretty crazy for a long time, so I’d take this moment while I still could. We had silence for a few minutes before someone came to find us. We needed to seize the moment while we could.

“I need you, too,” she whispered, looking at me. “I’ve always needed you. It’s always been you.”