Page 29

A ngel stared down on the tux laid down on his bed for what seemed like the fourth time. If his father was here he was be screaming at him to hurry. Quit your childish antics and just do as you’re told, he would say and then slap the back of his head in what looked like fatherly gesture. But everyone would know it was a threat.

A way for him to maintain his golden child reputation.

Angel rolled his eyes at his thoughts. No time for daddy issues, he murmured to himself and removed his clothes. He grabbed the black pants first, his eyes glazed in thought as he tugged them on and moved on to the black shirt. Angel faced the mirror as he slipped his hands through the black long sleeves. His tie was next, which he put on in ease.

His mind drifted to tonight as he turned away from the mirror and looked at his curtained room. It was going to be cold tonight, he thought as he swiped the curtains open to reveal the evening sky. His mind was barely on the black vest that he put over his black shirt. It rustled softly as the night hues tinted with the orange of the setting sun.

Tonight was going to be cold, he thought again, cold and deadly.

They’d decided to remain on guard the entire time, with Angel on Noah’s side and Kyle on Ray’s. There was no doubt that the latter was a larger target than Noah was, but Angel hadn’t tried reasoning with her. He’d been worried, sure. He’d seen the way she winced with any movement because of her shoulder and her healing stab wound.

Raylene Walker was vulnerable, and someone in that crowd out ther e

knew. But she was also annoyingly proud.

Thud. Thud.

“Hey!” came Luke’s yell from the other end, and Angel snapped out of his thoughts with a soft curse.

“Come in!” he yelled back and turned back to face the mirror. His eyes widened at the sheer darkness his suit revealed. One he amended with the silver chain he would attach on his vest. Luke strode in the room just as Angel placed the silver boutonniere on his blazer.

“Are you ready?” Luke asked as he entered and paused long enough for Angel to rip his gaze from the mirror. He rose his brows at the question in Luke’s stance,

“You’re going to wear that tonight?” he asked, his eyes pointing at the black band that hung from his neck. No one knew it belonged to his mother. No one knew the glass was tainted red with her blood from that night ages ago. Angel barely stopped his urge to grab that cool thing as it touched the inside of his chest. Just gazed up at Luke and quirked a brow,

“It’s a good luck charm, Luke,” he said with a serene smile and tilted his head as he saw the rest of them pour in. Luke shrugged and turned to face Christina, who whistled as soon as she entered Angel’s room.

“Looking great Hawthorne,” she sang and turned to Angel as well, “You too Santos.”

Angel scoffed out a laugh and shared a glance with Luke before turning to Christina.

“You look good too Morris.” Luke said in Angel’s steed.

For the record, all of them looked like the true members they were brought up to be. Luke was wearing a sleek ember tux over a crisp white shirt that show off the bow he wore oh so proudly .

Christina, on the other hand, looked like the epitome of elegance and beauty in her royal blue gown. She’d paired them with sheer gloves that went all the way up to her elbows.

One which Jack played with as he stood next to Christina, looking remarkable uncomfortable in his suit. Angel smiled as he saw Christina slap his hand away but turned to regard him nonetheless, an odd look in her eyes.

He was wearing a blue tux as well, one with a black shirt inside.

Angel concealed a laugh as he tugged at his tie and held his blazer in one hand.

“It’s not that bad.” Mia drawled as she stepped through the doors as well, tugging at the sleeve of her blazer. Her red hair was swept up into a braid crown – one matching the red of her outfit completely. She was wearing a corset white top, upon which she’d draped a pressed red blazer and matching pants.

“Not for you,” he snapped back and glowered at Christina and she slapped his hands away from his tie, “You don’t have to deal with this stupid tie.”

“Child.” Mia chided and Jack glared back at her,

“Psycho.”

“Alright!” Luke clapped his hands and turned to face Angel with a pleading grin, “Let’s get his show over with.”

Angel nodded and tugged at the cuffs of his shirt as he turned to face the ticking clock in his room.

Seven Thirty sharp.

He patted down his hidden pockets one last time, seeing his friends do the same. A knife on either side, a knife in the boot .

Two pistols in the waistband of his jeans, both of which he’d have to surrender when the party would begin. Another hidden in the pockets of his blazer. They’d be patted down before they could enter, but none of them would ever find the hidden gun or knives. Or the vial he’d hidden in one of the hands of his watch.

