Oops Wrong Girl to Bully (Angelina) by Xena Kessler novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11 *

Angelina’s POV

He was still pale. Still shaking a little. But his voice was steady.

Im not leaving,” he said. “This is our home.”

Mom looked like she might cry. “Leo, please→→

“It’s not Aria’s fault, he cut in. Those guys came here looking for trouble She just–she defended us. He looked at me. “Right?”

I didn’t answer.

And if the cops ask? Leo continued. “I’ll tell them I did it. I’m the one who cut off his fingers. Not Aria.”

“What?” Mom’s voice went up an octave. “Leo, no-

“I’m serious. He set his jaw. “They won’t send a minor to real prison. Just vie. I can handle that.”

You’re not going to jail for this!”

“Better me than Aria.” He shrugged like it was obvious. “She’s my sister. I’m supposed to protect her.”

Something twisted in my chest.

I stared at him.

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This skinny kid in his oversized hoodie, talking about going to jail like it was no big deal. Ready to take the fall for something I did.

Protect me.

Nobody had ever protected me before.

In my old life, every crisis was mine to handle. Every threat, mine to eliminate. I trusted no one. Relied on no one,

Id never had someone willing to take a bullet for me.

Never had a brother.

Leo- My voice came out rough.

“Don’t.” He held up a hand. I already decided. You’re not getting in troub for this. End of discussion.”

Mom made a sound between a laugh and a sob. Wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Both of you. She took a shaky breath. “Both of you, just–sit down. Pleas Let me think.”

She pulled out her phone. Dialed.

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Chapter 11+

Nathan? You need to come home. Now. Her voice was steady, but barely No, everyone’s fine. Just please. Com home. Bring Ethan.

She hung up, Stared at the blood on our floor.

Then she looked at me and Leo.

Twenty minutes,” she said quietly. “Your father will be here in twenty mites. We ll figure this out together.”

The twenty minutes felt like an hour.

Mom cleaned up the blood. Hands shaking the whole time. Kept glancing me like I might spontaneously combust.

Leo sat next to me on the couch. Didn’t say anything. Just sat there.

Finally, we heard the truck pull up. Dad’s old pickup, the one that burned more oil than gas.

The front door opened.

Dad came in first. Still in his work clothes, dirt under his nails. Face creased with worry.

Ethan right behind him, grease stains on his auto shop uniform.

Mom met them at the door. Spoke in a low voice, quick and efficient. Giving them the basics.

I watched Dad’s face go pale. Watched Ethan’s jaw clench.

When Mom finished, she wiped her eyes. “I wanted to send them away. To my mother’s house. But they both refused.”

Ethan looked at me. Then at Leo. “You okay?”

Yeah, Leo said.

Aria?”

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I nodded.

Mom took another breath. “Nathan, we need to talk. About what to do. All of us. She glanced at Leo and me. “Why don’t you two go get some

lunch? Give us time to think.”

We should stay, I said. This affects all of us.”

“Ethan can stay. He’s an adult. Mom’s voice was gentle but firm. You two are still kids. Let the adults handle this.”

Mom-

Please, baby,” She was already pulling out her wallet. Just for an hour. Go to McDonald’s or something. The house is–it’s a mess right now

Just give us some time.”

I understood what she really meant.

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Chapter 11*

I need you out of here so I can fall apart without scaring you more than ready have

Leo must ve understood too, because he stood up. “Come on, Aria.”

I started to follow him. Then stopped

Looked at my parents. At Ethan..

You’re worried about what happened, right? The words came out before could stop them. “About those guys coming back?”

Everyone went still.

“If you trust me. I continued, “I can handle it. I can make sure they never bother us again. Any of their concerns–they’ll just disappear.”

Mom’s face went white.

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“Aria, what are you- She rushed over, practically pushing me toward the door. Baby, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re in shock. You

need fresh air.

She dug through her pockets. Pulled out a crumpled twenty–dollar bill.

Pressed it into my hand.

“Here. Go have lunch with your brother. Maybe walk around the mall after Just Her voice cracked. Just be kids for a while, okay?”

I looked at the money in my palm.

Twenty dollars.

From Aria’s memories, I knew the family situation. A few months ago, Dad had invested in a business with a friend. The friend had disappeared with all the money. Now their bank account was in the negative.

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