Page 6

“I don’t give a shit about what the romance genre states,” Angel snapped from beside her, “I’m not sleeping on the fucking terrace in the middle of winter.”

Ray rolled her eyes, “It’s Spring.” She said and scowled when he crossed his arms.

“It’s winter at night.”

“Christ.”

They’d stepped into the elevator of their building, but instead of heading to the same floor as before, Ray had pressed the one on the very top. One that led to the terrace. And a small house she’d made for herself in secret.

But Angel didn’t know that.

The elevator dinged as they reached the floor and opened with a soft rustle. Ray blinked at the door up ahead and stepped out with Angel in tow. Ray shot him a look before he could open his mouth to say anything and saw him fall silent with a small pout. He still held her hand though, as if he were afraid she might disappear. And a part of her was grateful to him for it. Because she knew she very well could.

Ray shook herself out of that daze and pulled open the terrace door. A gush of wind greeted them, the cold engulfing their bodies as Angel swore behind her. The air rushed into her ears, filling her lungs as she breathed it in and strode ahead. Indeed, it was cold, but it was nothing compared to how it had been on that island. That cold had been deserted. Had been lonely.

This greeted them with familiar sounds and echoes of warmth .

It was astonishing how the same wind was different everywhere.

Her gaze snagged on the door to her side as she stepped onto the grey concrete. It led to the house she hadn’t been to in a while now. A place she and Lia had dreamt of making. Her breath loosened at the thought, but she plowed forth, smiling at the view that greeted her from far away. She turned to look at Angel, who was shivering but had his eyes set on the dark sky above them.

“So many stars,” she heard him murmur and saw him tremble. Ray shifted closer to him, trying to give him her warmth when he looked down at her with a soft look in his eyes, “I’ve never seen a clear sky like this.”

Ray smiled and looked up as well, “It’s amazing what you can see when you just turn the lights off.” She whispered in response, “Something changes in sheer darkness. But only because it shines right through it.”

Angel huffed out a laugh behind her, “Light has its way of ripping through the night sky,” he looked down at her, “Doesn’t it?”

She didn’t have a response for it. Just chose to keep that lump in her throat to herself as she turned and pulled him with her,

“Let’s go.”

They neared the place soon enough. Ray fished the key from her pockets, a slight tremor passing through her hands as she pushed it through the lock and grabbed the door handle. She looked up at the opaque glass door, blinking at it,

“I haven’t been here in five years.” She whispered before pulling the door open.

She was immediately blessed by warm air and the familiar smell of fruits when she pulled it open further. Her eyes crinkled, and she made a note of thanking Ciera when she stepped into the hallway and removed her shoes .

Angel followed her in, closing and locking the door behind him as he let out a sigh of relief in the warmth. Ray’s feet flexed on the warm carpet, a moan almost leaving her lips as she ran ahead and breathed out.

Let out a scream of joy before jumping in the air.

“ Finally ,” she gasped and turned to see Angel leaning against the wall, staring at her with a small smile on his face. She grinned back, unable to believe that she was back here. In this small, crumped-up apartment-type house on a rooftop with low walls, two rooms, and one island kitchen.

This had been her promise to Lia. This had been her dream of getting them both out of that wretched town.

Her smile dimmed at that thought, her brows crinkling as she recalled Lia’s face. Lia’s smile. Her everything. But before she could dare dwell deep, warm hands held the sides of her face, shifting her so she was facing him. Angel’s eyes were warm when she looked up at him and she could swear something in her chest stalled,

“Hey,” he said softly, “Don’t become a shell of yourself.” his thumb brushed her jaw, “Not after doing everything you’ve done up until now. Not after winning .”

“I’m still going after the Ravens,” Ray replied, her chin tilting in his hands expecting annoyance. But Angel, he didn’t do a thing. Only pulled her close with a small smile and whispered,

“Please do.” He said, not a hitch in his tone, “I’ve been waiting for someone to.”

Ray’s brows crinkled. But before she could question him, he took a step away, his gaze shuttering,

“I’ll tell you my side after you clear yours. Everything with nothing left out, I promise.” A hint of doubt in his voice when he looked at her quietly ,

“Just trust me enough to tell me enough.”

