Page 63 of Raziel

Standing in the window, towel slung low on his hips, water still dripping down his chest, steam curling behind him like smoke from a demon’s lair.

He looked like sin incarnate.

And he was watching me.

Jaw clenched. Eyes locked. Motionless.

I laughed and threw up my middle finger without slowing down.

The wind whipped my tears away as I raced across town.

I skidded to a halt in front of Miyori’s pristine mini-mansion, killed the engine, jumped off the bike, and ran to her door. I knocked like the police.

It swung open a moment later.

Miyori was dressed in yoga pants, her expression shifting from mild annoyance to alarm. She took in my wild eyes, my shaking hands, the three-day-old clothes, the nothing-but-keys clutched in my fist.

“Maya? What the hell? What’s wrong?”

I pushed past her, leaning against the wall, chest heaving as the adrenaline crash hit me hard.

I looked at my sister, my voice a raw, broken thing I barely recognized.

“Raziel might be even crazier than Priest.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You probably drove him there.” She said as she walked past me, blaming me without even hearing the story.

Chapter Twenty Six- Maya

Two days, and Priest’s big-headed ass had already put me out of his house. Said he couldn’t deal with me and Miyori at the same time.

I wasn’t ready to go home yet. So, I went to the hood.

I sighed and looked up. The sky was doing that Florida thing—where it looked like rain and sunshine were fighting for custody of the afternoon. I was in South St. Pete, under the tree. The air was thick with the smell of charcoal, ribs, and the sweet, skunky scent of weed. Kevin Gates bumped from someone’s car speakers.

I leaned against the tree, sipping a Coke, wishing it had rum in it. Bria sat next to me—baby hairs laid, short shorts riding up her thighs. I wasn’t looking to get into trouble. I just wanted a moment to feel normal.

“Damn, you ain’t laughin’ at none of my jokes,” said a voice beside me.

Deon was Tall, dark-skinned, with a grin full of golds. Bria’s cousin’s friend.

I turned and looked at him. He was doing that thing where men lick their top teeth and smile with the bottom.

I smirked. “They ain’t funny.”

He laughed—loud and easy. “You cold.”

“I’m just honest.”

He leaned back, sizing me up, taking a step closer. “I like that.”

Bria side-eyed me, amused.

Out the corner of my eye, I saw a black Navigator roll to a stop at the curb.

A chill ran through me, even though it was hot as hell outside.

The door opened. Raziel stepped out.