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I t’d been easy to convince them to join him. Somehow his and Christina’s words from the day before had struck a nerve because as Angel watched them file out of the house on Martin’s order, none of them derailed. None of them were regretful.

The plan was finally in motion.

Angel breathed out, slumping against the pillar of the second floor as he waited for all of them to disappear. He’d follow them later, would get to Ray before anyone else did. And would have his entire army by his side.

He wanted to leave immediately. Wanted to run after Ray and wherever they’d taken her.

But couldn’t leave without raising any suspicion. Nor could he contact anyone. All he could hope for was Ray and her way of distributing the tasks amongst everyone. But hell, he didn’t even know if any of them were alive. The thoughts rushed through his mind like a tidal wave, the pace leaving his heart racing as he drew his knees to his chest.

His forehead tapped against the bone of his knee, his fingers sliding through his dirt-filled hair as he watched the glass that hung from his neck. It swung back and forth, occasionally touching his skin as he breathed in and out. Angel could hear the whisper of their footsteps echo away and could feel the rumble of the door as it shut. And left him in unforgiving silence.

A sudden ringing began in his ears in the quiet air, not a hiss or a crack within range.

Angel gave it a few seconds .

Knew it was too easy for him to just leave his prison and not have any repercussions coming banging at his door.

Maybe he knew his fate too well because the repercussions came just a few moments later.

Click. Clack.

Angel’s head snapped up, his body tensing as he heard the heels clack against the marble tiles on the floor below his. He straightened, suddenly glad he’d been sitting behind a pillar, to hide himself in care anyone spotted him. Angel’s first guess was her, judging by her heels. He didn’t have such a strong hold on his fate. Because it wasn’t her.

It was someone worse.

Angel stiffened when he heard the clicking cease and braced himself for an attack. For something.

“I think we’re too old for hide and seek, no?”

He grit his teeth, his fingers shifting back to touch the gun hanging from the waistband of his jeans as he heard her familiar voice echo through the large area. There had been a time when he’d accepted her as his family. Had believed she was a blessing after the turmoil of his life.

Turns out she was nothing but karma.

Angel rolled his shoulders back, not daring to peep as he carefully crouched on his toes,

“Come on Angel,” there it was, the touch of impatience. She’d never been one to wait. Never a great person to have on hand if there were any stealth missions, “I’m getting tired of this.”

Angel didn’t move. Just removed the gun without making a single sound and twisted the silencer on its edge. It was still too difficult to determine her exact spot, which is why he needed her to continue talking .

In her case though, doing that task wasn’t all that difficult.

“ Angel!” she screeched, her voice making him flinch as he removed the knife and placed it in the placeholder of his sleeve, tucking it so it was invisible, “ Come on. I have a fucking prospect for you.”

Angel’s brows arched, his movements stalling as she sighed loudly,

“Look, we can get rid of Martin for you.”

His eyes flared wide in surprise.

“You can work with us to get rid of him. And you’ll have all the power you need. I know you’ve been wanting to tear down Martin to take his place for a while now.”

Suddenly Angel was glad he hadn’t shared his personal vendetta against this entire organization with the others. Had only insinuated that he was on board with getting rid of it all when he’d told them about Ray’s plans. No one, except Ray, knew he wanted to get rid of the Ravens altogether.

Everyone thought he was targeting solely his father.

“I know you don’t want to get rid of the Ravens,” she said loudly, and Angel tilted his head to catch a glimpse of her figure. His gaze narrowed when he saw the brush of red hair disappear under the dais he was sitting on, “And I know you aren’t fine with Raylene Walker destroying them either.”

He shook his head.

“So we’re offering an alternative. A truce of sorts. Join us, and we’ll make it easy for you to take Martin’s place.”

As what? Angel wanted to spit in her face, your fucking pawn?

Angel reined in his rush of anger, inhaling calmly. Judging by her ricocheting echoes, she was right below he was. Just a few steps forward, he coaxed as he looked through the railings. Saw nothing but plain white tiles and a large shut door as she groaned out loud at the lack of his response .

His hold on the gun tightened as he heard her angry murmurs, felt the clacking of her heels, and–

Angel smirked.

Got you.

Her red hair was a blur when she stepped right into the middle of the large hallway area and spun around dramatically. Angel saw her waving her gun in the air maniacally, her brown eyes ablaze as she looked up to the second floor but missed him completely. He could see the way she kept one hand braced against the wound he’d left her with back at the warehouse.