His eyes lifted in question Luke, who was sighing at something as he finished thinking of all the hidden items in his tux. The other boy just shook his head at the question and nudged in the direction of the open doors. The others followed his line of sight and let lose an uneven breath.

Christina turned to look at him through hooded eyes, a crazy sort of seriousness and focus entering her eyes.

Angel nodded only once. And all of them filed out of room. He walked out at last and shut the doors behind him. The others hand began walking already, but they’d left a gap in the middle for him to fill.

Angel suppressed a smirk as he tugged at his blazer and strode ahead.

The walk out of the mansion was short. The drive to the event even shorter. It unnerved him at first. But then he looked at the serious faces of his friends around him, at the sheer faith they’d put in him every since they’d joined. Not once had Luke glanced in Martin’s direction when his father had coaxed him to become a spy. To keep an eye on his golden son.

No, he’d chosen the boy who had once saved his life.

Never had Jack given him anything but his undying loyalty since middle school. Since he and Luke had banded together. Since they’d stumbled upon a fiery Christina Morris. And they’d all come together as one. Mia had come along late. Had come along knowing she’d be unwanted.

But Angel had taken one look at Miranda’s face and knew Mia was someone he’d always wanted but never had .

A sister.

They’d never been anything else ever since.

Angel breathed out now as he stepped out of the vehicle and at the bustling event. At the chatter that rose and rose with the orange lights that glowed in the evening sky. He looked to his right, saw Luke and Mia standing, gazing up ahead. Turned to his left and saw an exhausted Jack and a completely focused Christina.

He opened his mouth to say something when Mia’s voice cut through,

“Are you going to keep staring at us like a sappy idiot, or are we going to go?”

Angel’s mouth fell open in an offended scoff as Luke shook his head and even Christina murmured,

“Seriously.”

“ WOW! ” Angel drawled sarcastically and shot each of them withering looks, “You’re all assholes.”

When none of them responded Angel snorted and shot up ahead, ignoring them all together. Ignoring the cackle behind him as he neared the people who were responsible for the weapons. The two people, one man another woman barely had an emotion on their face when Angel removed the two guns from his back and placed them in the basket. He shot the man a serene smile as he moved ahead to pat him down.

When all of them were done, they were ushered inside.

And were immediately greeted with so much life and laughter that Angel thought he might’ve landed at an actual party. And it weren’t for Jack’s sharp inhale beside him, he would’ve still been staring at the faces he recognized all around him.

“ Damn ,” Jack murmured, and Angel hummed in question, but turned his head to follow his line of sight.

And froze.

He should have been arrested for the way he began gawking.

He saw the honey tint of her eyes first. Then he saw her blue waves shining in the light.

Then he saw her dress.

And he might’ve died.

Raylene Walker was dressed too perfectly for her role. She was wearing an off shoulder ball gown, with a midnight black over coat on the back of the dress. It merged and glittered against the orange of her dress. Against those intricate patterns that he wanted to trace with the tip of his fingers. Her scar was hidden like it’d never existed before. Ray hadn’t noticed them yet, was talking to someone he didn’t recognize when she turned, showing him her back.

All his thoughts literally flew out of his head. There was no other way to describe it.

Her shoulders, a wide expanse of her back was bare until the off shoulder sleeve of her dress. She was wearing orange black gloves, ones that shimmered as she moved to face everyone.

Everyone here was wearing something new. Something different. And it was their pride. Their gain over the years.

But as Angel saw Raylene Walker turn around again. Saw her eyes match his and light with a sort of fire he hadn’t seen before, he realized something.

While everyone wore their beautiful clothes, their lovely designs with pride, with money –

She wore hers like armor.

Like a shield and a target at the same time. Taunting and haunting those who dared cross her.

Her lips turned into a serene smile, with a hint of insanity as she saw him and raised a hand to wave in his direction. Angel barely noticed Jack wave back enthusiastically. Or barely saw Luke cross the venue to grab a drink.

No, he only saw what Ray truly was.

Saw their new, and deadly mediator.

