Page 31 of Lightning Angel
How could Alexa ever stand such a thing happening to her sister? How could she take risks when it was the life of the one person she loved the most hanging on the edge?
She felt like she was going mad, her head was going to explode. Tomorrow was the deadline.
Brandon would drop by today, to pick her up for church, like he had been doing since their dad’s passing. Alexa decided to leave early in Cassie’s car. It made her sick with disgust that she had thought of him accompanying them to church every Sunday as sweet. He had just wanted to stay close toher.
John was the earliest member at church. When Alexa found him there, her relief knew no bounds, even though she knew it was only temporary.
John’s honest and straightforward forest green eyes tempted her to spill her troubles. Alexa imagined his fury when he found out what Brandon had done. He had never once shown a trace of likeness toward Brandon, least of all approved of him dating his best friend. This would enrage him. When it came down to Cassie and Alexa, he had always been fiercely protective.
Above all, Alexa trusted him. But she reigned herself in. She couldn’t tell him as desperate as she was.
Alexa kept an eye out in the crowd when people began filing into the hall, for a particularly gorgeous face among them, but he wasn’t there. Disappointment seeped into her stomach.
Was it her fault Tristan didn’t come today? She wanted to see him badly. She didn’t know why, she just… did.
Throughout the worship, her eyes searched the crowd, all while keeping her gaze away from where she knew Brandon would be. By the end of the service, Alexa’s disappointment gave way to some sort of sorrow. And it was the most confusing feeling of all.
After the service, she stuck to John’s side on purpose to avoid Brandon. Not that it stopped him from approaching her and telling her it was time to go. Alexa mustered a brave look and met his eyes, and told him she was staying a little longer, that he may leave.
His eyes darkened over; nevertheless, he pasted on a smile and left.
John didn’t fail to notice something was off between them. He asked after the matter the moment Brandon was out of earshot. Knowing she couldn’t tell himnothingwas wrong—he was the last one she could fool, afterCassie and Daphne—especially when Alexa was never someone to arrive at church early or leave late, she told him they had a fight.Justa fight. About Cassie.
And before she left, Alexa made him promise not to breathe a word to Cassie about it.
Now, as she sat on her bed in her room, back were all the ill feelings. The smallest sense of comfort she had found in John’s presence was all drained now.
If she gave in to Brandon’s want, she could save her sister. But giving in wasn’t an option. And Alexa wasn’t acheapquitter. The very thought made her want to gag.
She was drowning, with no one to pull her out of it. The more she tried reaching to the surface, swimming against the crashing waves, the weaker she felt. If only she could stop fighting and let the waves push her down…
Come to think of it, what will your sister think when she realizes her boyfriend, the man she loves, preferred her sister to her all this time? She will hate you.
Alexa recoiled at the thought. She couldn’t stand it if Cassie hated her, let alone looked at her with anything but fondness.
But… But, they were sisters. They had sworn to love each other till the end, no matter the odds.
And this wasn’t Alexa’s fault. It was Brandon who desired her.
That might be right. But when Cassie realizes that she wasn’t enough for Brandon, that he saw more worth in you than her, that you were the better choice than her, that he was faking it all… She will hate you.
“No!” Alexa shot up to her feet, running her hands through her hair wildly and pacing the length of her room. “My sister loves me! She will never hate me!”
Oh, but she will. You have two options to save yourself from her hatred andherfrom Brandon’s clutches. Give in to his wants.
“That isnotan option, and I’m not bending to his desires. Forget it!” Alexa snapped to the cold, venomous thought nagging at the back of her mind. “There has to be another way. There has to be…”
You want to save your sister?
“I will go any lengths to save her, with no second thoughts, no hesitancy. I will do anything for my sister.”
The only other way is to steer yourself out of the way.
Alexa paused in her tracks.
Your sister’s reputation won’t be tarnished. Brandon will be arrested and will spend his life in jail, away from Cassie or any other girls, dare he try this again. He is a twisted, sick monster; he will try this on other innocent girls as long as he roams free. Going to the authorities with your case is risky with your sister’s life at stake. This way, you can bring justice to all.
Alexa’s knees gave out. She sank to the floor.