Page 9

A ngel couldn’t help it. He snorted.

Ray’s head snapped back in his direction, her eyes narrowed into a deadly glare as a small smile grazed his lips and he raised his hands in mock surrender. So that was the reason behind the dryness of her voice, he thought as he heard her sigh and saw her crouch down in front of the dead body.

This was the second time he’d seen her shoot someone.

It reminded him of things she was capable of. Angel blinked when he saw Ray remove her phone from her pocket and press it to her ear,

“Hello?” she said calmly, and he saw her grab the man’s cheek and shove his head to one side. His head tilted, trying and failing to catch a glimpse of the dark lines etched on the side of his neck, “Vera? Can you get the cleanup crew here? There’s a guy–”

She paused, “Yes, of course, he’s dead. Why the hell else would I call you?”

Verana’s response was muffled as Ray pressed the phone to her ear with her shoulder and bent to pick up the man’s phone and his gun from the ground. Angel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall when he saw her get up and brush the dust off her dress. She turned on the heels of her boots, her brows scrunched into a frown when she stepped forward. He didn’t notice until she stepped closer. Until she said something to Verana and ended the call.

Looked down at her phone with an odd look in her eyes .

It was then he caught the faintest signs of trembling in her hands. Her fingers balled into tight fists when she looked up and past him. At that moment, Angel didn’t seem to mind her lack of attention. He just watched her. A girl with blood on her boots. With a grimace on her face. Obviously not wanting to talk.

His lips tipped.

Unfortunately for her, Angel was one of the nosiest people she would come to know.

His fingers were light but firm around her wrist. They stopped her in her tracks. Ray turned to look up at him, her honey eyes dead as her hair swayed with the sudden gush of wind. Angel blinked in surprise. There was something seriously wrong with this girl, he couldn’t help but think as a slow smile curved his lips.

She’s insane.

“Any explanations?” he asked and saw her eyes narrow further. His smile turned into a half-smirk when she shook her head and went to rip her hand from his. But Angel didn’t relent. Just leaned down to stare at her emotionless eyes. Again, with the flowery scent and the hint of blood, Angel paused for a second before grasping his thoughts.

“He tried to kill me last night.” She replied as if she were stating a fact, “I returned the favor today.”

“While you were asleep?” he asked and Ray looked away, not having noticed the amusement on his face.

“Yes.” She said and looked down at her phone, “He wasn’t very good at it. ”

Angel snapped out of his thoughts, scoffing out a laugh, “Dios,” he breathed and saw her tip her head back as cool wind washed over them, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

It was then the slight shake of her hand stopped, and she tilted her head to look at him. The smallest speck of emotions pierced those honey eyes as a smile he didn’t believe for one goddamned second graced those lips.

A sudden image of her lifting her dress and revealing that garter slammed into his mind, and Angel reared back. He blinked, a sudden rush of heat and annoyance washing over him as he let go of her and stepped back.

“Have you started caring suddenly, Angel?” she purred, and he froze.

Maybe it was the cool gush of the wind, or that smile, or the way she said his name. But it felt as though a wave was crashing down upon him. Awe, giddiness, and then replaced by the increasing pace of his heart and annoyance, rage.

What. The. Hell.

“I meant sane,” he amended not very clearly but she’d already turned away. He could hear her soft exhale as she dipped her chin and started walking away from him. That blue mini dress, those waves of hair, it was all so insanely dizzying that Angel had to pause for a second. Blink past whatever nonsense his mind was conjuring and breathe out.

Ray didn’t stop again. Not when he tried to repeat his previous words. The familiar rush of irritation flew through him and he revelled in its normality before grabbing it by the neck and hauling it in his mind, “Are you always this calm after you’ve killed someone?” he asked, striding ahead to walk beside her in a frenzy .

His hair swayed with the wind as the hint of the previous smile disappeared from her face, “You aren’t?” she asked, and Angel shrugged as they wove through the crowd. It was back to normal, but there was a part of him that wanted her to share parts of herself with him. But for that, he’d have to begin.

“The first death I ever experienced was my mother’s,” he said without pausing and felt Ray’s shoulders tense beside him. He hummed under his breath but continued, “After that, not killing people wasn’t an option anymore. So I sort of became numb to it. But I’m never calm after, not like you are now.”

“What do you do then?” she asked after a brief pause and Angel breathed out, his eyes averting to gaze at the ocean.

“I head out in my car, with the windows down.” He started softly. Knew she was listening to him, “I head to a lonely spot. A place where I know my voice would echo.”

“And then you scream?” she asked and Angel huffed out a laugh.

