Page 95 of Angelic Vengeance

Present

A LOT HAD CHANGED SINCE Maria walked into that nightclub two months ago.

Lines had blurred. And I didn’t know what I wanted anymore.

First, I drove her home after Francesca’s birthday party. And what the fuck did she do before she closed her apartment door in my face? She kissed me on the goddamn cheek.

Just like that.

Mwah.

Out of habit, I brought my palm up to my face, touching my skin which now felt somehow different.

But then, of course, she fucking disappeared for a whole week.

Despite not wanting to admit it, I went nuts wondering why she wasn’t picking up my calls or accepting the flowers I was sending.

Until she showed up earlier tonight at a bodega I owned, on a corner in the Bronx – a cover for entry to underground tunnels all over the city used for all kinds ofillegal shit. And of course, she killed Juan or whatever the fuck the rat’s name was.

The silent drive to the diner, and the argument afterward…

Maria running away and falling into the East River…

Me jumping after her…

I ran a hand down my face, taking a deep breath. Tonight could’ve ended bad; really fucking bad. At least, now we were safe at my penthouse.

Images from the shower with Maria flashed back in my mind.Naked. So naked…

My dick got hard just thinking about it. I’d walked out before I did anything stupid, but now I couldn’t help but regret leaving. Maybe I should’ve stayed. She sure as fuck hadn’t wanted me to leave. Why was I acting like some kind of gentleman? I was the furthest thing from that. But after tonight… It felt wrong. She would kill me if she heard me saying it, but she looked vulnerable. Cold. Wet. Tired.

I was an asshole but I’d never take advantage of a woman.

While she was still finishing up, I ordered takeout from the couch in my grand living room. Soft blues played on the speakers and only a few lamps were turned on, enough light already coming from the gold, sparkling city on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I could’ve let her drown tonight. But I didn’t.

Everything had changed. Everything was different. I even cared about what she had to say and shit. ME. I mean,what the fuck?

When I heard her footsteps enter the room, I stood and turned to her. “I ordered Chinese food– What are you doing?”

My eyes scanned her body, taking in the plastic bag she was holding in her hand. She was wearing one of my T-shirts and pair of sweatpants, and they looked way baggier than her usual baggy clothes.

I’d changed out of my usual suit, into black sweatpants and shirt. While the same size T-shirt hugged my muscular frame, accentuating my large biceps and shoulders, it looked five times too big for Maria. I was guessing the sweatpants she’d burrowed were rolled multiple times underneath her shirt in order to stay on.

“Thank you for everything but I need to get home.”

I watched her without saying anything, as she refused to look at me.

After everything… She was leaving me?

“Thank you for… Saving my life tonight, but–”

“But you’re leaving.”

She was leaving me.

“Yes.” She finally met my eyes.