Page 19

T he sky was still orange when he reached the beach house. The entire place was stranded. Abandoned after June’s death. Either that or Maya had scared everyone off her property.

Angel didn’t care though. Not when he caught a glimpse of blueish-black hair swaying with the wind far, far away. He ripped his helmet off and got off the bike after the girl did so.

“Stay close.” He said to her and took off, making sure he heard the girl’s soft pad of footsteps behind him. They ran past the beach house and stepped into the soft sand. Angel didn’t hear the girl’s soft gasp behind him, just kept his eyes glued to Ray’s as he said softly,

“Listen,” he started and finally ripped his eyes from Ray. He looked at the girl, his eyes narrowed in seriousness, “You need to stay close enough for me to hear you. If you feel anyone’s eyes on you, or even a soft sound that doesn’t fit this place, you scream.”

The girl’s eyes widened as they started walking towards Ray. He stopped just a foot away from Ray, still looking at the girl as she stopped as well, “Stay here.” He said, “And don’t move. Remember the scream. Anything, and you scream. We’ll both come for you, I swear it.”

She didn’t say anything, but Angel took the faint sheen in her eyes as a sign of acceptance. Angel sighed and finally turned to face the other girl who was sitting in the sand. He was close enough to see her T-shirt sway with the wind and reveal an angry bruise on the side of her neck. When he was sure the girl had sat down behind him, Angel moved toward Raylene Walker .

She must’ve heard his footsteps near her, but she didn’t turn to face him. Just started speaking,

“Do you know we’ve known each other only for three days now?” she said softly but Angel heard her. He was looking at her body, searching for any other signs of injury. But apart from the angry red on the side of her neck, there wasn’t anything else. Still, a part of him raged at the way it stood out on her skin. Made a soft roar begin in the back of his mind as he spoke roughly through that haze,

“Four days.” He replied, and those honey eyes turned to face him. She winced. And the roar crashed upon him. His voice was low when he said, “Can’t forget the great introduction.”

“Ah,” Ray said and turned back to face the water, “When you rained my house with bullets.”

Angel didn’t smile at the hint of humor in her tone. Just fisted his hands at his side and said in a low voice, “Tell me where you were, Ray.”

She scoffed lightly and dipped her head, pressed her cheek against her knee as she looked at him through hooded eyes,

“That’s not a question.”

Angel’s shoulders stiffened, a soft snarl flitting across his face as he said harshly, “Care to tell me why there’s a red bruise on your neck?”

That anger wasn’t aimed at her. She knew it. He knew it. But still, those honey eyes flashed, “Would you care if I told you?”

“I wouldn’t ask otherwise.” He shot back and heard her suck in a sharp breath.

“I interrupted when I shouldn’t have. And got hurt in the process.” She said, her eyes darting behind him and widening, “You got her here.” She said softly and looked back at him .

Angel shrugged and walked closer to stand right in front of her. This close, he could smell the faint antibiotic on her skin, merging with her soft flowery scent. Her warmth radiated across his body, making him almost forget his next words.

“She insisted on coming.”

“And you listened.”

Angel scoffed and looked at the girl staring at the expanse of the sea with soft eyes, “I couldn’t leave her back there like that.”

Ray turned to look at her, something like despair passing her expression before she shut it all off. Angel tipped his chin, his eyes shuttering in annoyance as he removed his hands from the pocket of his jeans and took a step closer to her seated figure.

“You’re blocking the view,” she said, her eyes cast down in the sand, “Move.”

He didn’t move. Just went down on his toes in front of her, aware that his T-shirt was swaying violently with the wind as he leaned forward to face her. Her eyes tipped upwards, the finger that was twirling in the sand stalling. He saw her gulp and heard her sharp inhale as he leaned closer. As he lifted his hand hesitantly,

“May I?”

Ray’s eyes flashed, her lips parting ever so slightly as she reared back by a millimeter. But then, as if realizing something, a look of resignation passed her face as she pushed his hand away.

Angel bit back the rush of hurt that flinched through his chest and saw as she looked past him and raised her own hand to grab the hem of her blue T-shirt. Angel didn’t have time to brace himself for the damage before she pulled the fabric harshly .

A sharp inhale was all he could manage as a sudden ringing began in his ears.

Angel had to stop himself from going forward to inspect the blue-black ripped skin across her shoulder, and disappear down her T-shirt. She gave him ten seconds to look at the damage before she let go of the fabric. Ray’s eyes were solemn and tired when she leaned back on her hands and breathed out a shaky breath.