“I find a secluded spot to sit without making a single sound.” He said and wondered if a part of himself wanted someone to find him in those times. Wondered if that was why he was telling her all this.

If Ray was surprised, she didn’t show it. And he took that as a way to explain,

“It's very loud.” He continued a bit tightly, “No matter how you kill someone, it's always loud. Those screams or the sounds of the blood, it’s too much in that moment. So, I find a place where I can hear nothing. ”

Angel fell silent after that, torn between turning around to catch a glimpse of her expression and keeping his gaze averted. But in the end, when Ray stopped in her tracks behind him, the part that wanted to see her expression won. Angel stopped a few steps forward. But when he turned, she seemed far closer than he thought she would be.

Those honey eyes were looking at the ocean floor, the air around them making her hair sway lightly. He adjusted the collar of his shirt when her eyes snapped to his, her expression still the same. Maybe he shouldn’t have seen it. But he caught the way a sheen fell over her eyes and her jaw ticked. Once. Twice.

“Why are you telling me this?” she asked finally, and Angel looked away, already having expected the question.

I don’t fucking know.

“I told you.” He said, his voice dry in his throat, “I’m on your side. I’m looking for a peaceful alliance.”

He heard her footsteps hurry close to him, closing the space between them as her fingers wrapped around his collar and hauled him forward. Surprised, Angel stumbled forward, his eyes flashing in annoyance as she glared up at him. The first break in her cool exterior,

“You listen to me Angel Santos,” she said furiously, “These stories. These parts of yourself that you share with me wouldn’t ever help you in the end.”

His scoff got stuck in his throat as she hauled him closer, those honey eyes flashing in disdain, “There is no friendship here. No scope for anything. Not when you share those secrets about yourself and not when I listen. You and I belong in different places. And you trying to be this vulnerable doesn’t do you any favors. ”

Angel pulled away from her, a dangerous edge to his eyes as he glared at her. She calmed at that expression, “There.” She said, her gaze shuttering before she pursued her lips and snapped her head away, “ That’s who you are.”

He didn’t turn around. Couldn’t when she walked past him and brushed her shoulder against his,

“Tell me your secrets when you want to Angel De Santos,” she said softly and his breathing harshened, “Not when you think you’re supposed to.”

And with that, Ray walked through the entrance of their banquet venue.

* *

She couldn’t tell if he was clever or truly that foolish. Ray never had the knack for reading people. Couldn’t never really tell what their body language meant or what their expressions said. But with Angel, she could read him like an open book. When he told her things she hadn’t known, an odd sense of rage had risen in her. She could see the way he forced himself to speak, the way he balled his fists or the minutest twitch and crinkling of his eyes. Maybe he did it subconsciously, but it didn’t ease the weight on Ray’s shoulders.

Instead, it only ignited a fire she hadn’t yet learned how to control.

It was evening now, and the orangish rays were peeping through her curtained windows as she dressed for the banquet. Ray breathed out harshly when she tugged her wrap-around top down her neck. Her eyes caught sight of her figure in the mirror.

She had chosen a long skirt with a slit on its side. She’d topped it off with a deep neck white stop that wrapped on her shoulders .

It was a beautiful piece, perfect for a warm night at the beach venue today. Formally informal. But her eyes stopped at the sight of those red marks around her throat.

It'd been a close call last night; she realized with a fearful pang and raised her hand to her throat delicately. She knew if her fingers grazed past it, the skin would burn. But because it was still so obviously visible, she would have to cover it up.

She’d rather be damned rather than show her potential enemies that someone had managed to almost kill her.

There was a shameful part of her that was still terrified. Was still getting over the events. Shouldn’t she be used to this by now? Ray sighed, ignoring her thoughts as she bent to scoop the concealer off her counter. She was still in the middle of covering it up when three knocks sounded on her door.

Ray paused, rising to her full height as her gaze narrowed in the direction of the closed door.

Knock. Knock.

Her eyes widened, “Shit.” Ray murmured as the concealer dropped from her hands with a muted thump and she rushed to pull open the door. She was praying it wasn’t him when she ripped the door open. But her prayers were futile, because right there before her stood a six feet tall boy who was looking down at her with a sheepish grin but worried eyes.

“ Cameron ,” she hissed and hauled him inside, “Are you fucking insane?” she cried as she closed the door and turned to face him.

Cameron was looking at her through his wide faded green eyes, his blonde straight hair falling over his forehead as he rushed ahead ,

“I heard about last night.” He started furiously, signing aggressively with his hands as he grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer to inspect her, “Are you alright?”

His movements were too fast for her to track. Ray shook her head, taking a step back and signaling with her hands to stop him, “Wait too fast.” She signed but he wasn’t listening.

