Page 27

H e thought she would scream. He hoped she would scream. But she just sucked in a harsh breath and opened her horrified eyes. Angel wasn’t expecting a blow from that bleak look in her eyes. But he was down on his knees beside her, knowing how bad this was looking for him. But Raylene Walker had been looking like she was drowning, out of nowhere.

He grit his teeth and rose to his feet, his hands dropping to her wrist to haul her up.

The way she moved so easily was beginning to scare him.

More than that dead look in her eyes.

“Ray,” he snapped, and those honey eyes shifted to his. He gulped the wave of fear that washed over him, reprimanded himself over her, “I’m not going to sweet talk you out of this. Snap the fuck out of it.”

Ray blinked. Just once. And nodded. Just once.

Angel inhaled sharply just as Neera shot up from her seat, moving to Ray’s other side calmly and clasping her upper hand. He saw her haul Ray closer and whisper something in her ear.

He didn’t hear it, but he saw the flame surge in her expression as she stiffened. Neera’s words seemed to do the trick, because suddenly, Ray was back and was turning her head around as if looking for someone.

On cue, Ira rushed into the bustling restaurant, making a beeline for Ray without hesitation. Ray broke past Angel and Neera, grabbing Ira and pulling her to her chest in a frenzy .

Angel stumbled back with a frown, noting Ray’s harsh breathing as she wrapped her hands tightly around Ira’s tiny frame.

“Ray?” Ira’s soft voice was muffled on Ray’s shoulder, but she didn’t move. Just looked over Ray’s shoulder in Angel’s direction.

He frowned in response, so thoroughly confused that when Ray pulled away from Ira and swiped at her eyes hastily, he couldn't bring himself to move.

“Shit,” she muttered, “I’m sorry. Your hair went directly in my fucking eye.”

Ira’s entire posture lightened at those words, a relieved smile hitting her lips as she took a step back and Ray continued, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have touched you without your permission– ouch! The fuck?”

Angel blinked in surprise as Ray stumbled away from Ira, limping back against his shoulder as she clutched her shin and looked at Ira in surprise. The younger girl put her hands on her hips, jutting her chin out as she looked back at her,

“You said I’m a Walker now.” She said in a low voice, and Angel could feel Ray’s heart pound as her back touched his chest. Without thinking his hands landed on her upper arm, holding her steady as Ira’s words rendered her frozen, “Doesn’t that make us family?”

A choked sound left Ray’s throat, low enough for only him to hear. Angel grit his teeth, a sudden rush of agony rushing through his chest at this entire situation. Ray only seemed to press further against him, blissfully unaware,

“Yeah.” She said in a steady voice Angel didn’t believe for one second, “It does, kid. ”

Ira scoffed, but he saw the sheen in her eyes. His eyes snapped up as he saw Christina enter the restaurant. Her ponytail swayed from end to end as she strode ahead, her eyes widening when she found their huddle in the bustling place. Angel shot her a rueful smile but didn’t step away from Ray when Christina ran to stand behind Ira, her brows scrunched in worry,

“Is everything alright?” she asked, swiping her white bangs off her face as she peered down at Ira before looking at Ray’s face. Her eyes only widened when she noticed how close she was to Angel.

Her head snapped up, a look of surprise and confusion entering her stance as Angel grimaced and smiled back sheepishly.

What the hell are you doing? She seemed to ask him and Angel’s hands on Ray’s arm tightened by a fraction.

I have no fucking idea, he conveyed back and saw her scoff.

Ray must’ve noticed their interaction because she seemed to still in his arms. Angel’s attention snapped back to hers and suddenly, all he could hear was her heart pounding dangerously in her chest. Or maybe it was his, he couldn’t really tell. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face, scared and relieved at the thought of her moving away.

But when she did try to move an inch further away, Angel made sure to keep his grip on her hand to keep her in place.