* *

Ray knew what it meant to wear the dress she was wearing. Knew that it meant she’d sealed her fate and had handed it over to the Lions. To the Ravens.

Little did they know. Did they all know.

That she’d given up a million fates to build a new one.

She saw it now. With Angel looking back at her. With him in the middle of a crowd that was watching their every move. She saw what it would look like to tear them all down. What it would do to her relationship with him. And ached at the small part that raged, that begged for her to spare him.

It wasn’t like she was going to kill him, a better part of her reasoned, and in reality Ray smiled back at Angel. Waved at him and started walking in his direction like the perfect host, but she was going to take everything else from him.

Her smile didn’t waver when she neared him. But it threatened to… Because there he was, with his crooked silver boutonniere and his black suit hugging every lean inch of his lean body, and he might be the best thing she’d seen in the entire crowd.

His amber eyes simmered as he stared back, his lips lifting in a hal f

smirk as he tipped his chin and his hair fell over his head,

“Hi.”

Ray let lose a huff of laughter, “Hi.” She responded softly, knowing there were a million eyes on her at that moment.

“Are you ready to do this?” he asked and smiled but his dimples didn’t show. They never did when he wasn’t alone. Ray made a show of stepping back, just a minor step to make some distance between them. To diffuse any rumors that might arise. And made sure to show that apology in her eyes as she grinned back,

“Born ready.”

His chin tipped upwards again and she saw his eyes move. Ray didn’t have to follow the direction of his gaze to know he was looking at Alessandro and Maya, who were standing a few paces behind Ray. Her back straightened as his eyes flashed at whatever he saw in her expression. But before he could act on it, Ray felt the warmth of her people on both her sides.

A sour taste entered her mouth as Kyle and Verana stepped ahead beside her. She saw with a subdued smile, Christina, Jack, Luke and Mia, all take their position right next to Angel as well. Martin had arrived a while back with Alessandro, but people weren’t waiting for his entrance. They’d been awaiting this.

Their show.

And Ray would give it to them.

It was her who took the first step. Her who tipped her chin to stare back at Angel ruefully as Kyle stepped ahead beside her and placed a steady hand against her lower back. She fought a chill as the crowd around them silenced, all their eyes on them as Kyle started speaking in that low tone of his .

“Welcome, Angel De Santos.” He said. Ray bristled as the hungry crowd shifted closer.

As the wind whistled with the silence. The voice, the way Kyle wielded his words, seemed to remind everyone that he too was a Larsen. That he too, knew the ways of this world. Those green eyes glinted as he reveled in that attention,

“It seems the entire crowd was waiting for us to meet.” He said mischievously and turned his head sideways to look at the people around them. Ray saw the laughs that cracked the silence at his words and smiled at the way he’d broken the crowd. Angel huffed as well, and extended his hand for Kyle to shake,

“Then let’s give them what they asked for.” He said and grinned wider as Kyle shook his hand enthusiastically, his green eyes shining with excitement,

“And some more.” He said and turned to face Ray, focusing all the attention on her. Ray breathed out, shaking her head as she looked out into the crowd and at the number of people staring at her now. If she paid enough attention she could almost hear their whispers.

Who is she? Why does Kyle Larsen hold her in such high regards? Why is she here?

Ray’s chin tipped at those questions, her hair spilling over her back as she grinned wide and a bit wolfish as she looked at Kyle, “And some more, indeed.”

And with that, the entire crowd parted with a heaved breath. They knew something was coming. Something new, something that had her name etched on its surface.

And all of them knew better than to underestimate it .

Ray let out a relieved breath at their scattered attention and moved so she was facing Angel, who was eyeing her with a secretive glint in his eyes. She placed her hands on her hips, her gaze hardening,

“What?” she said just as Verana started from beside her,

“Well, that went well.”

Angel shrugged at her question but then turned to Kyle as he responded with a smile Ray didn’t believe for one second,

“Just three more hours of this mess,” he said, and Ray scoffed softly.

She moved so she wasn’t pressed between Angel and Kyle anymore,

“Just thirty minutes until the entire world knows.” She amended and heard the groan reverberate from Kyle’s chest as he moved as well.

“So what now?” Luke asked, a smile on his face as he sipped his drink and eyed Ray. She arched a brow, because Luke knew the answer to that question. Was just goading her to get a reaction out of her.