He'd been too drugged not to do deeper damage.

Today, however, that would change.

Angel took aim, his gun aimed at her heart as he waited for her to stop spinning. For her to face him.

And turning on her heels, just when she stopped, Angel saw her red hair sway violently, disorienting her for a second as she tried to look up. His gaze narrowed in focus and just as she raised her hand to shove the mess of her hair behind her ear, he pulled the trigger.

Swoop, the bullet went.

And buried itself deep in her heart.

Angel watched her eyes widen in half surprise, a gasp leaving her lips as she stumbled back and landed painfully on her back. Somewhere in his heart he felt an echo of pain, heard the grief and regret of ever knowing and trusting her as he saw her wide eyes shoot up to his spot. Angel didn’t rise then, just aimed the gun towards her head and was about to shoot when she growled out loud, clutching at her chest with one hand. And used the other to grab her dropped gun and start shooting haphazardly.

He grunted in surprise, ducking as a bullet whizzed over his head ,

banging on the railing as he aimed the gaps of the railings again.

Her eyes met his then, her body stilling as their gazes clashed in half haze and horror as he grit his teeth.

And pulled the trigger.

Right over her heart, once again.

This time, when she slammed back with a groan, she didn’t rise.

Angel waited for a moment, watching her stomach, waiting for it to stop moving. It took a few seconds. But it did. And only then did he get up from his crouched position. Slowly. Carefully. His gun was limp in his hands as he rose to his full height and watched her for a second.

An odd silence fell over them, ruining the control he had over his emotions as he watched her corpse stain the white floors once again. He saw the blood flow, watched it just as he had the day his mother had lain on the same floor. He saw her red hair clash with the white and saw her crippled skirt twisted around her hips. Heard the echo of the dying wind. Saw her fingers twitch and last dying movement and–

Nope.

That was her hand. Moving. Holding a gun.

That was now pointed straight at his head.

Angel blinked. Something like holy shit and sorcery passing his dumb as fuck mind as he watched her finger curl around the trigger of her gun. Angel ducked at the very last second, a rasping sound leaving his throat as he heard her groan. Saw her tug at her t-shirt.

He rolled his eyes at the black vest that showed through her movements.

“Fucker.” He heard Mia Andrews murmur menacingly as she snapped her eyes open and stared straight at him .

Shit.

Angel didn’t really wait for her to continue shooting.

Just twisted on his feet and well… ran.

* *

The blindfold on her eyes was tight. And with the bounds around her wrists and the painful way in which she was getting hauled forward, she should’ve been tense. Should’ve at least been uneasy. Almost afraid.

Instead, Raylene Walker just yawned.

The man who’d been hauling her forward seemed to pause in his step behind her, his hold on her wrists tightening. Ray let out a soft echo of laughter and heard him growl in annoyance behind her.

She was aware of others striding in as well, people shuffling all around her as they all filed through one… doorway ?

She heard someone murmur fucking psychopath under their breath as they passed her, other whispers following his words. She couldn’t help it, another burst of laughter left her tongue.

Ray could only assume they were heading into the building Angel and her had blown apart years back.

And judging by the porch the man had hauled her up, the place was still in ruins. She could feel the debris under her feet, could smell the dirt of broken rocks all around the place as the staircase they’d been climbing up ended. Echoing sounds followed the next step she took, and Ray had an acute sense that they’d stepped into a larger arena. She took a deep breath and did the best thing to figure out how big this place was.

She let out a loud and booming whoop!

Except her voice didn’t echo .

Ray’s brows furrowed as her loud yell got swallowed by the howling winds. But it also surprised everyone enough. She tilted her head when she heard the paranoid clicking of guns in her direction followed by faint swears and yelps. Even the man behind her flinched back, his hold on her wrist slackening. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of having more than a dozen guns pointed in her direction. At the thought of her being unable to see her enemies before they pulled her apart.

And yet, Ray smirked. Took their distraction as an opportunity to slip the metal of her knife into her fingers and cut through her tapped wrist with one swift movement. She didn’t move away from the man though. Kept that advantage to herself, even as the man growled behind her again and shoved her forward roughly, swearing in a language she didn’t have enough strength to recognize. She stumbled forward, a gasp stuck in her throat as she felt the blindfold around her eyes loosen and shook her head to make it fall against her neck.