She hadn’t talked about any of this in a long, long time. No one had asked because no one knew. But this. Him. He didn’t know and yet–

Looking at him now, a part of her couldn’t help but cave. Ray took a step back and sat down on the carpeted floor, her back against the couch as she saw him follow her. He too sat cross-legged in front of her, his knee touching hers in a show of support.

“Use this against me and I’ll kill you, Angel.” She said after a moment’s pause. Angel only shook his head, an easy smile on his face,

“Never easy with you.”

Indignation rose on her tongue but Angel’s brush of lips against her head was faster. Ray froze. But he sat back down and tilted his head,

“If I ever make that mistake, I’ll lay at your feet, Raylene Walker.”

Ray breathed out and looked away from him, her hands wrapping around her body as she began, “You know that Nathan Kraft was my biological father?” she asked and he nodded, “Well, I didn’t live with him. Ma left him when I was, what, two? And remarried when I was twelve. She fell in love with this man I’d never met before. He had a daughter from his previous marriage as well. She was seven when I met her.”

Her eyes rose to his finally, shining with lost memories,

“And was Ira’s age when she died.”

Angel’s sharp inhale was expected. But she didn’t expect him to move closer. Didn’t expect him to carefully grab her ankles and place them on either of his side. She reveled at the connection, breathed in his closeness as he shifted closer and placed a warm hand on her calf,

“Her name was Lia. Lia Walker.” She said, her voice shaking ,

“She’d taken Ma’s and my name. She was a little shit at times but,” she chuckled softly, “She was the best. Someone new, someone so tiny and beautiful. And so happy.”

Ray pulled back an inch, “Back then, I’d needed some space. So I’d gotten involved in the dark side of business. One thing led to another and suddenly I was in the wrong league with the Lions.” She straightened against the couch, “There was another gang back then. Someone who stood close to the Lions. I helped someone bring them down. It was by far the biggest job I’d ever gotten done. But it came with its repercussions.

Lia died soon after, and I didn’t know because I was in a hospital. My hand was cut up because of that day, but no one bothered calling me.” Her rage rose with the memories that surfaced after so many years, “I saw her at her funeral . One I hadn’t even been called to. Akash told me about it and I arrived there with all these people – I,” a breath, “I just lost it.”

It got easy to get sucked back into those memories yet again.

* *

Ray had never been this numb. Had never been so absent when she stumbled upon the plain land filled with people who were nothing but blurred in her vision. She couldn’t see, could barely breathe when she heard the faint voice of someone saying something far away. But when Ray stepped ahead. When she saw her mother shoot up to her feet. Saw that open casket and…

Everything shattered.

A harsh breath left her lungs as her mother’s hands wrapped around her shoulder. Around her waist to haul her up because there she was about to fall as she stepped between the row and rows of chairs kept to her sides.

“Lia.” Ray whispered, her voice so quiet and rough that she couldn’t hear it .

But it didn’t matter when a ringing began at the back of her mind. When that roar started in her mind. And suddenly–

Everything was fire.

“LIA! LIA, oh Gods, Lia–” she cried, she sobbed as she pushed past her mother. Past the monster of Lia’s father. And ran towards the casket, “No, no, NO.” she screamed when she saw that flutter of short black hair. Those golden highlights and those closed eyes.

That pale face.

And that blue cotton band around her wrist.

A wretched sound left Ray’s throat, and she went down on her knees, her sobs ripping out of her as she cried, cried.

“No, please,” she began, her voice shaking and breaking, “You can’t leave like this. You can’t – please Lia. ”

Hands landed on her shoulder and pulled her away from the casket, but her fingers only tightened on its rim. She thrashed against the person behind her, a mess of cries leaving her tongue as strong hands ripped her away. Or at least tried to.

But Ray couldn’t think. Wouldn’t.

“FUCK OFF!” she screamed at the man behind her and sneered over her shoulder, seeing those familiar eyes widen, “ This is how you tell me my sister died? BY HER FUCKING FUNERAL?”

A disgusting look crossed his face, one she’d never seen before, “You were never sisters,” the way he spat out the words was like a slap right to her face, “And I don’t invite murderers to my daughter’s funeral.”

“SETH!” her mother’s scream ripped past them as she stepped between Ray and the man, her shoulders taut and tense, “You asshole, you said you told her. ”

Seth scoffed and the sound ripped Ray’s heart. She turned to face the open casket, reaching out to place her fingers lightly against her cold wrist as the man responded,

“She deserves to go to jail – ”

Thwack.

