A Dominant Fallen (A Dominant Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

downstairs, echoing down the hall. We jump up, rushing out the door to find Maya at the top of the stairs with seething anger in her large blue doll eyes and on her blotchy face, a manila folder clutched tightly in hand.
    “Do you want to explain this?” she cries, tossing it onto the floor in front of my mother. I bend over, collecting the scattered papers, and pick them up. I glance at my mom. The look of horror on her face is alarming. She’s paralyzed by it.
    “Well?” Maya asks insistently.
    She remains silent, staring at her with terror in her wide eyes. I open up the folder and inside I find our birth certificates and a few letters.
    “Mom, what is this?” I inquire, confused.
    “Where did you find that?” Lizzy asks in a shaky whisper.
    “In Dad’s office…Now, would you care to explain this?!” Maya shouts.
    “I think we should find somewhere private to discuss this…”
    “Discuss what?” I interrupt.
    “I think here is fine,” Maya insists.
    “It’s…paperwork indicating…”
    “Mom, tell us!” Maya barks.
    “Marshall wasn’t your biological father! Caleb is!” she blurts, thrusting her hand over her mouth too late, devastated by the accidental slip.
    I stand there, stunned, unable to move, to breathe.
    “What did you just say?” I ask, unsure I really heard what she said. She turns to me with pain and tears in her eyes.
    “I’m so sorry…We…”
    I scream at the top of my lungs. I don’t know what else to do. It’s too much. I can’t take this. I spin around, desperately running back to my room.
    “Ellie,” Chase calls, rushing after me.
    I don’t stop.
    I slam my bedroom door behind me and throw myself onto the bed, screaming into my pillow. I feel the stinging tears build in my chest up to my throat, burning until they break free, and I cry. A great sense of loss and betrayal leaves me empty as if I’ve lost him all over again, a man I thought I knew.
    There is a light tapping on my door, and an instant later, Chase slinks through. I watch him slowly walk toward the bed, cautious not to make any quick movements as if I were a rabid animal. He gradually lowers onto the bed and scoops my head up onto his lap, running his fingers through my hair.
    “I’m so sorry, Ellie.”
    I cry harder.
    “I can’t believe they lied to me. I’m so…angry. I’m angry they didn’t tell me. I’m angry it came out like this. I’m angry he’s gone, and I can’t tell him how furious I am. But, I’m most angry at myself for being angry at him…I’m a horrible person.”
    He scoops me up, cradling the upper half of my body in his caring arms, and attempts to console me. “No. No, you’re not. You’re wonderful.”
    “No. I’m not,” I brokenly murmur from his chest.
    “Gabrielle, you’re incredible…I love you.”
    My crying ceases at the gentle, intimate tone of his voice. I’ve heard Chase tell me he loves me a million times, but this was different, this is how he expressed his feelings when we were together. I stare up at him, bemused and dazed, and he gazes right back with soft topaz eyes.
    “Chase…I…”
    He places the tip of his finger softly on my lips, tracing it along the plumpness of the bottom one.
    “This is the worst time to tell you, I know. But, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I can’t…I love you, Gabrielle, madly.”
    I don’t know what to say. I can only stare up into those amber eyes as they beam down at me with love and admiration. I’m befuddled and a little curious. Hunt and Maya were right. He does love me.
    How could I not see it?
    “Chase, I love you too, but…”
    “Shhh. Don’t say anything.”
    He leans in, creeping ever closer to my lips. I’m freaking out. I’m so confused. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea, but at the same time, I want this. I’m inviting it. Perhaps it’s the overwhelming grief or loneliness, but I open my mouth slightly, welcoming him onto my eager lips.
    His mouth grazes mine and I whimper,