Ray kept her hands flexed behind her back as she blinked back into focus. As she breathed in and coughed at the dust in the air. Smiled, when she found unfamiliar people with their glares fixated on her. A man was standing in the place she had been, something grave shining in his light eyes as he took a threatening step forward. Ray didn’t move. He was large compared to her, with his taut muscles pulled back to show his enormous figure. The snarl on his face did nothing to subdue his menace, it only heightened the pure rage written on his dark and cutting face. But she didn’t move.

“Afraid?” she rasped, her throat dry.

It’d been difficult to keep track of the time. But judging by the dark sky outside, the night had only just begun .

She could only assume that only a few hours had passed. The thought reassuring her, Ray tipped her head back and cast her eyes upwards and all around the place.

Her lips parted in half surprise when she saw the state of this place. Years back it’d been beautiful, lined with sheer perfection and concrete walls that had held one of the most powerful families in the world.

Now it was nothing but a pile of broken bricks and walls.

It was so sad. Ray breathed out and watched the brown debris surrounding her. She didn’t dare look up, knew she’d find nothing but a gaping hole from when she’d shot down that hideous chandelier and Angel had blown the roof apart. The bricks were black with soot, vines climbing through each crack venomously. Priceless furniture was ruined, the once familiar décor left to rot.

The moonlight poured down on them like waves, its white light casting an odd glow on everyone in the arena. It gave her enough to keep watch on how many people she’d have to deal with just in care. Her gaze narrowed as she rolled her shoulders back, keeping her hands still flexed behind her back as if they were tied. Ray saw them all tense, their fingers going to the trigger of their gun as they waited and watched.

A sigh left her lips at the lack of any response,

“Can anyone tell me the time?” she asked finally and took a tentative step forward. The man stiffened, his shoulders going taut as he glared down at her, his own finger tightening on the trigger,

“Stay in your place, girl.” He snarled, his voice low enough to send dangerous tremors running down her spine. Ray only shook her head, the strands of her dust-stained hair falling on her face as she moved .

“Or what?” she asked and lolled her head to one side, giving nothing but amusement as she eyed the crowd. Counting. Calculating. Judging by the time, there was no doubt everyone was already out and searching for her. She could only hope Neera had gotten the other kids out and the others were working on getting as much manpower as she could.

And Angel, she thought with slight fear, she hoped all this would work out.

“Or you’ll lose your head before your time comes, Raylene Walker.”

It was a sweet, female voice that slipped through the dark night. Ray’s head snapped up, alertness rushing through her as she kept count of the number of people around her. A click-clack of heels was all she heard before the shadows around the doorway she’d been shoved through shifted. Ray squinted, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the shadow take form. And blinked when a slip of red shone under the moonlight.

They’d been right. They’d been right. They’d been right.

Ray breathed out when she saw the woman step through the doorway elegantly.

While Maya Larsen had been a snake-like beauty with her blonde curls and dangerous eyes, this woman was all angelic. Her red hair was like a bloodstain on her white shirt and white trousers. Ray watched her as she stepped through the doorway and dipped an invisible hat in her direction.

A devil, Ray couldn’t help but think as her mind swayed with anticipation, in an angel’s disguise.

Her green eyes shone like emeralds in the moonlight, something calm in the way she strode through the crowd and waved in her direction.

“Raylene Walker.” She said, and gods even her voice was as still as an ocean before a storm .

A small smile, one she would’ve seen as sweet if they weren’t in this situation, played on her red lips, “How nice of us to finally meet.”

Ray’s gaze shuttered, her body shuddering with leashed rage as she looked at the woman step over a pile of debris. She had a part to play, Ray forced herself to think, forced herself to believe as the woman stopped a few feet away from her.

“You?” Ray forced her voice to break, her hands balling into tight fists behind her back. The woman’s eyes crinkled at the edges,

“You can stop acting now darling,” she purred in response, her voice making Ray’s blood run cold, “I know you freed yourself a while back now.”

Ray’s jaw ticked as the man who’d been holding her took a cautious step away from the woman. He dared a glance in her direction when Ray sighed, and put her hands forward to rip the tape off her skin.

“Stupid decision really,” Ray said calmly, as she dropped the tape to the ground and flexed her fingers, “To tie someone’s hands with tape.”

“I agree.” The woman agreed.

They remained silent for the next five seconds. Ray counted, each second passing like a hundred years. She took comfort in the feel of the metal pressed against the skin of her wrist. Of her guns tucked in her boots. Two weapons. One gun and one knife were all she had after Martin’s men had ripped all the others off her. It was enough, she told herself as she tipped her chin upwards and watched the woman with narrowed eyes, enough to last. Enough to end this.

