Page 11

T his was bad, Angel thought grimly as he looked down at the body sprawled on the sand. The blood from the cut on her neck was still flowing, seeping into the brown sand under the moonlight. There was an odd silence in the air, an eerie sort of solitude that only surrounded them when one of them was found dead.

But this.

This wasn’t just a surprise.

It was a call for war.

Angel let out a shaken breath and turned to face Raylene Walker, whose face was so expressionless it seemed as though she’d been carved of stone. His interest, however, snagged on one particular woman standing at the head of the body. Those pale brown eyes were narrowed, her blonde hair messed like a madwoman’s as Maya Larsen stared down at the body of her sister.

At June Kincaid.

Angel had never seen such a murderous look in anyone’s eyes. Maya had been frozen in place for the past five minutes, her eyes so deadly and cold as she stared and stared. No one dared move. Not even Alessandro. Not anyone.

June’s throat was cut from one side, her eyes wide open in misery and that blonde hair of hers stained with her red blood. Her feet were twisted at an awkward angle, those hands spread across .

Angel wasn’t close, but he could still see the faint red bruises on her wrist as if someone had grabbed her roughly and had hauled her close to slash open her neck.

The cut was precise, right on the side of her neck – deep enough for her to have bled to death in about 15 seconds. Angel clenched his teeth as he looked at her, his mind running at the possibility of anyone here killing her. Everywhere he looked he saw doubt. Saw suspicion. Every person that matched his gaze could be the perpetrator. Could be the killer.

“Ah,” Maya’s dry, low voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Everyone flinched at the gravity in her tone. Those brown eyes of hers were staring down at her sister, but her voice was crystal clear as she spoke, “Did you know June was going to be our next partner?”

Her question allowed for an awkward murmuring of voices to rise in the air. June Kincaid? A woman none of them had seen before? The Krafts had lost their reputation after the Raven had tossed them out. They’d lost trust. Loyalty. Integrity. Everything.

So why June Kincaid?

That’s when Maya’s eyes rose. Angel had to stop himself from flinching in surprise as those dead eyes settled at some point between him and Ray. To each of their credits, none of them moved. But Maya wasn’t looking at them at all. Was looking through them at a coward standing back.

“June was going to replace Nathan Kraft.” She said, and understanding dawned upon him. Ray’s fingers brushed his faintly, and he took the message. Both he and she took a step back, away from each other to reveal a man who’d once bragged at their doorsteps. Now, however, Nathan Kraft looked as though a bomb had been dropped right in his hands.

Maya’s eyes weren’t glaring. But they didn’t really have to .

Nathan fell to his knees, his lips wobbling, and his hands pressed together as he whispered shakily, “I did not–”

Bang!

His ears started ringing but Angel didn’t flinch when the bullet from Maya’s gun buried itself in Nathan’s head. He just turned, his eyes matching Ray’s briefly as they both turned to face her. Maya’s gun slackened in her hands, and her husband took a step closer. The steam that rose from the gun’s end flew violently with the wind as if it hadn’t existed in the first place. No one moved. Not even when they all had equal power, when they all were capable of dangerous things.

Because there was nothing more deadly than a person mourning.

Maya’s eyes hadn’t cleared when her head snapped to one side, a sickening crack echoing in the wind as she looked at each and every one of them, “Nathan didn’t know about this, of course,” she said, and Angel grit his teeth. So, it wasn’t him. It was purely a warning.

“So, this is a threat on my behalf.” She said, and Angel’s eyes flashed indignantly. This was no way to–

Ray’s fingers brushed his again and he breathed out. Not now, he told himself, don’t make a mistake now.

“In the next few days, I will find you.”

Her eyes swirled around the crowd and settled on Ray and Angel. On Akash and every person who stood there.

“And I will kill you.”

* *

Threats like that wouldn’t do the Lions any favors at all. Instead, this week would just become a place filled with angry people looking for ways to ruin them .

But was that new? No.

Ray grit her teeth as she waited for the crowd to separate. Maya and Alessandro had already turned back and walked back into their beach house. The others had begun scattering away and Verana had called someone to pick up June’s body. Ray had stuck in the same spot since, staring at the blood on the sand.

Tomorrow morning, this would disappear. And suddenly, everything would back to normal.

Ray couldn’t bring herself to feel even an ounce of pity for the woman. Not after what she’d said. After what she’d done. But a part of her couldn’t help but question the timing of it all. Akash’s body brushed past her then, and although he didn’t look back at her, she knew he was thinking the same thing.

Irene and Myra and gone after Maya, not waiting for anyone else to follow. Akash, however, had stopped to say a few comforting words to Kyle.

