Whispers of a Broken Halo by Abbi Glines

He didn’t move. “Do what is right for the boy.”

The whirlwind of emotions churning inside me made me feel like I was going to explode. Rio March had no right to judge me and assume that I would do anything less than what was best for my nephew. I had been taking care of him and protecting him since he was born. Rio didn’t know that though because he’d chosen not to get to know me. The person I had become.

“Good-bye, Rio,” I said tightly, thankful I had been able to control my words around him.

He moved then, and as he walked toward the door, he paused. “The kid deserves better than this life. You know that as well as I do. Let him have the life we didn’t get.”

My knuckles gripped the door so hard that they turned white. I glared at him, unable to check my words. He had pushed me too far.

“Y-y-you know n-n-noth-thing about his life or m-mine. You assume be-be-because you became a-a-an elitist ass-asshole. I do not n-n-need your advice. I’m capable of taking care of th-th-things myself.” Although I spoke quietly, I struggled once again with my words.

I did not like Rio March. I hated him. Everything about him. Especially how he’d made me become that weak, broken girl who couldn’t speak without stuttering.





Chapter Fifteen

Rio

I closed the fridge door with more force than necessary. I’d been on edge all day. My morning visit to Bryn’s had soured my mood, and I hadn’t been able to come back from it. As hard as I had tried, I’d couldn’t shake her words from my head.

“You break the damn fridge, and you’ll buy a new one,” Saul drawled as he stood, watching me from across the kitchen with a beer in his hand, leaning on the counter.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked me, looking as if he would rather do anything other than talk about my current anger problem.

I shook my head.

“Good,” he replied, shoving off from his relaxed position and heading for the back doors that led to where my sister was currently relaxing with a cup of tea and a book with her scenic view of the Gulf of Mexico.

He was almost to the door when Drake walked into the kitchen. “Jesus, what a fucking day. Did you hear the cops busted up Garth Harden’s meth trailer this morning? Place was loaded with folks. Two of the guys in Hollow Gun got arrested. One was their fucking drummer! They can’t play without him.”

Saul had paused at the door to listen to Drake. I had hoped he would go on outside. If he heard about Tory, he’d tell Henley. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with my sister worrying over that shit tonight.

“I heard,” was all I said, hoping Drake would shut up.

“Meth is insanity. I never did understand it. Just get fucking drunk,” he added as he opened the fridge to grab a beer. “Oh,” he said, his eyes wide as he turned to look at me. “Tory, the crazed bitch I went out with, like, twice. You know, the stripper’s sister. She was in there. And I heard it wasn’t her first arrest. She’s probably headed to Montgomery or wherever the hell they send folks like that. I dunno.” He shook his head then and took a drink.

I could feel Saul’s eyes on me. He had put the pieces together quickly enough. Unlike Drake, he paid close attention to things. I turned my head to meet his gaze. He said nothing, and I knew he expected me to talk.

“What?” I snapped. I didn’t have to say anything to him. If I had wanted to tell him, I would have. This wasn’t his fucking business. Just because Henley was going to give a shit didn’t mean I had to give him any information. This was not my sister’s problem, and she needed to stay out of it. “Tory is trash,” I added.

Saul turned to look out the window at my sister, who was blissfully unaware about all of this. I wanted it to stay that way. Couldn’t he just let it go?

“She doesn’t need to know,” I told him. “She can’t do anything. There is nothing to do.”

Saul sighed and then looked back at me. “I wish I didn’t have to tell her, but damn if I’m keeping shit from her. I’ve been down that road, and I don’t intend to do it again,” he said. “The sister, she has the kid?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I went by their place this morning when I got word Tory was being arrested. I told her.”

“The stripper? Y’all talking again? Even after the shit with the Jeep?” Drake raised his eyebrows. “I don’t blame you. She had some incredible tits. I’d forgive her too.”

“She’s not a stripper. And, no, I’m not talking to her the way you think. Or at all. I just—I told you, she’s a part of my past. That’s it. And then there is the kid.”

Saul nodded his head toward the balcony. “You can tell her, or I can.”

I wanted to go take a shower and stay in my room all night, alone. Talking about shit I could not fix was pointless, but if Saul went out there and told Henley, she would just come search me out to talk about it. Getting it over with now would be easier.

“I’ll do it,” I told him.

“Now,” he replied.

If the fucker wasn’t my best friend, I would hate him at times. I glared at him as I walked past him and jerked open one of the double doors that led onto the elaborate balcony. It was two levels. The second level was where the pool overlooked the beach. Saul’s father owned exclusive resorts and apartments all over the world, putting him on the Forbes list. One day, Saul would be on that list too. However, if you met Saul on the street, you’d never know it.