The woman’s lips twisted into a soft smile then, her green eyes shining with something malicious as she raised her hands in the air. Ray braced herself, her one foot sliding back in a defensive gesture when–

Clap !

Ray blinked, a breath leaving her as the woman brought her hands together, the clap booming through the large arena.

“We really should be getting this started.” She began, her voice still calm. It vexed her, seeing a woman like this sound so soft. So calm. Like an angel. She looked at Ray now, and laced her hands behind her back, her shirt flexing against her skin as she pushed her shoulders back,

“We can’t keep Raylene Walker waiting now, can we?”

Ray grit her teeth, subduing the urge to shove her knife through the woman’s throat. It was as though she could read her mind because her red curls slipped off her shoulder as she tilted her head. A tender, almost motherly gesture that had Ray flexing her hands in an attempt to stop herself from rushing through this. But then she spoke, and everything around Ray just…shattered.

“Get Angel De Santos here.”

Please, Ray pleaded with all forces above, begged the moon that shone down upon them, please let it have gone smoothly.

Not a single thing occurred for the next five seconds. No, only a blanket of silence settled upon them, its presence suffocating as the men and woman behind the woman shifted on their feet. Ray didn’t know what the woman was expecting. But judging by the dark look that crossed her perfect face, it was the first sign of something wrong when no one appeared behind her. Still, Ray didn’t hope. Didn’t think a thing. Not until she knew for sure.

But it seemed as though the moon, the night was on her side. For once.

Because soon enough, a faint tap, tap, tap of footsteps filled the dark air and Ray saw a man, taller than the one who’d held her captive run into the broken mansion.

“ Madame,” he panted as he rushed past the men and woman who surrounded Ray, “A problem, madame. We’ve had a breach – ”

Ray’s breath left her lungs, her eyes flaring with relief at the words as the man took another step in the woman’s direction. Ray could see her shoulders stiffening. Could see her calm, perfect composure collapse bit by bit as the man continued in hushed tones. The satisfaction that rushed through her body was nothing to the adrenaline she felt when those emerald eyes shifted to hers delicately. The absolute pleasure that rocked her bones.

“You,” The woman finally said as the man finished speaking and bowed his head, taking a step away from her, “You must think you’ve won.” She took a smooth step forward, her white shirt rustling with the movement. Ray hid her scoff but kept her defensive position intact. Anytime now, she told herself, it could begin at any moment.

“I’m not stupid, Miranda Andrews.”

Miranda froze, her body stilling with Ray’s words. It was then she saw that glint spark in her green eyes. It was then Ray knew Miranda was no ordinary woman. Not anymore.

“I don’t think.” Ray breathed and balled her hands into fists,

“ I know. ”

“Oh?”

Her blood ran cold at her calm tone. At the way Miranda straightened and tugged the sleeves of her shirt forward. And suddenly Ray knew she and Angel had made the right choice that night. Had taken a gamble.

And had played quite well.

A slow smile curved her lips, her heart pounding with excitement as she watched this play out .

Ray rolled her shoulders back, forcing every ounce of conviction, of shamelessness in her frame as she looked down upon the woman standing far away,

“I’m no stranger to those who climb through ashes for revenge.” She said and saw Miranda’s eyes flare wide, saw the glint of curiosity entire her frame as she placed one hand delicately over the other, “And I know what lengths one goes for it.”

“Revenge.” Miranda breathed, and let loose a soft laugh, “You speak as though you know the word quite well.”

Suddenly Ray was taken back to the night she and Angel had reunited. The night when she’d taken him up to her place and they’d bared one another’s souls. Had shared a part of themselves that now hung between both their necks. Right above their equally beating hearts.

And after the emotional bit, they’d conjured up a plan.

Had laid the perfect trap for any eavesdroppers.

She saw it play out now. Knew she would have to tread carefully.

Which was probably why she was bidding for time.

“You’ve given enough lessons to last a lifetime Miranda,” Ray replied easily and shifted her weight on her backfoot when she saw someone take a tentative step in her direction. She sent a cold look in older woman’s direction, and saw her raise a swift hand in the air, stopping them in their tracks, “Or have you forgotten?”

The hours of research. Of searching after they’d understood who the mole was. The desperate attempts to not believe what was truly happening. When reality kept shoving them back into the same pit again and again.

