Read Online Traitor by Claire Farrell - Free Book Online Page B

can’t save everyone.”
    My lips trembled. “We’ve all noticed.”
    His face fell. “Ava…”
    “I need some space.” I walked out of the room, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking until he left the house. The people closest to me cut the deepest wounds, each and every time.
    Then, I realised I hadn’t heard from Gabe. He hadn’t warned me that Fionnuala was back. Eddie’s words rang clear and true in my head. He would never have taken Gabe on board and allied with the angel. But I had. I had connected myself to him magically. Maybe that was my mistake.
    I decided to go to the bar that afternoon, but not until I passed around the warning that Fionnuala had returned. Instead of fear, I found cockiness; the previous fight had boosted everyone’s confidence. Except their confidence in me.
    I visited the twins before I left. “ Phoenix was here last night,” I told them.
    Lorcan’s smile vanished. “What a pity.”
    “Maybe you should cut him some slack. He believes you’re his children, and he wants to know you both.”
    “So why didn’t we see him last night?” Lorcan demanded.
    Lucia moved across the room and stood next to Lorcan.
    “I’m not saying any of this will be easy, but he wants to give you answers first. I suppose he feels like he has to earn your trust now or something. So he promised to keep out of your way until he can give you something. A reason, maybe. He believes you’ll need that to repair what’s between you.”
    Lorcan’s expression grew cold, but I caught the hope on Lucia’s. “I don’t care what he believes,” Lorcan said.
    “Come on,” I said softly. “He’s trying. If you heard him talk… he seems broken by the way he’s missed out on your lives. He hasn’t got a clue what’s going on, but he’s trying. At least give him the chance to—”
    “What’s your obsession with him?” Lorcan demanded. “You’re supposed to be one of us. He’s not one of us. He’s the son of someone who could be our greatest enemy, Ava.”
    “And he’s your dad. I just… I know what it’s like to miss out on having family. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”
    His stern expression softened slightly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take it out on you. You’re a friend to us, Ava. We want it to remain that way.”
    “So do I. I need you both on my side. I’m not saying we should blindly trust anyone, but if there’s a chance to fix what was done to your family—”
    “I have no expectations,” he said. “It’s better that way.”
    I nodded. “I get that.”
    Lucia stretched out her arm, but I moved out of her reach, unwilling to see whatever vision she had in store for me, if any. “I’m, uh, I’m going to check on Gabe. I’m getting worried that he’s changed his mind about helping us.”
    I left and headed over to Dita’s to make peace with Carl, but he was busy trying to teach Dita about bookkeeping. She hadn’t been able to go to school, so the entire cul-de-sac had pulled together to keep the learning process going. I doubted her school would ever appreciate the effort we had put into Dita’s lessons. How to skin a rabbit probably wasn’t on the curriculum, but that hadn’t stopped Ry from going into excessive detail.
    I reluctantly went to Gabe’s bar, knowing it would only be open to staff at that time of day. When I got there, Gabe was sitting at the bar, a drink in front of him. I took the seat next to him, pretending I didn’t hear him groan.
    I nodded at Finn, who looked uncharacteristically worried.
    “Why didn’t you tell me she was back?” I asked Gabe.
    “Who?”
    “Fionnuala.”
    “Oh. Is she? I didn’t know. I’m being kept out of the loop it seems.” He looked at me, and his eyes appeared bloodshot, which seemed impossible for a mask-wearing angel. “How do you know she’s back?”
    “ Phoenix told me.”
    Finn dropped a glass, and it shattered all over the floor.
    Gabe shook his head and got to his feet. “I need to work.