Page 104 of Eyes Like Angel

Romano in his collar-tucked shirt and brown denim pants strutted his way onto us. “Sup, Marceline,” he said with a wide grin.

Marceline smiled dryly. “I didn’t know you’re going to show up.”

“I know this town like the back of my hand,” Romano responded brightly.

“Uh-huh,” Marceline said, her form went sluggish at his sudden entrance.

“And I know everyone in this town,” he added mirthfully, his sardonic grin deepened.

Marceline’s brow flicked up at his gesture. “Don’t you have work to do? I overheard you got in trouble.”

“Me? Getting myself into big trouble?” Romano blew a raspberry. “I would never. I’m a gentleman.”

“Jeez, you fuckin’ spit on me, you asshat,” Marceline hissed under her breath, swiping his spit.

Then his eyes veered at me. “Hi, Sister Eden,” he greeted lowly and friendless.

I got myself distracted by the ravens, tapping its foot on my lap, demanding me to pet.

“So, I was thinking,” Romano began as he perched on the left side beside me. “I was hoping for you to go and hang out withme at the foundations. We can talk, and I’ll help you with your work, and you help me—taking turns and all.”

He nudged me playfully by the elbow, wiggling his dark brows.

His suggestion threw me off, imagining Mrs. Rivers’ anger rising if she were to discover Romano’s intentions, his intentions on breaking his code of work ethic. He leaned his face closer, closely brushing my cheek with his lips, ignoring Marceline’s protests.

“Shall we, Sister Eden?” he asked, a smile appeared on his face had my hands stiffened as I remained disoriented, disassociated, shrinking, almost like I got suffocated, or being pressured on the spot.

Marceline’s anticipation has awaited me, sensed the tension Romano summoned onto me. Her brown eyes sharpened at his way, telling him to get off of me, but he ignored her regardless. She could try to push him, but he wouldn’t budge.

“I’m sorry, I have to go now,” I said to him, getting up from the bench, dusting my gloved hands off stuck its shavings from the food pebbles.

“Oh, come on,” he whined in a playful manner. “Didn’t you want to at least ask me how my job is doing? Or what I’ve been up to my new tasks?”

“I think your people know. But it’s so nice to see you, Rafael.”

His lip twitched as his frown deepened. “It’s Romano,” he corrected, his voice roughly grated and his sitting position dreaded in an unwanted welcome, glowering at my unfazed words.

Marceline choked a little in her refreshing drink, her carbonated soda. Spritz of bubbling soda leaked from her nostrils.

“What I said,” I told him, my shoulder blades bopping, looming at Marceline, who didn’t hesitate to depart and create distance.

“Bye,” Marceline said, suppressing her giggles as much as she held.

After we left farther back to the Rivers Foundations, Marceline patted me on the back, as my eyes darted on her colorful nails.

“Nice going, dude! You got him good,” Marceline said, sniggering. “Oh, you should’ve seen the look on his face. He’s so dramatic!” Her body slouched forward, heaving from her genuine guffaw and slapped her knee twice. “Oh my God, He had his eye twitch!”

At first, I was hesitant. But now, I hadn’t felt this good in a long time on refusing on someone who couldn’t memorize my name.

Reaching by a familiar spot at the Rivers Foundations, we ambled on until Marceline yelped beside me, and Romano’s hand touched me—before he could reach me, another man’s hand clasped Romano before the forearm, Adrian making an appearance.

His iron-grip coiled harder at Romano’s forearm.

“Touch Sister Eva one more time and you die,” Adrian said darkly, grasping to a point where Romano had his squinted in agony at Adrian’s powerful coil by the forearm, almost as if he’s suffocated by Adrian.

The onlookers were in awe, their gasps freed and their eyes spread wide in terror, muttering to one another.

“Fucking let go off me, you freak,” Romano grunted, attempting to detach but no to avail.