Page 36 of Angelic Vengeance

Just in case.

The sound of the federal helicopter echoed in the distance; closer. My heart dropped before jumping in my throat, and the blood ran ice cold in my veins. My body was freaking out, yet my mind remained calm.

I got into the water. After running so much, it was a struggle to raise my knees above the waves. Everything was pitch black apart from the moon reflecting in the warm water. If it wouldn’t have been mid-July, I would’ve died of hypothermia before they even caught me.

The water was surprisingly calm; karma must not hate me so much after all. I swam as far away from the shore as I could, until the lights of the nearby town were as tiny as ants. By my estimation, I was about a mile away. That is when I allowed myself to take a break. I switched positions and floated on my back until I regained my energy.

I dropped my legs, used my arms to stay above water, and looked around until I found what I was looking for: the minuscule light of the furthest neighboring island.

CHAPTER 13

Present

AFTER ZACH TOLD ME TO get back to the party, I tried to enjoy the rest of the night without success. The thing that was on my mind was not the dead body – feeling guilt had never really been my thing – but the way I’d let Zach win this little game between us.

I gave him my word. Promised that I would let him take me on a date. I wondered if this had been his plan the whole time.

I was on the couch with the girls and some other people when the cushion dipped next to me. As I glanced at Zach, he threw his arm around the back of the couch and technically around me. He was already in deep conversation with Gìovanni, Francesca’s older brother and future Capo. Unlike everybody else, he didn’t seem to care about Zach’s interest in me.

Antonio however, Francesca’s younger brother, smirked but tried to hide it by drinking out of his tumbler. Trevor, Kali’s older brother, simply raised an eyebrow, while the girls’ eyes went wide. I pretended like I didn’t know what they were giggling about.

Without realizing, I slowly relaxed into Zach’s presence next to me. Natalia gave me a knowing smile, making me roll my eyes. It was obvious everyone was curious about Zach and me, yet no one brought it up.

“Do you want to leave?” Zach asked me after I yawned for the millionth time. His voice was always so smooth and reassuring. I nodded, forcing my eyes to stay open. “We’re going to leave now. Happy birthday again, Francesca.”

I got to my feet and went to hug Francesca one more time. She would kill me when she found out what had happened in her guest room. “Happy birthday. Have a good rest of your night!”

We pulled back, but she held my shoulders for one more moment. “Call me in the morning.” She winked.

God. Did they all think we were leaving to fuck?

Zach and I said our goodbyes and before I knew it, we were in the private elevator, on our way down. I looked up; ninety more floors to go. I didn’t protest when his arm settled on my lower back. He was so warm and firm, it didn’t feel like I was letting him ‘win’ when I leaned my head against his chest. Exhaustion ached at my muscles and I let my eyes flutter shut.

Only for a moment…

I must have been more tired than I thought because when I opened my eyes again, I was in Zach’s arms. We were in theDeMone’s underground parking garage and I guessed we were heading towards his car. He carried me with such ease, an unintentional swarm of butterflies erupted in my stomach.

I stole a look at him. This close, I could see he didn’t have dark brown eyes. They weren’t golden or honey, but pure oblivion devouring light in their intensity. He had thick, black lashes and the shadow of stubble ghosted hisjaw. His dark brown hair was styled like it always was: ruggedly slicked back with a few strands falling on his forehead –intentionally messy yet still put together.

I’d underestimated him;by a lot. He was more easy-going and charming than most criminals I’d come across, but now I knew that didn’t mean he didn’t have a dark side. I had a feeling that tonight was only a glimpse into the amount of damage that he could do.

It’d been a long time since I’d been around someone as powerful as him.

As powerful as myself.

A beep echoed in the garage, and an orange light flashed against his features. A door opened, then Zach was putting me down in the passenger seat.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, sleepily adjusting myself.

Zach didn’t respond. Instead, he strapped the seatbelt on me, the material of his suit grazing against my skin.

As he closed my door and walked around the hood to his side, I glanced at the steering wheel, then at the size and type of the interior.

“Bulletproof. Nice,” I said, referring to the impenetrable material of the vehicle, as he took off his suit jacket and threw it in the back before getting in. He glanced at me with a knowing smile, before roaring the engine to life.

Two months ago I would have enjoyed Zach’s silence, but now I wanted nothing more than for him tosay something.

I could deal with annoying, rude Zach.