Ray barely flinched as his face snapped to one end, a dangerous gleam entering his eyes as he looked at her mother. But she stood tall, unafraid as she sneered at the man up ahead, “That’s me returning the fucking favor. I’ve let you get away with a lot of things, but accusing my daughter? Are you fucking serious? ”

She heard her mother take a step forward when Seth remained quiet, “Let her attend the funeral quietly. And then disappear. Or would you need my help in doing that as well?”

Seth’s growl was dangerous enough for Ray to snap her gaze in his direction, her eyes gleaming with tears but still angry enough to hurt him. He noticed that look and took a brief step back, his entire self stiffening,

“Walk. Away.” Her mother snarled softly.

Ray looked back at Lia’s soft, pale face. Her eyes filled with more tears. Her head flopped down against the hard edge as another sob ripped from her throat. And between all that, all she could think of was one statement. One promise.

I’m sorry.

* *

Angel had never seen her this destroyed. This devasted.

But he watched her, not a tear dropping from her eyes. Not one hitch on her tone.

Raylene Walker had made herself home in those memories .

Angel inched closer, and her quiet gaze lolled to his. He tried to, really did, but couldn’t hide that flicker of absolute rage light in his eyes. The thought of seeing Ray like that, the mere sight of her on the ground mourning a sister she hadn’t even known had died–

It destroyed everything he’d ever conjured up.

This Seth, or whoever he was, he better hope he wasn’t fucking alive.

“Hey,” her whisper drew him out of these thoughts, and he looked up to find her expression soft. To find that knowing smile on her face, “You don’t have to do anything.”

Angel shook at the words.

“I’ve already done him enough harm to last a lifetime.” She said, and Angel’s brow arched in question. Ray’s hands landed on his, warm and blistered. He laced his fingers through hers immediately, rubbing at the roughness of her skin as she answered his question, “I might’ve killed his brother to find out what happened to Lia.”

Angel’s shoulders stiffened, a small smile betraying his actions as her hold tightened on his. Her head tilted, those eyes on his lips as she continued,

“He came after me first. I just used him instead of Seth.” She took a pause and pursed her lips, frowning, “Probably not a great decision considering June was his wife.”

Angel blinked, “Wait,” he began, pulling away to look at her face, “You’re telling me she was married to Seth’s brother?”

Ray nodded, “What luck right?” she scoffed, “Cole Kincaid. Brother of Seth Kincaid. Both known for their notorious connections to the underworld. Seth might blame me all he wants, but it was because of him I got involved in the business in the first place.”

She turned away from him, shifting on the carpet ,

“When Ma got to know, things got worse. But this time she couldn’t just up and leave. Lia was on the line, and she wasn’t her daughter or my sister biologically. So, while Ma fought to keep him away from us, I fought to keep everyone away from her.”

Angel waited for her to continue, but only saw her shoulders shake. Felt her curl further into herself, faster than he could reach her. So, he scrambled his thoughts, and came up with the best possible explanation for his insane life,

“I was five.” He began and her head whirled to his. Angel could help a smile as he saw the gears in her head turn at imagining all the possibilities that could continue with that statement. He just shifted closer and placed a hand on her head, gently stroking her hair as he continued, “And I was sitting up in my room when I heard this loud sound. It echoed throughout our empty house, and I was too young then. I got scared easy.”

He looked down as he continued, his hand dropping as he recalled the scene as clear as day, “And I went downstairs and saw this telephone first.” He said, “We had a landline at home just in case. And it was broken that day, with the handset on the ground. Right in the pool of blood.”

His head drooped further, and he shut his eyes as he continued. He told her about how his mother had reached out to him. How his young mind hadn’t been able to understand a thing that day. How she’d told him to become the son his father had always wanted so he would stay off his ass. How later when his father had actually come in, he’d pointed a gun in his direction, and he’d smiled at him.

Actually fucking smiled.

A soft sound left Ray’s throat at his words. He looked up at her, his eyes haunted by the same trauma. By the same devils .

