Avenging Angel (Pounding Hearts 5)

“No, thank you. I think I’m going to lay down for a bit and nap. It was a long drive…”

My mom smiles and nods her head, but she can’t keep the disappointment out of her eyes. “That’s probably a good idea. You should get some rest. Chase, Avery, and the kiddos will be here for dinner in a couple of hours.”

Oh, that’s right. Damn. I forgot. It looks like I’ll be trying to keep my shit together all night.

“Alright, I’ll see you in a couple of hours,” I say, suddenly feeling anxious to escape their unwavering attention and this role I’m playing.

Before anything else can come up and delay me, I head for the staircase.

I make it up two stairs before my mom suddenly calls out and stops me.

There’s a strange softness to her voice, almost like she’s self-conscious as she says, “Aubrey?”

Before my brain even processes my name, my feet are stopping.

“Yeah?” I ask, unable to keep the exhaustion out of my voice as I turn back to her.

The smile is gone from my mom’s face and that glow she had about her earlier has dimmed with a touch of sadness.

Wringing her hands in front of her, her eyes lock on mine as she says, “I’m glad you’re here. I missed you, honey.”

Staring at her, into her warm, loving eyes, that chasm that’s grown between us over the past couple of years yawns wide inside me, full of my regret.

Regret that the choices I’ve made have created this distance between us that was never there before.

We used to be so close… so damn close. But I chose a path that took me away from her.

I let myself be lured away from my pillar of love and strength…

I let myself be lured away for the promise of money, power, and popularity.

All the things my life lacked.

I willingly took the path my father laid before me and didn’t even look back at her.

I’ve done shitty things and sold my soul all for the sake of a different life than what she could provide for me at the time.

And I know I’ve hurt her.

Hurt her in ways I didn’t mean to, but hurt her nevertheless.

But if that love glowing in her eyes means anything, maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I’m still redeemable.

Maybe I can fix all these mistakes.

Maybe I can be me for once.

My throat closing up on me, I manage to choke out, “Me too, mom.”

Then I haul my ass upstairs before I burst into tears and completely fall apart in front of them.

Chapter Three

Emmett

Someone pounds on my front door and it’s so fucking loud it sounds like they’re trying to use a battering ram to break it down.

“Go the fuck away!” I shout at the door from the couch I was so recently passed out on.