A shiver passed through Angel’s body, horror, regret, and rage all merging to form an ugly form of emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time. Ray turned to look at him, and he made sure she saw the rage echo in his eyes. In the way, he leaned forward and raised his hand carefully.

This time Ray didn’t push his hand away. And he took that as a sign to continue what he wanted to do. Her eyes darkened by a dangerous degree as his fingers brushed the side of her face lightly, and a fire sparked in his chest at that look. Angel exhaled as his hand lowered to the side of her neck and wrapped around the uninjured part. Her eyes flashed, but Angel was already clenching his fingers lightly into her skin and hauling her close to his face.

Surprisingly, she moved without protesting. Angel looked at the expanse of her face, at the raised brows, and surprised wide eyes. At the faint rush of red on her cheeks and her nose. Probably because of the cold, he was thinking when his gaze dipped to her lips and darted right back up to her eyes. So serious. So angry.

“There’s a saying my mother used to use back when I was young,” he started tightly, gulping the lump that rose up his throat at the memories that resurfaced. Instead, he took refuge in that beautiful honey of her eyes and continued ,

“La muerte no te hace ningún favor. Muerto, no puedes hacer nada.” he said, stopping his urge to grab the necklace that hung around his neck. Instead, he focused on the confusion that lit her eyes and he grit his teeth to fight past the blinding rage that rose,

“You can only protect if you’re alive. Death does you no favors. Dead, you can do nothing.”

Her chin tipped back, and he rose slightly, his thumb rubbing the side of her cheek gently as he looked at her with a rare sort of fury in his eyes. His fingers dug into her skin, “Stay alive.”

Ray flinched at those words, a harsh breath leaving her as Angel let go of her abruptly. But she didn’t move back. No, her own eyes flashed with a dangerous sort of rage as she glared back at him,

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

Angel rolled his eyes and leaned back to sit cross-legged in front of her, “I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just saying don’t die before you fulfill all your promises.”

All your debts.

He saw the tick in her jaw. Grinned at her. Enticing a string of swear words from her tongue as she shook her head and dug her hands through the sand under her. Angel scoffed out a soft chuckle before turning his head away, his hands fisting in the sand as well.

A sudden blaze had begun right in the missile of his chest, searing through his pounding heart as a cool breeze brushed past them. It was silent except for the faint sounds of the waves crashing against the sand. A moment before Angel gave Ray time to recover. So she could start speaking first .

“I think we should discuss our lead about Sorin with Kyle and Verana for now.” Her words drew his attention, and Angel looked back at her through wide eyes. A flicker of anger sparked and disappeared from her face, but he’d seen it.

Wondered why Raylene Walker was–

“It’s only till we find something concrete.” She continued, breaking his train of thought. Angel’s only show of surprise was the blink of his eyes before Ray shook her head and looked back at him. Angel saw her hair sway back violently. Blinked at the way the orange sunlight solemnly lighted up her face.

“I thought you were loyal to the Lions.” Angel probed, even if a part of him chastised him for it.

Dios, he couldn’t tell anymore.

Ray’s eyes flashed, taken aback by his unwanted jab, and she shot back immediately,

“I am loyal to them.” She said savagely, leaning forward close enough for him to rear back by a fraction as she neared him, “I just don’t need to share every waking detail with them.”

Angel didn’t balk. Just stared at her in deadpan as he replied, “This is my lead. I hope you know that.”

Ray scoffed as if coming to her senses and Angel's heart thudded in his chest at that expression on her face. But he looked away, unable to bear it as she continued, her voice suddenly cold,

“They wouldn’t ever believe you without me.”

Angel’s teeth grit, his fingers flexing dangerously in the sand as he snapped his head back in her direction and found those honey eyes suddenly so frigid. So cold .

He fought with a relentless fire in his own. Ray’s chin tipped upwards as he neared her,

“You need to calm down.” He said, his fingers curling into fists as his eyes darted down to her wound and back at her again. Ray’s eyes shuttered, a fraction of that ice thawing at the angry softness in his eyes, “You’re going to pull your stitches.”

“I don’t care.” She said abruptly and pulled away from him. Angel watched her get up with a slight wince and brush the sand off her pants as she turned to face the girl sitting far away from them. A lump of concern, mixed with slight regret filled his chest, making him scramble to get up and grab her hand.

Ray’s entire body froze at the contact, and she turned sharply, her mouth open to spout curses when she paused. Angel gulped, showing the apology in his eyes as he put it in words. Hating himself for doing so.

