Read Online Nowhere to Run (Stephanie Carovella) by Nina D'Angelo - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nina D'Angelo
Ads: Link
reluctantly pulled herself from Ben’s arms, stepping back to wipe her eyes. She studied the people entering the church, her gaze briefly landing on where Ana and Jesse stood, wrapped up in each other’s arms. Her gaze hardened, before it continued to slide over the mourners. It stopped on where a solitary man stood. Dressed completely in black, he stood apart from everyone else.
Unable to tear his gaze off him, she nodded her head towards the stranger, asking softly, “Ben, who’s that?”
“That’s Devlin, Angel’s significant other,” Ben said; his lip curling in disgust.
“Devlin – I thought Angel was dating someone named Jase,” Stephanie said slowly.
“She is...She was. Jason Devlin.” He shook his head again. “I still can’t see what she saw in him.”
Stephanie studied Jase Devlin, assessing him. Tall, dark and handsome, he was exactly the type of man Angel went for. A man who carried himself with a dangerous aura, one which said he wasn’t afraid to take on the world and kick it in the ass.
“He has an edge about him. He’s street-wise.” Stephanie murmured, almost to herself.
Ben scowled, not liking the way Stephanie was studying Devlin. “He’s trouble. I told Angel that, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“He looks like trouble,” Stephanie admitted, “But not in the way you mean.”
Pausing, she smiled softly when Ben’s scowl deepened. “He looks like the kind of man who can take care of himself, and his woman.”
“Well, obviously not. If that were the case, Angel would still be alive.”
“What do you mean?” She asked in confusion.
“Devlin is an ex-cop. He was supposed to be protecting Angel at the very time she was raped and murdered,” Ben spat out, staring at Jase with dislike.
Stephanie was quick to note the look of dislike Ben shot at Jase Devlin was returned, noticing the man’s change in stance when he recognized Ben.
“He was supposed to be there?” She asked, returning her gaze to Jase Devlin.
“Yeah, he was her so-called bodyguard. He’s a hired gun. That’s how they met, and fell in love,” Ben said in disgust.
“He wasn’t there to protect her?”
“No. Apparently he fell off the wagon.”
“He fell off the wagon?” She echoed.
“He’s an alcoholic. The rumor is he was kicked off the force because of it. Angel thought she could save him from himself. It’s a pity he couldn’t be bothered to save her.”
Ben shook his head, giving Jase a look of undisguised hatred. His voice rough with emotion, he said, “He has a real nerve showing up here today.”
“Angel would have wanted him here,” Stephanie whispered, thinking of her best friend.
Another shot of pain hit her and she slid her hand into Ben’s. She smiled slowly, thinking of the conversation she’d had with Angel about Jase Devlin. She’d seemed so happy with him.
***
“He makes me so happy, Steph,” Angelina said, shaking her blonde hair in surprise.
“What do Ben and Jesse think of him?”
Angel wrinkled her nose. “You know them. No one will ever be good enough for us. Ben hates him. He says he doesn’t trust him. Apparently Jase gives him the creeps.”
“And Jess?” Stephanie asked, smiling at Ben’s reaction.
She knew Angeline was right. Ben and Jesse would never be happy with any guy they introduced them to.
“Jess is Jess. He hasn’t exactly been welcoming to Jase, but then he hasn’t exactly given him the cold shoulder either.”
Angeline shrugged, her eyes darkening in turmoil. “I’ve never known what he was thinking. You’re the only one who knew that. To everyone else, he’s a closed book. Always in control, always keeping a tightly shut lid on what he is thinking and feeling.”
Stephanie smiled, reaching out to take Angeline’s hand in her own. “Well, you know as long as he makes you happy, Angel, then I’ll be happy for you.”
***
“Stephanie?” Ben’s voice intruded her thoughts.
“Sorry, I was
Unable to tear his gaze off him, she nodded her head towards the stranger, asking softly, “Ben, who’s that?”
“That’s Devlin, Angel’s significant other,” Ben said; his lip curling in disgust.
“Devlin – I thought Angel was dating someone named Jase,” Stephanie said slowly.
“She is...She was. Jason Devlin.” He shook his head again. “I still can’t see what she saw in him.”
Stephanie studied Jase Devlin, assessing him. Tall, dark and handsome, he was exactly the type of man Angel went for. A man who carried himself with a dangerous aura, one which said he wasn’t afraid to take on the world and kick it in the ass.
“He has an edge about him. He’s street-wise.” Stephanie murmured, almost to herself.
Ben scowled, not liking the way Stephanie was studying Devlin. “He’s trouble. I told Angel that, but she wouldn’t listen to me.”
“He looks like trouble,” Stephanie admitted, “But not in the way you mean.”
Pausing, she smiled softly when Ben’s scowl deepened. “He looks like the kind of man who can take care of himself, and his woman.”
“Well, obviously not. If that were the case, Angel would still be alive.”
“What do you mean?” She asked in confusion.
“Devlin is an ex-cop. He was supposed to be protecting Angel at the very time she was raped and murdered,” Ben spat out, staring at Jase with dislike.
Stephanie was quick to note the look of dislike Ben shot at Jase Devlin was returned, noticing the man’s change in stance when he recognized Ben.
“He was supposed to be there?” She asked, returning her gaze to Jase Devlin.
“Yeah, he was her so-called bodyguard. He’s a hired gun. That’s how they met, and fell in love,” Ben said in disgust.
“He wasn’t there to protect her?”
“No. Apparently he fell off the wagon.”
“He fell off the wagon?” She echoed.
“He’s an alcoholic. The rumor is he was kicked off the force because of it. Angel thought she could save him from himself. It’s a pity he couldn’t be bothered to save her.”
Ben shook his head, giving Jase a look of undisguised hatred. His voice rough with emotion, he said, “He has a real nerve showing up here today.”
“Angel would have wanted him here,” Stephanie whispered, thinking of her best friend.
Another shot of pain hit her and she slid her hand into Ben’s. She smiled slowly, thinking of the conversation she’d had with Angel about Jase Devlin. She’d seemed so happy with him.
***
“He makes me so happy, Steph,” Angelina said, shaking her blonde hair in surprise.
“What do Ben and Jesse think of him?”
Angel wrinkled her nose. “You know them. No one will ever be good enough for us. Ben hates him. He says he doesn’t trust him. Apparently Jase gives him the creeps.”
“And Jess?” Stephanie asked, smiling at Ben’s reaction.
She knew Angeline was right. Ben and Jesse would never be happy with any guy they introduced them to.
“Jess is Jess. He hasn’t exactly been welcoming to Jase, but then he hasn’t exactly given him the cold shoulder either.”
Angeline shrugged, her eyes darkening in turmoil. “I’ve never known what he was thinking. You’re the only one who knew that. To everyone else, he’s a closed book. Always in control, always keeping a tightly shut lid on what he is thinking and feeling.”
Stephanie smiled, reaching out to take Angeline’s hand in her own. “Well, you know as long as he makes you happy, Angel, then I’ll be happy for you.”
***
“Stephanie?” Ben’s voice intruded her thoughts.
“Sorry, I was
Similar Books
