Tangled

Chapter 96

96 Ava: Life in Westwood (I)

Lucas still calls me every night, but Lisa had helped encourage me to text him yesterday, asking for space, at least until he returns to Westwood.

I’m sure he gets hourly reports from all my guards, but at least I don’t have to worry about playing nice when I’m starting to feel resentful and frustrated, despite knowing I should be grateful for being saved.

I’m grateful to him for a lot. Having guards around should be a small price for all of this. It’s just hard.

“Welcome home!” Lisa exclaims as she flings open the door to her new apartment.

When Lisa said that Lucas had settled her into an

apartment, I’d expected something… I don’t know.

Normal?

This is far from normal.

The luxurious living room has been decorated in some

sort of eclectic, artistic mix of boho wall decor and minimalist furniture, leaving bright, wide open spaces with bright splashes of color and texture on the walls.

13:30

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96 Ava. Life in Westwood (1)

Floor–to–ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, framed by curtains I’m afraid to even touch. How can curtains look so expensive?

A sleek kitchen gleams in the corner, all stainless steel appliances and marble countertops, with white

cabinets that are going to be a terrible experience to keep clean. It’s like the entire apartment was made with maid service in mind.

running my fingers along the back of the luxurious leather couch. “Lucas really went

didn’t he?”

don’t hear me, because–well, they’re still

voice rises, competing with the clatter of her -heels against the hardwood as she storms after Kellan. “We don’t need a guard dog watching our every move in here. What, you think someone’s going to scale fifteen stories and bust through the window?”

tune out Kellan’s gruff response, focusing instead on the sprawling cityscape beyond the glass. Skyscrapers pierce the sky, glinting in the afternoon sun. Cars crawl along the streets below,

248

Ava Life in Westwood

People crowd

It’s busy.

Grind and its cozy

made my own.

From Selene.

a contented cat. I keep reaching for her, hoping to brush against the familiar warmth of her consciousness, but there’s only silence. A void where she should

to hear Selene in my head any day now, assuming it was a side effect of our bond. I’d hoped it meant Selene was getting closer, that she’d found a way to reach me despite the distance. But as the hours tick

insidious and cold.

What if she’s hurt, or worse? The thought makes my stomach twist, bile rising in my throat. I

15.30

<

in

Her absence leaves me

my eyes shut as if I can will her into existence

sounds of the city and Lisa’s

get to dictate every aspect of our lives!” Lisa’s voice cracks like a whip, jolting me out of my

weighted with the responsibility -he carries. “Lisa, I understand your frustration. But Ava’s safety is our top priority. We can’t take any chances. Not all the Blackwoods are accounted

Thinking of Mom and Dad makes me want to vomit, but

978

Life in Westwood (1)

across my skin, the way his teeth dug into my neck and shoulders.

that odious little shit again, but his nightmares live in my head, rent–free. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ

the floor, hands over my head, waiting for the torment of my pack members

against the wave of nausea.

not that scared, helpless girl anymore. I survived. I fought back. And I won’t let anyone make me feel powerless again, not even the man who claims to be -my

in a way that makes me almost want to shy

wrong way.

dying will change a lot of things,

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