“I didn’t mean to imply–” he started and let out a harsh breath, pulling her closer as he did so, “I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

Ray was close. Suddenly so close that Angel couldn’t forget this morning.

Last night. Her legs against his. Her lips so close to his throat as she slept. And he lay there all night.

Wide fucking awake.

The ice in her eyes melted at the look in his eyes. Angel’s hair swayed violently with the cold wind as he looked at her. Wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was. Ray took a step forward, and another, until they were standing closer. Until there was nothing but a fraction of distance left between them. Angel dipped his chin, watched her take a deep breath, and flex her jaw .

Shit.

“We’re even.” She murmured, and Angel swore he was going to get whiplash from the roller coaster of their conversations. Still, a small smile tipped the corner of his lips as she tilted her head and looked up at him. With the orange light on her face, and her hand in his and her eyes like that.

Angel’s throat bobbed. Her eyes darted at the action, darkening a tint as she lifted her head. And Angel leaned down. Just an inch. His eyes not shutting once.

“Look,”

He froze and saw the shutter of amusement and disappointment flicker in her eyes. A part of him rejoiced at that reaction, but then she continued speaking.

“I’d really kiss you,” she said, “But the kid you brought along is kind of watching us.”

Angel swore. At himself and then at her.

“You’re such a prick.” He couldn’t help but say as he took a breathless step away from her and looked back at her. And stilled at the expression on her face.

Ray grinned a grin that stopped his heart.

And started it back again.

Angel’s hands landed on his chest, and he saw her eyes widen in surprise as he played at stumbling back, “Don’t do that. You’ll blind me.”

The grin fell off her face, a look of annoyance crossing her face as his own lips tipped with a large smile,

“Why Storm? Sad you won’t get to smile for me anymore?”

Ray’s scoff was so loud, it carried and flew with the wind .

But she didn’t reply. Just turned angrily on her heels and stalked in the little girl’s direction. Angel remained rooted to his spot as he saw the girl scramble to her feet as Ray neared her. He watched the girl shove the water bottle in Ray’s hands and say something to her in a hurried voice. His brows furrowed when she pointed in his direction.

His frown only deepened as Ray looked over her shoulder and tipped the water bottle in his direction. A thank you, he realized as she twisted the bottle cap open and kept her gaze on his as she tipped the bottle against her lips.

Angel’s eyes widened at the harmless action, his lips parting. It was a simple thing, she was just drinking water. But he saw that mischievous gleam in her eyes as she gulped the water. One. Two sips. And brought it down.

Only then did she look away.

Shivers erupted on his skin.

This fucking girl.

His glare hardened into something harmless. Something playful as she peeped over her shoulder and caught the look on his face.

Angel jerked forward, ignoring the pounding of his heart as he forced seriousness on his face when he neared both of them. The girl had her gaze fixated on Ray when Angel’s palm carefully landed against her lower back. Angel felt the shiver in her body, heard the soft inhale as he leaned close enough to whisper in her ear,

“Try that again Storm.”

And with that, stepped away from her in a swift motion. Ray’s eyes shuttered in annoyance and something else as Angel grinned down at the girl and said in a triumphant tone,

“Shall we? ”

He heard Ray’s sigh when the girl nodded.

* *

“This is only going to be easy if you make it easy for us,” Ray said, her voice edgy as they sat in Angel’s room. Angel was in the shower, and Ray had been trying to get the girl to talk for the past ten minutes since she’d reached back here. Instead, the little brat sat with her hands crossed and her back erect against the headboard of Angel’s large bed.

They hadn’t told anyone they were back and had made sure no one knew by entering through the back entrance of the house, barely hiding from the staff that was roaming the floors. Being back in this place after the beach house and after Akash’s place was almost stifling. But it was something she needed to do. So here they were, stuck in Angel’s room as Ray tried to think of ways to get the girl to start talking.

“You need to calm down.” Angel’s amused voice drawled from the open door of the washroom. Ray winced, not having noticed him come out when she dragged her gaze to see him standing there. He was wearing sweatpants and nothing on top. A white towel hung from his neck and he used it to ruffle through his wet hair. Her eyes snagged on his chest of their own accord, her throat drying at the ripple of muscles–

Ray averted her gaze, annoyed at herself for ogling but thankfully not blushing as Angel purred from the doorway,

“Like what you see?”

A scoff stuck in Ray’s throat as her eyes snapped back to look at him, “Yeah.” She stated and saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes as she raised an elegant brow, “Problem?”

“Can you two not–” the girl’s voice finally spoke up, making both her and Angel jump in surprise .