“When I grew up, I finally gathered enough guts to find out more about her. She–” his breath caught. It was then he felt the light ball of dread in his gut. Felt it hurt the inside of his lungs. Ray’s body inched closer, her warmth coming closer and giving him enough air to continue, “She’d married him out of love. But was originally meant to kill him the first time she saw him,” he smiled, his hand going up to his necklace, “This was her origin. Her people.” He scoffed,

“Martin De Santos erased them from the fucking map.”

Angel held the glass shard then, its red hues shining with years of memories. He looked up at Ray, something in his chest breaking at the sheer understanding in her eyes. In the way she tightened her hold on his hand. And suddenly everything was crystal clear.

He blinked and moved. He knew her eyes were on him when he tugged the necklace off his neck and held the long glass shard in his hands. Rubbed its hard edge just once before grabbing its ends and bending it hard enough to break.

“What–” came her outrageous response as it snapped in his hands, Angel blinked down at the two red pieces, waiting for the fear, the pain to strike.

It didn’t.

With a small smile, Angel fished out a black band he’d found back at the hospital. Had sworn that day he would share this part of himself with her the next time he saw her. She didn’t say a word as he worked carefully.

He wrapped the glass carefully with the black band and tightened it enough for it to stay put. Angel breathed out, a calmness settling in him as he put his own back on his neck. The glass came with its own sort of comfort.

He wanted to share the same with her .

Angel looked up at Raylene Walker, straight in the eye when she rose her own gaze and tilted her head in confusion. He could swear Ray was barely breathing when he leaned forward and tied the band around her neck. Let the glass hang right between her collar bones, in that dip of her skin.

Her fingers rose to touch the glass, her fingers turning the glass carefully. Something in him fractured at it’s sight. It fractured and rebuilt into something new. Something stronger.

Maybe that’s why he cut off her response by grabbing her chin and pulling her closer before she could protest.

Ray moved easily. And didn’t contest when he pressed a soft kiss on her lips. This close to her, Angel could smell her fruit scent, could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest as she moved to lean closer. To close that gap between them.

Her body moved smoothly, and without breaking the kiss, she moved to sit in his lap. A groan reverberated through his chest as his hands wrapped around her waist and tightened. As her hand wound right above his heart and fisted his t-shirt. As she broke the kiss with a gasp and placed her forehead against his. This, he thought a bit drunkenly as he stared up at her honey eyes, at the way she looked down at him, this he could do all day.

And never. Ever. Stop.

Ray leaned down to kiss him again, this time softer, deeper. Crazier. Angel breathed out when she broke away from his lips and placed a kiss on his jaw. On his neck. His body seemed to strain to keep himself in check when Ray’s hand pushed him backwards.

Angel fell back with a word and Ray, the beautiful girl, breathed down on him and kissed the column of his throat. The vein that was pulsing from the side of his neck as he fisted his fingers around her wrist .

“Breathe.” She whispered, her breath fanning his chest and he couldn’t . Not when she was looking at him like that. Not when she–

An agonized sound left his lips, his back arching as she pressed her soft lips right above his pounding heart. He hadn’t even noticed that his t-shirt had ridden up. His head hung back, a groan leaving his tongue as she moved up his body. As she laced her hands in his hair and pressed a kiss to the side of his jaw. To the corner of his lips.

“Ray–” Angel gasped, but she didn’t stop. He didn’t ever want her to. No, he could lay like this forever and let her do as she pleased. Angel’s stomach flexed under her touch, his heart racing, his hands aching to touch her.

So he did just that.

Ray’s gasp was swallowed by the way his hands tangled in the mess of her hair and hauled her right towards him. A satisfied sound echoed through the back of her throat as he kissed her senselessly. Got lost in the way she moved against him. In the way she breathed. In the way she responded . Ray broke away with a harsh breath, her gaze delirious as she stared down at him.

It took great, great strength for him to say his next words, but knew he should get it out there beforehand, “I have a lead.” He breathed and saw her lean back, a curious gleam entering her eyes. Angel smiled at it. Was relieved that the burden was off his mind. Was off her chest.

“It has something to do with who might be behind the ambush.” He continued and watched her eyes narrow, “But overall, we’re back to where we started.”

Ray’s eyes flashed, her hold tightening on the hem of his t-shirt, and he nodded, a sigh on his lips as he spoilt their wonderful mood.

“We have a mole.”