Her breath hitched audibly, and he forced himself to look back up. Forced himself to let go of her hand before he did something stupid. Or stupider.

Ray didn’t move an inch.

And somehow it made it all the more worse.

“So.” Angel managed to say, barely catching the tremor in his voice, “Where to next? ”

Christina had her gaze narrowed in his direction, but no one else seemed to notice their secret distance. Ray cleared her throat in front of him and straightened her shoulders. He grit his teeth as the expanse of her back touched his chest. Swore when she took a step away.

“Anywhere except the roller coasters.” She said, and looked over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling with something like gratitude. Angel couldn’t help it, he leaned down, shivering at the warmth of her skin as he pressed his hand to hers. Grinning as she did the same.

“You have to get over that.” He said softly and Ray rolled her eyes in front of him, turning to face Christina with pursued lips. Christina noticed her glance and chose to spare Angel her glare by smiling back at Ray.

“Did you get your hair done?” she asked and Ray smiled back, swiping a hand through her hair.

“I did.”

“Looks fucking great. Let’s not get you to any roller coasters to ruin them.”

Ray nodded her head vigorously, shooting Angel a glare over her shoulder, “Exactly. Thank you.”

Christina laughed at her response and looked down at Ira, whose eyes were volleying between Ray and Angel.

“Where’d you wanna go to next?” she asked and Ira hummed, grabbing a French fry and chewing on it in thought. A part of Angel melted at her thawed exterior. It hadn’t been long since Ira had come under Ray’s care, a day to be exact, but he could already see the life rushing back in her cheeks. Could see the warmth in her eye. She was still careful, was still wary, but Ira was growing slowly. Was getting out of her shell .

“The Ferris wheel?” She asked, her question aimed at Ray, “And we can get cotton candy on the way?”

Ray blinked at her question, and Angel had to take a step beside her to see her expression when she responded, “Sure. Let’s do it.”

Cameron, who’d been standing around for a while clapped his hands, grabbing his burger as he moved to get up.

“Not finishing your drink Cameron?” Angel signed after grabbing his attention. He’d meant the question honestly, but Cameron’s eyes just narrowed into a glare aimed specifically at Neera, who was blissfully drinking her own drink.

“I hate long island.” He signed back and Angel bit back a grin as he pushed past the huddle of people and strode out without a backward glance.

“Childish brat.”

Ray shook her head from in front of Angel and shook her head, grabbing her drink as she did so. He watched her gulp the entire glass in a large swig and reach for her burger. She extended it in Ira’s direction,

“Want it?” she asked, and Ira nodded, grabbing the burger out of her hands immediately. Angel saw Ray’s smile, saw the way she stepped back as Christina ushered them all out. Neera got up from her seat as well, sparing Ray a glance he couldn’t really read before she walked after Ira as well. They both stood, waiting for the rest of them to file out the restaurant in silence.

Angel might’ve started speaking if it hadn’t been for his phone. The loud vibration surprised both, him and Ray, who jumped away from him, glancing over her shoulder in question. Angel shrugged in response but removed his phone.

The message popped up,

Doc: He’s in the ICU .

Angel hummed, not bothering to respond as he pocketed his phone and looked back up. Ray was still standing in front of him, eyeing him curiously enough for him to raise his brows in question,

“Hi?” he asked, biting back a smile as she blinked out of her daze, “Enjoying the view?”

Ray rolled her eyes, squaring her shoulders as she faced him with a tipped chin, “Know something I don’t Santos?” she asked instead, and the smile on Angel’s face widened. He didn’t know what in hell was wrong with him, but the thought of getting under Raylene Walker’s skin was very enticing.

“Nothing you should know.” He responded smoothly and leaned forward, enjoying the look of amusement that entered her gaze as he continued, “We should probably head out, no?”

Ray hummed and turned her head over her shoulder, eyeing the crowd in distaste, “I really hate this place.” She murmured.

Angel took a step forward, surged by the amount of people who were chattering behind him just as she turned to move out the doors.