She barely heard Angel murmur Christ under his breath as she turned to face her. The girl brushed her short strands of hair to one side, clutching a pillow to her chest as she scrunched her nose up, “ Flirt.”

A chuckle left her lips at the tone of her voice, a wave of relief washing over her as Ray straightened, “Okay now that you’re talking,” she started, her eyes daring the girl to stop now, “Let’s start easy.”

“What’s your name?”

The girl’s eyes darted to Angel and back to Ray. Suddenly realizing something, Ray shook her head, “Oh no…” she started waving her hands in his direction, “Don’t worry about him. He’s useless here. He won’t do anything,”

“The fuck,” Angel snapped, “That was not why she looked at me.”

Ray waved a distracted hand in the air, still looking at the girl, “Sure.” She said as if appeasing a child. She heard Angel’s foreign curse echo through the room as he turned and opened his closet with a loud bang. Ray fought a smile as she willed the girl to go on. To start speaking.

She licked her lips once, her eyes darting around in slight hesitation before she blurted out, “Ira.” She said, a hint of accent visible in her words the girl winced but continued, “I’m Ira. I’m fourteen.”

Ray nodded, fighting the look of horror and sorrow in her eyes as she gazed back at Ira. She was wearing a large jacket – probably Angel’s – and her sweatpants. Her short hair was brown, and it shone with the sinking sun. Still, her blue-grey eyes were desperately etched with a sort of awareness that she’d been forced to learn. Ray hadn’t seen Ira smile, and the thought hit her right in the middle of her chest.

Brought back the memories flooding back into her mind .

She shook her head and continued, making sure to keep the tremor out of her voice. But by the way Angel’s hand stalled against the handle of his closet, she wasn’t doing a very good job,

“Okay, Ira.” She said, “My name’s Raylene. Raylene Walker. I’m nineteen.”

Ray took a deep breath, preparing herself and Ira for the incoming question. But she knew it had to be asked. Knew that was the only way she could keep Ira alive. The girl saw it too, because she straightened, a look of fear entering her eyes as Ray said softly,

“Who do you work for Ira?” Her words were soft but were laced with a firmness she made sure Ira caught. The other girl bit her lip, her shoulder beginning to shake as she dug her fingers into the pillow. Ray didn’t move from her spot, didn’t want Ira to think she meant any harm. But she did ask again, this time more firmly.

“It’s important you tell me who you work for. And how many of the past incidents have been orchestrated by your superiors.”

Or you, the stupid yet rational part of her thought.

Ray saw Ira’s lips purse, and her eyes cut to Angel’s briefly. But what she saw there steeled her resolve. Made her believe that she was asking all the necessary questions.

“Per favore Ira.” Ray said gently and saw the girl’s eyes snap up, “You need to speak to survive. To live.”

So I can save you. So I can help you.

Ira’s jaw flexed and her eyes cast down as she dug her fingers deeper into the pillow and she started in a low voice, “You cannot…tell.”

Ray’s eyes turned solemn, and she let out a sigh, “You know I have to.” She said, “I have to tell the people I work for. ”

Ira’s hesitance took only a second, “We were hired–” she paused, stumbling on her words. But Ray caught her, and said,

“You’re free to speak in any language.” She said softly, and turned to Angel who was eyeing her warily, “I swear I won’t leave out any details.”

Angel waved a hand in the air, “I’ve spent enough time with the Larsens.” He said in broken Italian, making Ray’s eyes widen in slight surprise, “I’ll understand.”

“Atrocious pronunciations.” She murmured and saw as a flicker of amusement lit in Ira’s eyes. They heightened when Angel banged the closet door close and flopped down beside her,

“Fuck you.” He said in fake cheer.

Ray looked back at Ira, willing her to continue. A part of her wilted at the amusement that died in her eyes, and she continued in Italian, “I don’t know the names of the people, or how they look. Our orders came specifically from the man you almost killed back at the hotel.”

So, she’d been right in identifying their supervisor. Ray tucked the slight disappointment of Ira not knowing who she worked for and listened quietly,

“We… I and the other younger people were meant to have an ambush with only one intent.” Her eyes snapped up and Ray’s jaw clenched, “Kill the one with blue hair.”

Angel scoffed beside her, “And I was just thinking of dying my hair blue that day.”

Ray slammed her elbow in the ribs, and he doubled over, groaning out loud as Ira continued as if he hadn’t spoken, “We were supposed to kill you and give the people out there a good scare. Except we didn’t know who you all were. ”

“So why did you participate?”

