Graham, Jan - Finding Angel [Wylde Shore] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Free Page B

certificate, and keys in the side zip pocket of her bag.
    Angel felt dirty, which had less to do with cleaning and more to do with the fact she had spoken to Adrian. Adrian always had that effect on her. He may have been a good-looking, well-dressed, and very suave man, but the way he looked at her always made her shiver. He looked at her like a predatory animal eyed its prey. As she stood in the shower letting the warm water run over her body, Angel imagined the last five years of fear and turmoil being washed away. She hadn’t sought out anything that she had encountered in her life leading to this point. However, thinking back, she knew she had made some very bad choices. That had to change. If the last five years had taught Angel one thing, it was this. She was worth more than she had encountered in her life thus far. She was a good woman, caring and kind, and someone of that nature deserved better.
    Angel remembered the day she had arrived home to find Samuel gone. It wasn’t unusual for her car to be missing from the driveway as he often took it without asking. After all, the keys to her car were one of the many things he kept in his possession. She had actually been surprised when he had allowed her to keep the car after her attempted escape. Angel realised at the time it was all about the control and emotional torment he could inflict on her rather than a gesture of trust or an act of kindness toward her. She had to watch him use the car while she walked. It kept her close to home and gave him the ultimate power to say no when she asked for the keys to go somewhere. He often drove away in the car only to return a few hours later on his bike and announce he was going travelling for a few days. She hated when he did that. He would hand her the car keys to look after until he got back, knowing fully that she had no idea where the car had been taken. Samuel was very good at playing mind games. If there were a degree in it, he’d be head of the department at the university teaching it.
    She shivered as she remembered the sight that met her when she entered the house. It was a mess. Everything was thrown on the floor, cupboards were open, books and CDs strewn about the lounge room. The stereo speakers had been kicked in and pillows from the sofa were ripped open. Angel recalled walking to the study door and pushing it ajar. Filing cabinets had been emptied of papers and more books littered the floor. Samuel’s computer was still on his desk, a gaping hole in the front revealing his hard drive had been taken. If her life had been anything like normal, then she would have been on the phone to the police within minutes. But, there was nothing normal in her life. And in this house, the police were the enemy.
    Angel remembered walking into the kitchen to place the bags of groceries she was holding on the counter. A knife was missing from the knife block. Again cupboards were open, but whoever had gone through the house had been a little more respectful here.
    The only evidence that Samuel’s room had been searched was the bottom drawer of the dresser that had been removed and his toy drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe was open. If anything else had been touched, she wouldn’t have known as his room was always a mess, especially if he had packed to go away. Angel had then gone to her bedroom. Nothing was missing and nothing was messy, just as she had left it. Angel flopped down on the bed and breathed out a sign of relief. Apart from having to clean up, it looked like she was going to have a few days’ peace. She had decided to leave the cleanup until after Samuel arrived back on the bike. If he had trashed the place, then he’d tell her to “ clean this shit up ,” and if he didn’t do it, he would see what had happened and hopefully deal with it before telling her to “ clean this shit up .”
    Angel remembered the knock on the door that woke her. One of Samuel’s customers greeted her, only to become annoyed when