He didn’t spare Ray a glance as Kyle shot him a grim smile and turned to face the beach house. Ray didn’t have to look up to see him look back at her in question.

“Go.” She said, making sure to show the anger he expected, “I’ll find out who was behind this.”

She didn’t know how.

Kyle didn’t reply. But she knew her words had struck true when he inclined his head and walked away. Angel had disappeared the minute Maya had turned in. He and his friends had walked back to their rooms, Verana with them as they assured her that they would find who was behind this. That all this was wrong.

It somehow ruled them out of suspicion. But did it really ?

It was just her and Akash left on the beach now, with the rest gone and not worried about her anymore. She breathed out, not knowing what to make of this entire situation. She hadn’t seen Cameron but hadn’t been worried until she’d seen June’s body.

“It wasn’t him.” Akash’s words were so soft that someone could almost mistake them for the howl of wind. Ray didn’t turn to him though, “I saw him as he left right now. It wasn’t him.”

Then who? She couldn’t help but want to cry out even as relief washed over her.

“Go back, Akash.” Ray responded finally, and felt him stiffen behind her, “I’ve got it from here. You just do what you need to.”

If she’d turned around, she would’ve noticed the tick in his jaw. Or the way his eyes spoke words she could clearly see.

You’re going to be a suspect. They’re going to keep an eye on you.

Ray breathed out, “Go,” she said firmly and waited as she heard the shuffle of his heels against the sand fade away. It was only after she was sure there was no one else remaining that Ray rose her head, her eyes shifting to look at the bioluminescent beach.

The blue lights in the water merged and shifted, swaying back and forth. It made her sort of dizzy, almost as if she were dreaming until she snatched her gaze away.

Her walk back to her room was quieter than she’d expected. An odd sense of numbness settled in on her nerves. Everyone had already scattered, gone back to their hotels until the notice for tomorrow would arrive.

The only people who were scurrying around were the servers, the waiters, and the rest of the housekeeping staff .

Ray knew she should have kept an eye on each one of them, but she was getting tired. It had been a long day; she was thinking when she stepped through the small crowd of the staff in the living arena.

It's going to get worse, the voice in her head cried when someone bumped into her. Ray snapped back immediately, her fingers trying to wrap around the smaller figure’s wrist. But whoever it was, they were too slippery. Ray barely had time to gasp as they pressed a piece of paper into her hands and scurried away, the cloak on their head swaying with the wind. She frowned, turning on her heels to follow the figure when a loud voice called out from the hallway,

“Ray!”

She didn’t pay it any heed, instead looked down at the paper in her hand. Her brows furrowed as she pried it open quickly, her finger trembling. And froze as she read the words on the page.

‘Did you enjoy your gift?’

Holy. Shit. A sudden ringing began in her ears, loud and unforgiving.

It was then Ray fell apart. Everything, the night before, Maya’s tests, Alessandro’s expectations, June’s dead eyes, and this– this nonsense joke . Everything fell apart. There were too many people. It was becoming too loud. Too chaotic.

Ray forced herself to breathe out, acquainting herself to the constant chatter that rose around her.

The people that kept scurrying around her.

But her heart was pounding in her chest, an acute sense of paranoia hitting her veins as all the voices around her rose like sirens .

She let out a harsh breath and stumbled to one side, bracing her palm against an invisible wall but swaying violently instead, trying to count backward in her mind and failing terribly.

Shit. Shit. Shit .

She didn’t notice him near her but felt the warmth of his hand seep against her lower back. Her body was trained, and as if it were muscle memory, Ray’s elbow jerked back. But whoever was standing behind her grabbed hold of it and pulled her closer. She breathed in the familiar cologne and would’ve almost jerked in surprise if it weren’t for the haze of her mind.

“Ray?” that smooth drawl, “What– hey!”

She swayed sideways again, her breath coming out in a harsh gasp. Those dead eyes everywhere. Those voices were in her head. Were screaming. Ray gasped out loud and Angel grunted behind her, his arm going around her waist to haul her up,

“Get a hold of yourself,” he snapped down at her, making her head tip back. She was facing him now, but her vision was blurry as he looked at her with those angry amber eyes of his.

“Too loud,” Ray breathed, managing to step away from him. Away from his cologne and his stupid eyes. They widened as he heard her words, “Too many people. Too fucking loud .”

She couldn’t breathe when he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the hallway, away from the crowd. The paper in Ray’s fist had crinkled, but she had enough wits to keep it hidden as they walked in the silent hallway.

It didn’t make it better, nothing did. Ray stumbled behind him.