“Why?”

“Too many people.”

Angel took another step forward and was about to reply when he felt his body gravitate ahead. He stumbled forward, his eyes wide as his hand immediately landed on Ray’s shoulder in surprise. Ray jerked forward as well, looking over her shoulder with raised brows. But Angel wasn’t looking at her. Was busy glaring at the man who’d shoved him aside. The man who was now looking back at Angel with something like wariness in his eyes.

No fucking decency .

Angel growled under his breath and opened his mouth as he straightened his shoulders when he felt Ray’s body shake under his hands. His head jerked forward, his eyes going wide as he saw the girl ahead throw her head back and look at him with the most open expression he’d ever seen.

Her hands landed over his, covering them as she pulled them forward. Angel walked behind her, knowing he was gaping like an idiot as she wove through the crowd expertly and walked out the doors. Before he could figure out what was happening, Ray was moving away from him and–

Angel’s lips parted.

There was once a time when he’d thought either be scared or angry. But now she was looking like this , and this was bad. So much worse.

A smile on her face, a twinkle in her honey eyes with her cheeks flushed and looked like neither.

Looked happy.

And God, this was dangerous.

“ Shit.” Angel swore under his breath but couldn’t, wouldn’t get his gaze away from hers. Not when she looked like that. Not when she threw her head back and laughed with the sun shining down on her face. Not when a surprising snort left her lips and she jerked back, not stopping. Never stopping.

He was in so much shit.

A slow grin curved his lips despite himself and he turned away from her, covering his eyes as he let out a chuckle and heard her wheeze.

Fucking wheeze.

“Did you just growl?”

He dropped his hand and looked back at her. Saw her try to breathe as she shook in laughter,

“ That was your first response? Growling?”

Angel shook his head, unable to stop himself from taking an unhurried step forward as she bit back another chuckle and looked back at him,

“Angel, you haven’t really left your ancestors behind, have you?”

His name on her tongue brought forth a shiver he hadn’t ever felt before. It probed him to take another step in her direction. Ray’s laugh sobered but she continued teasing with a grin on her face. One aimed at him. No one else.

“They’d be proud for sure–”

“Sit on the Ferris wheel with me.”

His statement was low. Was quiet. But was enough to draw her out. Ray’s eyes snapped up to his, the grin on her lips sobering into a disbelieving smile,

“What?” she asked softly and Angel sighed. Forced himself to stop thinking as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. Ray’s eyes widened and she went to slap his hand away but he’d seen it coming. Angel pulled his hand back and saw with a small smirk on his lips, her eyes flare in indignation.

“You asked me a question yesterday.” He said and Ray stilled before him. Angel fought a satisfied smile but she saw it in his eyes. Knew she did.

“I’ll give you your answer there.”

* *

“No.”

Well, that came out wrong.

Ray cleared her throat and took a step back. Solely for her safety. And Angel’s, s he told herself .

“I can’t leave Ira alone.” She blabbered, looking anywhere but at him, “I need to be there with her and–”

A soft hum left Angel’s lips and she looked up to see that flash of amusement in his eyes. Took it as a sign of agreement. Suddenly relieved, Ray nodded her head and turned on her heels, forcing herself past the shiver that climbed up her spine.

She could still feel the warmth of his hands over her shoulders. Could still see the grin he bit back. The dimples he so desperately tried to hide. But her right mind had taken over when he’d asked– no demanded that she sit with him. Ray huffed out a breath, increasing her pace to avoid that coffee scent that followed her.

Angel whistled behind her, completely unbothered by the mess he’d left her in. Ray scoffed under her breath, her eyes only widening when she caught sight of short, dark hair standing out in the crowd.

Ira’s head turned at the exact instant Ray raised her hand in the air. This close, Ray could see the relieved smile on the younger girl’s lips as she waved back from Cameron’s side. They were already in line for the ride when Ray neared their huddle. Angel kept an unsafe distance behind, so close to her when she stopped that she could feel the warmth of his body seep into her back.