A pause, “Most of us did it for the good money.” Her eyes lowered, “I have been working for them since I was twelve. They pay well.”

A dull roaring began in her ears just as Angel’s solemn voice asked from beside her, “Who are they?”

Ira gulped but didn’t stop talking.

“I don’t know who they are. But I know what they’re all called.”

Ray looked at her, her breath leaving her lungs as Ira looked out the window and said so softly that she had to strain her ears to hear her.

“ Il Senza Nome. ”

The Nameless.

Ray shot up from the bed, her eyes wide. Her hands flexed at her side. This was–

“That vigilante group that brought us down last year?” Angel asked from beside her, his voice tight. So leashed. Ray loosened a breath and ran a hand through her hair,

“What about June Kincaid?” she asked, hoping, praying, as Ira looked up at her with a knowing look in her eyes.

“Si. That was them as well.”

Angel cursed from beside her just as Ray stumbled back, a hand braced against her abdomen in case her stitches stretched again. A similar curse left her lips as well, as she turned away from Ira, her eyes distraught. Her mind a mess as she looked at Angel trying to grasp it all as well.

“How are you going to–” Angel started, and paused, his eyes widening as he looked back at her.

How are you going to protect her now ?

Ray grit her teeth and turned to look at the girl. Ira’s eyes had widened, her hands clenched so tightly that they’d turned into a dangerous shade of white. But for once in her life, Ray didn’t flinch or hesitate before responding sharply,

“I’ll do whatever it takes.” She said, her voice firm, “ Anything.”

She saw Angel’s back straighten at her words, a hint of pride and something else echoing in the depthless amber eyes of his eyes as he turned to Ira at the same time Ray did,

“Thank you, Ira.” She said, “Thank you for telling us.”

Angel let out a breath and Ray turned to face him again, “Get someone here to watch over her.” She said, and from the corner of her eyes saw her go pale, “We need to go talk to Kyle before I can go to Alessandro.”

Angel’s eyes dimmed at her words, but he removed his phone wordlessly. Ray let out a breath and was about to turn to Ira when she felt her hand grab the hem of her blue t-shirt. Her head snapped down at her wide fearful eyes, making the void in her chest expand to a painful degree.

God, she looked so similar. So beautiful.

Ray cursed in her mind as she took Ira’s trembling hands in hers and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear delicately, fighting a wince as she bent down.

“We’re going to have someone trustworthy here.” She said, forcing all the conviction in her voice as she looked her dead in the eye, “And no one’s going to hurt you henceforth. Do you know why?”

Ira shook her head, her eyes gleaming but not a single tear falling as Ray’s fingers tightened on hers, “Tell me, Ira. Do you have a last name? A family? ”

Ray was expecting the response, but it still came like a fucking shot to her heart. Ira shook her head, a flush spreading over her cheeks as her eyes gleamed further. A story for another day, Ray thought as her hands tightened on hers,

“Then it’s time for you to become someone new. Something different.”

Someone I can protect.

Ira’s chin tipped upwards, her lower lips wobbling as Ray carefully said the next words, knowing Angel was listening. Knowing exactly what she was doing.

“How would you like to be Ira Walker?”

The girl shook so hard that Ray was afraid she was going to fall. But she didn’t balk, not when the door behind her opened to reveal Christina Morris and not when Ira’s eyes widened further and further.

“Would you?” Ray probed, her voice breaking as a sob wretched through Ira’s throat, making her heart clench in agony. Was she doing something wrong? Angel’s eyes were wide on hers, but Ray couldn’t bring herself to care. Not when this girl looked like–

Ira dropped her head, put it against their laced hands, and whispered,

“Ira Walker.”

Ray smiled, and Ira shuffled back, letting go of her hands abruptly. Ray stood, her eyes catching the hint of doubt, the fear in those young eyes, and breathed out.

Sorry, she seemed to plead back to Ira, who curled further in herself as Ray turned to face Angel. He was standing beside Christina, his lips pressed together and his hands crossed. The other girl looked at her thought wide eyes, but Ray didn’t have time to answer her questions .

Not when the day wasn’t over.

Even as the sun had set.

“Nothing happens to her.” Ray said as a hello and saw Christina Morris suppress a smile and nod in her direction.

Angel gazed back at her, and for the first time, she couldn’t read his face. But right now, it didn’t matter. Not with the memories thudding against her pounding heart. Or the painful thud that rocked her soul at the look in Ira’s eyes.

“Shall we?” she asked, echoing his previous question. And Angel’s eyes glinted in the sudden dark of the room.

“We shall.”