Because Mia Andrews had betrayed them from the very beginning.

She’d chosen blood over loyalty .

And in all honesty, Ray couldn’t really blame her.

Didn’t mean she wouldn’t kill her.

Ray’s words had struck a nerve because Miranda Andrews took a ruffled step forward, her eyes ablaze with years and years of rage as she snarled, “Forgotten?” she began. Shivers erupted down Ray’s spine at the sheer murder written in her gaze,

“Forgotten what? Forgotten having seen my own home ravaged by flames you caused? Forgotten having seen everything you’ve worked for come crumbling down right at your feet?” she paused and scoffed, her demeanor cracking, the grief in her voice showing,

“You burnt my daughter’s childhood, making ashes of the memories we’d built over years .” She was seething now, her red hair a wildfire behind her, “You burnt the room where me and my family sat every night. You burned a library I’d built from the ground up for my daughter. You –"

"You burnt my sister." Ray's voice was low. Was calm despite the pain, the sorrow ruining her heart. When she looked up, she saw Miranda’s face. Saw the stark horror that crossed her eyes before she turned it into indifference.

"What?" Ray laughed without an ounce of humor, "You thought you could have your daughter spy on me, and I wouldn't know? You thought you could kill Lia Walker the minute she decided to deny you, and I wouldn't know ?"

Ray shook her head, "I didn't burn you down for the Lions." She said as though Miranda were stupid, spitting out the words like venom,

"I burnt you down because you birthed that waste of a man in my fucking home. "

Miranda’s eyes went cold .

“You were always meant to join us. Lia and Seth Kincaid were merely agents sent to get that job done.” She snapped and Ray faced her, her eyes flaring with years of hidden rage as her body shook with the fierceness she kept leashed,

“Instead that stupid girl got you wanting to step out of the underworld.”

“How did it feel?” Ray interrupted, her voice shaking with fury as she tipped her chin upwards, “To kill a girl who was younger than your own daughter?”

Miranda didn’t break. But Ray didn’t relent.

“How did you do it?” she asked again and took a maniacal step forward, her mind a spiral as she looked at Miranda, “How did you get a father to murder his own daughter?”

“Like a man who murders his own wife?” Miranda asked, her lips thinning as she looked past Ray, “It’s quite easy.”

Ray heard it then and didn’t have to whirl around to see Martin De Santos run through the open void behind her. Didn’t have to turn to hear his panicked pants as he breathed out,

“It’s gone.”

Miranda closed her eyes.

“All our people. All our holdings. Everything.”

Ray didn’t smile. Couldn’t bring herself to do anything but tilt her head upwards to look at Miranda, “You–”

“Don’t get too hopeful.” She said and shrugged as she opened her eyes and gazed down at Ray, “He won’t come for you.”

Ray’s gaze narrowed, her hands fisting as Miranda leered closer.

“One way to get everyone to do as you want,” she whispered ,

“You give them something better.”

Ray’s gaze flickered in a pretense of nervousness.

She would give Miranda whatever she wanted until their time came. Until they could all get here. Miranda saw that nervousness, and jumped on it like a starving predator,

“I’ve promised Angel De Santos full control over the Ravens.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper, “He can have everything he’s worked for. I will end Martin and open up a whole new path for him.”

Ray’s gaze narrowed, aware that Miranda was speaking but Martin couldn’t hear her, “What do you think?”

Click.

Ray bit back a grin as Miranda leered closer, looking far more like a wild animal as she snarled in her face,

“He’d be foolish to not take the opportunity.”

Swoop.

Ray’s eyes snapped over her shoulder, her brows arching as she saw the man who had captured her go down, clutching his shoulder as he howled in surprise. Miranda whirled on her feet, surprise marring her features. Ray took that as a chance to take a step back. To shift the spotlight upon someone else.

“You’ve lived with him for years now,” a voice spoke up from behind her. A familiar one. Ray’s shoulders relaxed, the anxiety leaving her as she breathed out,

“And yet you don’t truly know him.”

Luke’s voice was clear, but his shadow had not yet taken form. Miranda shifted on her feet again, her movements almost hasty.

“He’ll burn you down again and again.” Luke’s voice boomed, chilling everyone but Ray to the bone, as he continued, “Until he gets what he wants.”

Ray rolled her eyes, even as a familiar warmth spread across her ribs.

“And what he wants.”

Jack.

“Is her.”