“Let go of me,” she snarled but it had no effect on him. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t . A part of her whispered, or screamed or did everything ,

Please, please, please–

“Let go of me,” she rasped, but then Angel turned, his amber eyes so wide in worry that Ray knew it was bad. Knew this was bad. Her world swayed–

“Woah,” he started as her eyes rolled back and she swayed to one end. One of his hands was behind her waist, firm and warm as the other held the back of her head and pulled her closer to his chest, “Easy now, Storm. Let’s breathe, okay?”

So soft. So quiet. So peaceful.

Ray didn’t breathe.

“Head here,” he said softly and gently pulled her head closer to his chest, “And now you’re blocked away from the world.”

A sob stuck in her throat, but she didn’t dare cry. Didn’t dare let him notice.

“Angel De Santos, leave me alone,” she breathed again. Coffee, whiskey, and cologne. She pushed away from him and put her hands in her hair, tugging at their roots. The numbness from before had broken and it had brought forth a damn of memories, of emotions she hadn’t faced for years. And now–

“No.” his tone was final, and her angry gaze snapped up to his.

“Open your door Raylene,” Angel said, nudging his chin in her room’s direction. Hell, she hadn’t even noticed they’d got here . Ray breathed out, so annoyed that even her haze was slipping away.

“No.” she said, thinking she was returning to herself when another wave crashed over her. Ray balked, and stumbled back suddenly, almost crying out in surprise .

“Okay, that’s it. Ya está ,” Angel’s voice was a whisper in the thunder in her mind. But his actions cut through that entire state. His hands, so big, so warm, were suddenly around her shoulders and under her knees and Angel De Santos was lifting her in the air.

“What the fuck –” she started but Angel started walking to the other end of the hallway.

Her hands had wrapped around his neck on their own accord, and now she glared at him as he whistled and looked away from her.

“You were in the middle of a nervous breakdown,” he said, and a lopsided grin curved his lips, “Please continue.”

Jerk.

Ray’s heart was pounding in her chest. It was too much. Too much of him, and his stupid scent and his eyes and…

She shook her head and heard his light chuckle.

“Put me–” she began, but her words got muffled as he hauled her inside his room and shut the door behind him. He didn’t set her down just then, but stopped walking and looked down at her, his amber eyes insistent,

“You aren’t breathing.” He said and Ray’s brow perked up even as her head pounded painfully.

“Then how am I alive right now Sherlock?” she asked, and his lips quirked from one end.

“Don’t get smart with me Watson,” he started walking in the direction of his bed. Her heart was beating way too fast as he looked down at her, “You want me to put you down?”

She glared at him in response .

Angel shrugged and dropped her on his mattress. Ray’s breath rushed out of her lungs in a whoosh as she plopped down and let out a surprised sound. Her glare shot up to his amber eyes and she was about to curse out loud when she saw him go down on his knees before her. Ray froze just as he said,

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just getting you out of these damned heels.”

Ray hid her gasp very well. His hands touched her foot briefly, but she could feel the tingle climb all the way up her spine. What the hell was going on? She couldn’t help it, a small bubble of laughter rose up her throat and past her lips.

Angel’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.

Then he grabbed her ankle and hauled her down to the floor.

Surprised, Ray almost screamed as she landed on her ass painfully. She groaned out loud, her hand touching her lower back in an attempt to rid herself of the painful jolt that ran down her spine. Angel chuckled before her making her glare up at him.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t shoot you right now?” she growled, and Angel’s amber eyes flashed with that familiar amusement,

“Well for one, you don’t have a gun– never mind, ”

Ray quirked a brow as the metal hilt of her gun pressed against his chest. Angel frowned but didn’t move her gun away. Ray blinked when she felt his heartbeat thump against his chest and through her gun. Angel’s eyes rose to hers, a sigh leaving his lips.

“Well alright,” he said, “But I did save you out there. And now you’re pointing a gun at a defenseless man. ”

She didn’t balk. Just blinked, “Am I supposed to believe you don’t have a gun on you right now?”

At first, his expression didn’t change. But then it did. A slow smile curved his lips as he reached behind his back. Ray didn’t flinch, but the faint click filled the air as she cocked her gun. Amusement danced in his eyes as he removed a similar pistol from his back and waved it in her direction,

“Alright. You get that point as well.” He said and cocked his gun as well, pointing it in her direction lazily, “But this is just for good measure.”

Ray didn’t smile.

“What do you want?” she asked instead, and his grin turned downright mischievous. This was so not good for her.

“Why do you think I want something?” he asked. Ray looked down at her gun, at the hidden piece of paper in her hands and how it was pressed between her palm and gun. It was crazy , now that she thought about it.

