Page 90 of Eyes Like Angel

“Come on, don’t be glum, sweet-thing,” he pressed on, leaning onto my face with his. “I’d love to stay and have a long chat with you since we’re on a break. Besides, lunch isn’t over just yet. You and I have so much to discuss. I want to know what you’ve been up to nowadays,Eden.” His voice lowered at the end, anticipating the answer he’s been searching for. From me.

I’M FINE! I’M FINE! I’M FINE!

In my veins, my blood was rushing and boiling, heart quickened, and my head was about to implode, clinging onto the thread, wanting to crouch and cry on a ground.

Dark demons laughing, weigh their souls onto my shoulders, surrounded and seeped into me, drowning my every last breath I’ve held, ready to strike.

I’M FINE!!! I’M FINE!!! I’M FINE!!!

I’M ALWAYS FINE—

Gulping, mustering up my courage once again, I tend to repeat my statement. “I—”

“There you are, Sister Eva. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” a smooth deep voice blared.

Behind Romano, Adrian Rivers appeared just in a nick of time, relying on his right shoulder to leaning in sideways against a wide-open door of the church, gazed at Romano in slight glare, an expression I could easily recognize behind his pitch-black hues.

Rather in a casual attire he wears, he fashioned himself in an open-button shirt, dark suspenders, a long dark coat over the white shirt, black trousers and Oxford shoes, his blond hair tied to a regular ponytail. His long coat floated in the soft breeze, as his gaze veered at Romano underneath and passed through the loose strands that used to hang and veiled his ears.

Three silver chains over his open-button chest glittered in the afternoon sun.

Meanwhile, Romano studied Adrian, glancing from head to toe, giving elevator eyes, in demeaning, condescending glare, and disguised his expressed eyes as a congenial grin with his lips curved upwards.

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Romano spoke up, as cool-headed as possible.

Shrugged, Adrian Rivers implied his answer with a cool-headed shrug, hands in his front pockets. “I’m the assistant.”

That didn’t give much of a clear answer, but Romano’s disgruntled expression said it all.

Romano once again gave a quick, approachable beam etched on his features. “And as it turns out, I’malsothe assistant.”

Deafening silence expanded between them.

Romano chuckled. “I’m just kidding, dude. Name’s Romano, Romano Salazar. Rome or Roman, they call me—those are my well-known nicknames. Uh, I didn’t get your name.” His hands splayed, reaching out to Adrian’s, eccentric smile spread wider.

Puzzled when I heard his surname, when Romano introduced himself fully, I never knew despite him residing in Fort Heaven. I memorized through everyone’s interests and their personalities, and I knew everyone’s last names but his. How odd it must’ve been since I caught the current material he announced.

Meanwhile Adrian didn’t reciprocate at Romano’s attempted welcoming of his semi-overhyped introduction. Eccentric and over-the-top wasn’t in Adrian’s best interest.

“Sorry, my hands are cold,” Adrian reasoned, shoving down his hands deeper.

Awkwardly, Romano retrieved his hand back, scratching his back head. “Um, I see. Anyway, I’m just catching up with people I haven’t spoken to for a while—trying to get the details and the gossip in Fort Heaven, see what’s been hanging, and…you know the gist, I’m sure.”

Adrian didn’t nod or acknowledged Romano’s outgoing clarification. His pitch-black eyes stayed formation, as if he’s judging Romano or had Romano in place by quiet force. He usually takes his time to acknowledge someone, given a smallest nudge of his nod, despite being boring, but somehow Adrian wasn’t clearly in the playful or sincere mood. He’d pay anyone to have his spare time to be used, eager for a best performance.

However, Romano tipped Adrian over at the very edge. No one likes to be put into a corner like Adrian Rivers.

And I don’t believe Adrian would spare change at Romano’s lacking performance. But it was wasted.

Over Romano’s lanky shoulder, Adrian’s jaw ticked, but did his effort to hide it.

“I see,” Adrian replied, taciturn. He then faced me, his expression briefly softened. “Sister Eva, someone needed your assistance for a moment.”

Even his long coat flowed in the breeze like a dark romantic cape, summoning himself from the nightly shadows.

My brow quirked. “Who?”

“I don’t recall her name. She’s indireneed of your help and would appreciate your fullcooperation,” Adrian’s sly tone hinted behind his stifling grin.