Page 133 of Angelic Vengeance

As his hand squeezed my shoulder again, his voice sounded far away. “You need to let her go, man. She needs space from you.”

Space.

Away from me.

“Go to Maria. I’ll handle Ruiz.” Zane spoke for the first time in minutes. He’d gone back to his tranquil nature; holding a rifle, loading it, and checking the telescopic sight. “Don’t worry about watching your backs. I got it covered.”

Everything was a blur until I pushed through the front doors of Zane’s building and stepped onto First Avenue. The rain that fell on my face cleared my head and as I glanced at the five lanes packed with traffic from rush hour, I knew it’d take me at least half an hour to make it from Midtown to the apartment in Long Island City, Queens.

Instead of heading to my car parked on the side alley, I turned the opposite way and ran. Over the Queensborough Bridge and through Roosevelt Island. Less than ten minutes later, I was in the elevator, chest heaving, on the way up to the sixtieth floor.

Lo lamento.

CHAPTER 40

Present

I UNINTENTIONALLY FLINCHED WHEN THE bed-room door slammed open. Sitting up in bed, I glanced over my shoulder, only to see Zach rushing towards me. Before I could stop myself, I backed away, further into the pillows – not knowing why he was coming at me with such speed.

He immediately halted when he saw my reaction, and his eyes filled with what almost looked like pain. I didn’t think he’d really harm me, but I didn’t knowwhathe would do.

After last night, I understood none of it had been real; and that I didn’t actually know the man standing in front of me. I knew the version of him he chose to show me in order to catch me. I only knew what he allowed me to see.

I frowned, taking in his heaving chest, messy hair and ruffled clothes. The defeat spread across his face was so raw and open, I couldn’t believe it wasZach. He always looked like he had everything under control.

My heart pounded in my chest, eyes following him carefully, as he walked around the bed –slowly. But when he crouched down by my side of the bed, I closed the bookI was reading and moved to get off on the other side of the mattress. There was no way I was doing whatever this was.

I could play nemeses. I could act like none of it meant anything because it was just a big game of pretend. But I couldn’t play this sick game of going back and forth.

I froze when his hand cupped my face. Turning me back to look at him, he held me so gently, I thought he was getting ready to kill me. His eyes roamed over my face, while his thumb stroked my cheek; the touch was so innocent I almost leaned into it. My head was spinning; I couldn’t understand what was happening, and my chest tightened with anxiety.

I looked away to hide my burning eyes. It was all getting too much again.

I didn’t know how or why… But the energy from last night was gone. There was no frustration, hatred or ill will in the air.

“Baby…” I felt the endearment pierce me through the chest. Zach held my face in his hands, brushing the hair out of my face. “Baby, look at me. Please.”

I shook my head, attempting to pull away.Why was he doing this?

He took in a deeper breath and his hands held me firmer. “Lo lamento.” Raw emotion scraped through his words and…

I understood. I raised my eyes to meet his; when they did, they connected with the force of a sledgehammer.

“Baby, I’m so fucking sorry.” His hands trembled as they held my face, almost as if he was scared to hurt me. His eyes were red at the edges, the pain and regret in them bleeding straight through.

Mine remained deceivingly cold and unforgiving. I fought to keep myself together.I knew he’d understand–

I hated that his words slowly began sewing my heart back together.

But it was too late. Nothing could fix it because I wouldn’t allow it. The pain served as a reminder of why I didn’t trust others to begin with. The one time I broke my rule, I was taught just why I had it in the first place. And I never made the same mistake twice.

I used you.

I felt a coolness extinguish the fire inside my chest, freezing it back into place.

“I didn’t know, I swear. You told me… I should’ve believed you.”

I shook my head. It didn’t matter.None of it was real.