Read Online The Other Side of Envy: The Ghost Bird Series: #8 (The Academy) by C. L. Stone - Free Book Online Page B

covered her butt and a wrinkled halter-top that showed off her stomach. Her fingers were manicured with bold bright red polish. She was barefoot, bleary-eyed and shooting angry darts from her eyes at Gabriel. Then she turned to me and her eyes widened. “Holy shit. It’s a girl.” She dropped a hand over her heart, backing up a step.
    Gabriel scrambled to his feet. “You scared the shit out of me, Pam.”
    “I scared you ? How do you think I feel? I walk in and you’ve got someone pinned to the floor like you’re gonna rape him.” She laughed, her eyes brightening. “ Her . Sorry, sugar. All I saw were your feet.”
    My cheeks were on fire. I stood up so I could better hide behind Gabriel. Amid my embarrassment and the chaos, I had a sudden lapse of memory. Who was this woman? His mother? They didn’t look much alike.
    Then I remembered his mother was dead. This must be his stepmom.
    “I wasn’t doing anything to her,” Gabriel said flatly.
    “Is that why you had to pin her wrists to the floor? Haven’t I taught you better on how to treat a lady? You can’t hold them against their will.” She turned to me, her lips broadening her smile. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Really. I thought... well...don’t mind me.” She stepped closer, her eyes raking over my body. “But I can see why he did. Holy shit.” She looked me in the face again. “You are a girl, right? God, please say yes.”
    “I am,” I said quietly. I hovered a finger over my lip, unsure of what to say.
    “Pam, this is Sang Sorenson. Sang, this is my stepmom, Pam. And yes, she’s a fucking girl.”
    “Thank the lord,” she said, and she stepped around Gabriel and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. “Thank you, thank you.” She smelled heavily of cigarettes and perfume that got caught in my throat, but her hug felt genuine.
    “Jesus H. Christ,” Gabriel breathed out, pressing a hand to his forehead.
    Pam let go of me, spun around and landed a palm against his cheek. “Don’t you go taking the lord’s name in vain.”
    I sucked in a quick breath and froze. Was he hurt? Did I need to call Mr. Blackbourne? What do I do? A flash of memory came through me of Nathan getting hit by his dad. I readied myself to tell him to run for it.
    Gabriel reeled back and cupped his cheek. “Fucking shit, woman, stop hitting me.”
    “Watch your backtalk,’ she said, waving a finger at his face. “And you can’t go sitting on top of her like that. You sit her nice on the couch. You don’t wrestle her into submission.”
    “We were just playing a video game.”
    “You don’t play games sitting on top of her.”
    Gabriel shifted around Pam, grabbing my wrist. “We were done anyway.” He tugged me to have me follow across the living room. “Come on, Sang. Let’s get out of the way.”
    “Sang, you make him buy you dinner first, ya hear?” she called out. “Make him treat you like a lady.” She headed toward the fridge, opening it and staring into the light.
    Gabriel turned off the game, and grabbed my book bag, leading the way through the back hallway. He walked toward the very last door, throwing it open until it banged against the wall. He twisted, shoved me through the doorway, and closed it behind us. He threw the lock and slammed his palm against the wall. “God damn, didn’t think she’d be up so early.” He turned around, planting his back against the door. “Why in the world would Mr. Blackbourne bring you here?”
    I stood on the worn carpet in his bedroom. I wanted to answer him, to tell him it was last minute and that Mr. Blackbourne was on his way to help Kota’s family, among other things. I wanted to start talking about the Academy and how I wanted to join and I needed to know if he’d support me. I wanted to tell him to call someone to come get me if he didn’t want me here.
    Before I could speak, though, green caught my eye. My senses got confused for a minute, as it felt like we’d