“Because you were looking for me before.”

“You mean when you were losing your mind?”

Her glare snapped up to his eyes, unamused as he threw his head back and laughed. His eyes crinkled at the edges and Ray’s eyes widened by a fraction. Shit , she thought, dimples .

He looked back down, and Ray snapped back. His eyes were still shining with mirth, but she saw the underline of seriousness that laced that gaze. She straightened, raising her chin in an attempt to strengthen her resolve,

“What’s your relationship with the Krafts?”

His question didn’t surprise her at all. No one apart from Kyle and Verana knew about her relationship with Nathan Kraft. Her tongue bittered at the memory of him. And now he was dead, along with his good-for-nothing replacement .

Ray blinked back and tilted her head, “Why do you want to know?” she asked and saw Angel sigh. He leaned back and sat back, crossing his legs as he did so. He’s getting awfully comfortable , she thought sourly as she saw him brace his hands back against the floor. The gun his hand was still cocked in her direction but it didn’t seem like he was going to shoot her any time soon.

Fair enough. She wasn’t going to hurt him today either.

“Because I might have some information,” he said, “And I want to know if I can trust you.”

Ray nodded slowly, appearing as though she was lost in thought. And then, as if making up her mind, she averted her gaze and pursed her lips reluctantly,

“You didn’t kill June, did you?” Her name was venom on her tongue. But if Angel caught that hatred, he didn’t show it. Instead, his eyes glinted in amusement as a small smile curved his lips,

“I did not.” Was his easy response, “But I know who might have.”

Ray’s eyes widened in interest, and she saw him nod, “But it’s your turn now, Storm.”

Again, with that nonsense.

Ray shook her head. Better to be out with it and get it over with now than later.

“He’s my biological father.” She started and saw Angel lean forward, the smile falling off his face as he gazed at her in surprise. Ray smiled humorlessly at his expression, “I guess now, he was my biological father.”

Angel opened his mouth to say something stupid, but Ray rose her hand before he could, shaking her head as she did so.

“Your turn Santos. ”

He hummed, the surprise draining out of his eyes as he leaned back on his outstretched hands as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on him. Ray saw his arms flex, her eyes fixating on his upper arm before he started speaking,

“Ever wondered how I got to know about you?”

Ray shrugged and pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her hand which held the gun on it. Angel shot her a deadpan look as she pointed it at him lazily and she responded with a quirky smile,

“I heard there was a bounty on my head,” she said, recalling Akash’s words from the first day. Oh, how far they had come, “I assumed you got to know from there.”

His eyes didn’t believe her for a second.

They stayed like that, silent for an entire minute before Ray rolled her eyes, relenting,

“ Fine ,” she started, “It was obviously a rat.”

Angel smirked in response, “Well, do you know who that rat works for?”

Her brows shot up and he read her like an open book. Didn’t he or she work for you? She seemed to say and saw as Angel's lips quirked up,

“He doesn’t work for me. But decided to give me intel on his own.” He said and Ray leaned forward, intrigued,

“Who does he work for then?” she asked and Angel leaned towards her, a lock of his chocolate hair falling over his eyes as he smirked,

“He used to work for the Krafts. But guess where he is now?”

“Here.” She breathed.

This felt like a game. Every twist and turn filled Ray with a new rush of adrenaline, making her almost breathless .

“What’s his name?” she asked, and Angel blinked in her direction, his smile stretching,

“Are you going to help me fish him out?”

There it was, she thought, her own lips curving, he wanted her as a witness. A back-up.

Her eyes were sparkling when she leaned forward and placed her gun against his heart. Angel’s brows shot up, but he didn’t move as she grinned.

“If all you wanted was some help, then you could’ve just asked.” She started, tilting her head innocently as his eyes widened and he threw his head back to laugh, “I knew you wanted to prove your loyalty to us, but I didn’t know you were this desperate.”

His eyes flashed but she didn’t let him respond. Just pressed her gun against his chest, right on his pounding heart,

“I swear on the bullet that will someday enter your chest, that I’ll help you fish our rat out.”

He grinned.

“You understand if you break your promise, I might never die.”

“Of course.”

He nodded, “I can bank on that.” He said. Ray saw him lean forward, reaching out to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear as he said,

“I assume we have a deal.” He said a bit faintly and Ray felt her heart pound in her chest. Thump, thump, thump.

“Tell me his name, Angel.” She said instead and his eyes looked into hers. Through her as she leaned back and sat on her legs. So close, a small voice in her head whispered, why didn’t you lean further?

“Sorin.” Angel breathed, his voice a bit low,

“Sorin Ardelean.”