Page 109 of Angelic Vengeance

After one of my soldiers told me they’d seen her go up to her apartment, I drove there. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on her front door. When there was no answer, I tried the handle, surprised to see the door had been unlocked. Sheneverleft the front door unlocked.

Darkness consumed the apartment, and as I walked in, I hovered my hand over the Glock in my waistband. Maybe it was a trap; a surprise attack.

Still, I locked the door behind me. Neither of us was leaving until we figured this shit out.There had to be an explanation.

I scanned the open living-kitchen space – nothing. Slowly advancing through the apartment, I knew I wasn’t alone. When I passed the couch, I saw her.

My whole body relaxed. She was sleeping.

I wanted to laugh, I was so glad Trevor had been wrong.

Crouching down, I scanned her face. I watched her sleep for a while, fighting the urge to bite her lip, and wake her up and have my way with her.God,I was so mad and I still wanted her.

I almost did.

But then something else caught my attention. Glancing down, I saw a folder of papers barely sticking out from underneath the couch. I picked it up, my jaw already tense before I even looked inside.

A disappointment so bitter invaded my whole body, I registered the exact moment my heart ripped from my body. Claws of defeat slashed through me.

I waited for the anger to kick in; it didn’t.

Earlier, I’d been pissed.

But now, I felt my whole chest being pulled apart.

My hand shook as I brushed a strand of hair out of her face.God,she was beautiful.

I understood why they called herangel. Though no one ever mentioned she wasel ángel de la muerte.

CHAPTER 35

21 years old

Mexico

SWEAT GLISTENED ON MY SKIN and the wind blew through my hair, the afternoon sun shining in my eyes. The gold cross on my chain bounced on my chest as I ran up the hill, finishing the five-mile course. After a while, the villa came into view, and I stopped in the driveway to shoot some hoops in the basket above the garage.

Once I was inside, I kicked off my sneakers and rushed to the stairs. I only made it to one hand on the stairwell.

“Come back here!”

I groaned, walking backward and looking inside the dark office. Matteo sat behind a black-glass desk, sorting through paperwork. “Are you set for tonight? My jet leaves in an hour.”

“Everything’s ready to go. The guys are ready.”

“Good. I need you to concentrate tonight. It’s a big ship-ment–” When he looked up at me, his face fell. “Did you get a fucking tattoo?” He pointed a pen at my body. I was shirtless, only wearing basketball shorts.

I glanced down at the Bible verse tatted over my ribs. “Yes.”

“I told you; you can’t be in the family business and have your body marked. Tattoos are identifiable–”

“Good thing I don’t want to be in the family business.”

Matteo’s jaw flexed. I wanted to keep playing ball. I was already playing at college level; in a few years I’d go pro. He wanted me to be a drug lord so he could retire. We’d had this argument a million times before. I didn’t want to have it again.

I walked away and headed up the stairs. “I need a shower.”

“You’re getting that shit lasered off!”