Page 42 of Trust the Fall

I pull out a pair of leathers and a black crop top, sliding the shirt over my head.

When I turn back to Luke, he’s fully dressed, hands in his pockets, rocking back on his feet. The pregnant silence causes my unease to grow.

“You believe it?” I ask, voice rising.

“Why would they lie about something like that, Victoria?”

“Why do they lie about anything? You and I both know that Heaven isn’t exactly altruistic.” I shake my head at hearing myself repeat something River had said. “I’m not a reaper. I’m an angel. I had wings to prove it.” I attempt a smile, but I can feel it’s all wrong.

“You’re nervous,” he says, coming to me and pulling me into a tight hug. “Whatever they have to say, I’ll be with you, Victoria. You won’t face it alone.”

My head tilts up. “Do you promise?”

“I promise.” Luke places a kiss on my forehead before pulling away. “There’s something I need to warn you about,” he says, looking at the wall behind me.

“What is it?” I press, when it seems like he’s not sure if he should actually say the words.

“Zeke’s here.”

An awkward tension fills the room. It isn’t about my past with him, but how our relationship ended … or rather didn’t.

“I see.”

“Will you be all right seeing him?” he asks, sounding hesitant.

“I’ll be fine, Luke. Zeke and I have some loose ends to tie up, that’s all.”

And that’s the truth. I don’t feel anything other than unfinished business where he’s concerned. Zeke might’ve lied to me, but in truth, it feels like ancient history.

Whatever we had was built from loneliness and despair. He filled a void and helped me forget how miserable I was. For that, I’ll always care about his well-being, but that’s it.

The only reason I’m angry is because he was in on my falling from Heaven and allowed me to suffer through what I thought were my consequences.

He could’ve been straight with me from the beginning and told me that my fall was for something bigger. Instead, he watched me break down for weeks.

“He owes you an explanation,” Luke seethes.

My hand lands on Luke’s chest. “Simmer down, Satan. I can handle myself.”

His eyes narrow in on me, but not in a threatening way. He’s trying to determine if I’m really going to be okay with this showdown.

“I’ve got this,” I say, leaning up on my tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “I need you to be there for me, but I don’t want you to interfere. I’m no damsel in distress. I’m an angel, fallen or not. I’m anything but weak. And I don’t need a single one of you to save me.”

Luke pulls me in and squeezes me tightly. “Damn straight, love.”

I smirk. “Let’s get this over with.”

Grabbing his hand, I pull him toward the loft stairs. As we descend the steps, an overwhelming feeling of dread washes over me.

Please let them be wrong.

CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

When we make it to the bottom of the steps, raised voices cease whatever feud they were just entangled in. Every eye in the room is on my and Luke’s joined hands.

Zeke steps forward, but before he can say a word, Michael thwarts his advance. “Now isn’t the time, Ezekiel. You can discuss your part in this after Victoria has been debriefed.”

Leave it to Michael to minimize the fact that each of these angels played a role in my fall from Heaven. People who were supposed to be my friends, my brothers in arms, and they’ve all deceived me.