Impact, Book 2 of Wingless series

Digging

I can't take it anymore. I need to figure something out. I'm finding it hard to function with all of these unanswered questions racing around in my head.

The problem is Evan. I don't want him to think that I am unhappy with him. I love him. It's this life, his life that makes it so hard to be happy. He doesn't see it like I do.

And when you care about someone you want to do whatever you have to do to make them happy. I just want life to be easier; easier is our key to happiness.

When Evan leaves for a job I use the time to do some digging. I sit down in front of the computer in the big cushy chair rolling it closer so I can get a good look at the screen.

I type in the last name Carlo and the city. I'm sure this is enough to pull something up. I tap my fingers against a stack of post it notes waiting for something to pop out that proves whatever it is I am looking for. Something to make Evan see that his lifestyle is more dangerous than he thinks it is.

My fingers click away on the keys and I read. God, if I could just find one thing that I could run with. That's all I would need to get my point across.

"What is this?" I say, clicking on the link. The headline reads Mob Boss.

The name Anthony Carlo catches my eye. I scroll farther down and land on Carlo's picture. I sit back, the only thing it seems the world wide web has accused Carlo of is various crimes that they could never prove.

All sorts of accusations, but not one spells out murder. I can't use money laundering or fraud as a means to turn his son against him.

I close out the window and cross my arms. "Nothing can ever be easy."

"What's that?"

I jump, it's Mark. Somehow he made it inside without me hearing him at all. So much for knocking.

"I didn't hear you come in," I tell him standing up.

He nods, smiling, watching me organize the highlighters.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he says.

I look up. "Do what?"

"I think we both know what I'm talking about." He takes a seat turning in the chair to face me. "I like you enough to warn you. Don't do it."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I insist, I go for the door but Mark stops me. I stare down at his grip.

"What is it with you?" He looks me over, his eyebrows coming together.

I pull away. "I don't know what you mean."

"I know what snooping looks like. And I'm telling you don't do it." He warns me.

"Curiosity killed the cat right?" I say, trying to use humor to get out of it. But he isn't buying it.

"Maybe. But Carlo killed his whole family."

"Look, Mark." I search his eyes for a shred of kindness, because right now he is scaring me. "I wasn't doing anything. I wouldn't."

"Evan cares about you. I would hate for you to ruin things between the two of you because you decided to put your nose somewhere it shouldn't be."

I bite my tongue. And force myself to walk away before I say something I can't take back. What I once thought about Mark I no longer feel that way. He's not the sweet guy with the happy personality. He's conniving and cold like his father.

I run right into Evan.

"Whoa, where you going?" Evan asks, giving me a kiss.

"I was coming to find you," I say, glad to be under his arm and away from his nosy brother.

"Did you and Journey want to come over for dinner tonight? The girls seemed to hit it off."

Mark does an impeccable job at faking a smile. "Rain check, buddy." He pats Evan on the back. "Something came up."

I watch him leave, glad he is gone.

"I wonder what that was about," Evan says.

"I have no idea." I know Mark is trying to warn me. I don't need his warning. I'm not stupid.

I will explore all my options. I will not be crazy for the sake of crazy, until crazy is my last option.

Sure Carlo is scary. But I'm not willing to sit by while he tries to control me. If he has that much control on my death there is no way I will let him control the way that I live.

The plane crash put things into perspective; I no longer want to be afraid of death. I want to live my life.