Ray breathed out and faced Cameron, who was busy eyeing both her and Angel warily when she waved a hand in front of his face. He clicked his tongue but turned to her,

“Where have you been?” he signed and she responded quickly, making sure that Neera caught the end of her conversation as well,

“We just got caught up back there. ”

Neera hummed but spoke aloud as she signed, “Well, the boy behind you says you were lagging back on purpose.”

Ray’s brows furrowed in confusion, and she turned over her shoulder to see Angel shrugging innocently. Her gaze narrowed, but she turned back, “I wasn’t.” she said and signed.

“He says you were scared and wanted him to hold your hand for the ride.” Neera deadpanned.

Ray rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder, her scalding glare doing nothing to stop that slow smile on his face from spreading. She was about to snap back when the line shuffled forward. Her eyes cut ahead, and she shoved her fists in the pockets of her overalls as Jack, Christina, and Luke moved ahead. Jack’s head turned over his shoulder, the green in his eyes twinkling as he grinned at Angel,

“Make sure she gets through it safe and happy–” his words cut off as Ray moved forward and jabbed him in the side. Jack’s body arched in pain, a groan leaving his tongue as Ray moved back in her spot calmly and saw Christina cackle.

“Deserved.”

Luke nodded solemnly from beside her, “Rightfully so.”

“Assholes.” Jack managed to breathe out as he glared up at her. Ray only grinned back, the same shit-eating grin he’d been holding as she winked back at him.

He rolled his eyes, but Ray huffed out an amused laugh as the line moved forward. Her eyes cut ahead to see that they were next in line. Jack noticed too, because instead of glaring at Ray, he was grabbing Christina and Luke to haul them in the next empty carriage .

Ray followed in tow, watching Cameron and Neera go into another one. The man was about to close the door to theirs when Ray felt Angel’s warmth sidle close to her back.

“Oh shit,” he said in a loud voice and both Ray and the man handling the carriage paused, “This is bad. Oh God, Ray you need to see this.”

A sudden sense of panic hit her when she saw him peer down at his phone. But then he lifted his wide amber eyes and looked at Ira,

“You go on kid,” he said in a rough voice, his eyes wide in horror, “I need to talk to Ray.”

Ira nodded briefly and got into Cameron’s carriage just as Neera made to shoot up from her seat, her eyes narrow, “Is everything–”

“Yep!” Angel said, and Ray blinked at the way his expressions changed. Watched with a mix of amusement and surprise as he took two steps forward and shut the door in Neera’s face, “Just need to show Ray something. Super important.”

Ray didn’t think she’d ever seen Neera Griffin this baffled.

A small laugh left her tongue. And Neera’s gaze hardened into a glare.

The wheel moved and the next carriage came on, and before Ray could complain, Angel was holding her wrist lightly and pulling her inside. The door shut with a loud slam just as Ray ripped her hand from his and whirled in his direction, her eyes wide in surprise as she started in a low voice,

“What the hell do you think you’re doing–”

And yelped as the wheel moved and the carriage toppled forward. Ray fell back suddenly, her hands in the air as she caught those amber eyes widen in half surprise. Felt his hands land on her wrist and on her waist to keep her from falling .

A surprised sound left Ray’s throat as she stumbled back into his chest, her fingers curling in his shirt as he huffed out a breath above her.

“You alright, Storm?”

Ray mhm’ed and turned to move away when his hold on her wrist tightened by a fraction. Her chin tilted upward, her eyes going wide at the serious look in his eyes,

“I did want to talk to you.” He said in a low voice and Ray’s brows furrowed,

“I really hope this has nothing to do with last night.” She murmured and saw his lips twitch reluctantly. Her gaze turned wary when he shrugged,

“It has everything to do with last night.” He said and gazed down at her. Suddenly the cool air in the trapped carriage didn’t seem like enough.