Ray gave him none.

She turned to Kyle briefly, the question on the tip of her tongue as Kyle read her expression. His eyes brightened, his entire composure lifting as he realized what they had to do next. This was Kyle Larsen, the boy with a purpose. The boy with a snake’s mind and a sweet tongue. He used it now, just as Ray turned to face Angel as well, a serene smile on her face as she extended her gloved hand forward.

Angel watched her with a concentration that had a shiver crawling up her spine. He tracked her every moment. From the step ahead to the hand she extended. A useless part of her couldn’t help but revel in that attention. But she made sure to keep her mind on track as she blinked and tipped her chin to look up at him,

“Now, we give them a show. ”

She said softly and smiled at the surprise in Angel’s amber eyes,

“So Raven, are you ready?”

Before he could respond, Kyle was stepping ahead and asking Mia Andrews the same question, his green eyes twinkling as he eyed the girl. Mia gave him nothing as he extended his hand and said softly,

“Care for a dance?” he asked, and Ray saw Mia’s body gravitate forward in sheer interest, her eyes shining with a crazy sort of gleam as she muttered her response.

On Ray’s opposite side, she saw Luke laugh softly and take step in Verana’s direction.

She must not have been expecting it, because the girl stumbled back a step, her eyes wide in offense as she scoffed at the question Luke hadn’t asked yet.

“I’d rather not – ”

“I haven’t asked yet, Verana.” Luke said smoothly, his grey suit rustling as he stepped closer. Ray watched with the quirk of her lips as Verana straightened her shoulders and faced him dead on. Luke would have denied it, but Ray saw the way his eyes lit up when he looked her. Saw the way his eyes snagged on every inch of her body and that dress.

Even she’d been rendered speechless when she’d seen Verana Smith in that beautiful burnt orange ballgown. It was off shoulder like hers was, with a deep neck. It curved perfectly around her chest and swayed below – with only a slit between the length of the dress.

Somehow, it had suited the other girl in ways Ray hadn’t been able to describe.

“Eyes on me Storm,” Came Angel’s voice, a simple purr that woke goosebumps on her arm .

She snapped her head in his direction and saw his amber eyes on her shoulder. Her patched up shoulder that had effectively covered the wound perfectly. Ray could still feel her entire body throb in pain when she moved around, but it was something she’d gotten accustomed to.

He noticed her attention on him and looked away from her shoulder, his amber eyes burning as he took a swift step closer. Ray tipped her chin as Mia and Kyle walked away hand in hand to the dance floor.

The music arose like a sudden storm, awakening all the people around them.

The fools turned their eyes to Kyle, the boy who walked with Mia Andrews – Angel’s sister.

The clever stayed back and watched carefully as Luke swept a complaining Vera away to the dance floor. Jack and Christina cleared away as well, giving the entire crowd a way to the actual show. Ray smiled, a dangerous tilt to her lips and Angel mirrored her actions.

Her body swayed with the way of the piano behind them, with the bass reverberating from the ground to her toes and all the way up her spine.

Everyone watched them.

The real faces who held this show. And it made everything in her mind all the more clear.

“Dance with me?” It was a simple question. Simple words that enticed dramatic whispers from around them as Angel smiled wider at her question. Someone else would have been offended, would’ve been mortified that they hadn’t gotten the chance to ask the question first.

But Angel was something different. Someone new.

And he noticed all the attention they were basked in. Smiled widely at it as he placed his hand in hers, all warm and perfect .

“Just don’t ask me to do any weird moves, and we’re good for a couple of dances, Raylene Walker.” He joked loud enough for the crowd to hear. Ray huffed at the laughs his words called for and tugged him forward. Angel’s eyes widened at her actions but he still leaned down as she grinned back at him,

“This is the 21 st Century, Angel,” she said and started pulling him to the dancefloor, “Men twirl now. Nothing’s weird anymore.”

Angel threw his head back and laughed at her words. A friend’s laugh. A sound that attracted more eyes and more laughs at her words. At the way she portrayed their new forthcoming relationship. As she prepared the crowd for what they were afraid to hear.

And as usual, the fools laughed back.

While the clever ones feared.