Maybe it was the constant moving of the wheel or that they were still fucking standing, but Ray was getting lightheaded. And the thudding of her heart wasn’t really helping anymore.

“Why Storm?” he asked softly, “Don’t want the answer to your question?”

Ray scoffed through her nerves, “I’m afraid you aren’t going to give the right answer Raven.” She said smoothly. Because there was no right answer. There never would be.

His eyes flashed in challenge, and he leaned forward, his coffee scent and that darkness in that gaze too empowering. Too alluring. Ray was going to lose her mind. When the hell was this ride going to end?

“You asked me why I didn’t do anything.” He started and Ray breathed out, a sudden warmth seeping through her skin and his eyes darted all around her face, searching for any breaks. She gave him none.

Ray didn’t respond .

But his lips twitched into the softest smile she’d ever seen as he continued,

“Because the first time I kiss you, Raylene Walker,” he said, and Ray could feel the butterflies in her stomach. The fluttering that climbed up her spine as his hand rose to curl in the wisps of her hair. She heard the groan that rumbled through his chest as he played with their ends,

“I’m not going to stop. And you aren’t going to forget it.”

Ray breathed out, her eyes going wide as he leaned back, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. But she wouldn’t be her if she didn’t give it back. If she didn’t leave his heart pounding just like hers was.

She blinked and stepped out of his embrace easily.

Angel let her go, but that flash in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. It just made her smirk as she brushed invisible dust from her overalls, “Why are you whispering?” she said, and he raised his brows in question. The ride was going to end, Ray noticed and settled back to him with a calm smile,

“If you wanted me to kiss me, you could’ve just said so,” she started and saw his brows furrow, “Last night, I was asking why you didn’t anything about me being in your room. Why didn’t you rat me out?”

A scoff left his throat just as she bit her lip to hide that insufferable grin from spreading, “So as I said, Angel,” she purred enjoying that flash in his eyes, “If you wanted to kiss me, you could’ve just said so.”

She blinked and laced her hands behind her back, “I would’ve let you down easy.”

Angel’s scoff was so offended that Ray had to turn away to keep herself from bursting out laughing. She hadn’t even touched him, and this was the reaction she was getting? Ray looked at him cautiously and–

She’d never seen his face so fucking angry .

Ray couldn’t help it. A burst of laugh left her lips and she had put her face in her shoulder to keep herself from laughing harder.

“Liar.” Angel seethed and another laugh rocked her chest as she felt him cross the small distance to stand right before her. Ray looked up, her eyes widening by a fraction as she saw the evening sun halo his head. Her vision flared and out of nowhere, Angel’s hand was weaving through her hair and pulling her closer. Gently even as his eyes moved with leashed irritation.

“That’s the second promise you’ve made me Angel.” She said softly and saw his eyes flare as a smirk flitted across her lips, “Are you sure you’ll keep them?”

Are you sure you want to?

“Oh, I will. Just you see.” He drawled in a low voice, and he let go. Ray bit back a grin again but let him sulk as the carriage came to an abrupt stop. It rattled and moved from end to end, but Ray was balanced enough to–

Scratch that.

Angel lost his balance.

Or maybe he didn’t, because as the carriage moved, she stumbled back and he stumbled onto her.

Ray’s breath hitched as her back touched the cold metal surface and Angel hovered over her. His hand landed above her head, caging her in his gaze as he leaned closer and– Oh.

His chest, his legs, his hand, everything was against hers. She couldn’t breathe as a dark look entered those amber eyes,

“I don’t take well to people lying to me.” He said, “But I’ll keep my promise. ”

Ray blinked as the carriage stopped moving and the door flew open. Her lips turned into a slow smile, and she tipped her chin to gaze at him confidently.

“Sure.” she said and saw his shoulders stiffen, “But you take well to me lying to you.”

And slipped right out of his arms.