“ Han Seo-Jun !” she whispered finally, and his eyes widened as he read her lips and saw his Korean name. He huffed once and took a step back, letting go of her hands with a glare in her direction. She raised her arms in the air, her eyes blazing,

“What the hell are you doing here? You’re going to ruin our plan.” She hissed and signed back with her hands. She saw him flinch back and run a ruffled hand through his hair again. It was of no use though; those smooth strands fell on his forehead handsomely again.

“Do you know who it was?” he asked instead, his hands moving slower than before, and her eyes widened. His expression fell at the sight of her face, “I was just worried.”

“I understand,” she signed softly, “But you’re a stranger to me here Cam. You can’t be seen coming in and out of my room. It’s going to ruin all this.”

“Sorry.” He mouthed and tugged at his ear lobe before averting his gaze. Ray shook her head and tried to think of a way out of this mess when she noticed his outfit. It had been so long since she’d seen him. He was wearing a royal blue blazer and black trousers underneath. When he turned to face her again, she saw nothing underneath the blazer and huffed out a laugh ,

“Are you wearing that today?” she signed with her hands, and he frowned, looking down at his outfit. She snorted when he rose his head indignantly and raised a brow as if saying,

“Problem?”

“No,” she said, grinning despite herself, “Not at all.”

Now, how to get out of this?

The smile fell off her face as she looked around her room. They were all situated in the beach house beside their venue for the night.

Both the Ravens and Lions. And Cameron was neither, which made this even more difficult. She turned to him, her eyes narrowed in concentration,

“Did you do it?” she asked tentatively, her hands moving slowly. The question had been haunting her for days. Ray had been worried especially for him, not knowing how difficult it could be for him because he was deaf. But Cameron, had proven himself over the years. He might be deaf, but that never made him a liability. But with no way to contact the people she knew without getting into trouble, Ray hadn’t had the chance to know if their plan had begun working or not. They’d all simply left it up to fate.

Cameron didn’t sign a word. Just nodded.

Ray breathed out, relieved. They were already in play, and now, only the days ahead would determine if it would all work or not. With that final thought, Ray looked up at him, her back straightening. Whatever he saw on her face had the miserable confusion diffusing immediately. She breathed out, forcing herself to calm down and think this through as she moved to grab her bag off her table .

She looked in the mirror one last time. Blinked at the stone confidence that she’d learned to carve in her eyes. It gave her the strength to continue after so long. Every single day. Ray wasn’t looking at him when she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and removed her phone.

“You lost your way. I found you out on the patio.” She signed with one hand, her free hand typing similar words to Verana. Ray looked up at him, her chin tipping upwards as she did so, “You’ll say hello to Verana Smith with a charming smile and immediately find your crowd.”

He nodded and she stepped forward, her heels clacking against the marble floors as she placed her fingers around the knob of her door. Before she turned it and opened the doors, Ray turned over her shoulder, her gaze soft,

“It’s good to see you Cam,” she signed and heard his relieved exhale. He nodded, bowing his head as he did so. Same , he seemed to say. Her eyes glazed over for a second, nostalgia and grief hitting her as she turned away from her best friend. So long, she couldn’t help but think, it had been so long since she’d seen either of them.

Maybe it was because she was so invested in her thoughts that she didn’t notice him when she opened her door.

“Hello, storm.”

His voice came like a thunderclap, snapping her out of her daze as her hold on the door froze. Shit , she swore in her mind as her surprised eyes rose to his. Thankfully the door was open only halfway, so Cameron was well hidden behind her .

As fast as she could, Ray morphed her expressions into nonchalance and took a step out of her room, signing secretly with her hands for him to stay put as she closed the door behind her. Her eyes were back to normal when she saw Angel Santos lean back against the wall with a drink in his hand and a secretive grin on his face.

“What?” she snapped with more bite than she’d intended and reprimanded herself for it. Angel chuckled though and pushed away from the wall, swirling the glass in his hand as he took a step closer to her,

“Feisty today, aren’t we?”

She had the smallest notion that this might have something to do with her little outburst before. God damn it, she cursed silently and willed her mind to calm as she took a deep breath,

“What do you want?” she asked, this time more nicely.

His eyes flashed in that show of annoyance. She was so used to it by not that she couldn’t really bring herself to care in the slightest. Was just worrying about what to do about Cameron when he spoke,

“I come in peace.” He said, raising the glass up to his lips and downing the liquid in it.

She kept her eyes on him when he gulped, his throat bobbing as he did so.

He was wearing a white shirt with a black vest on top of it. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, showing the ripped golden skin of his lower arms. Had paired it off with black trousers and a black tie. This close, she could smell the faint whiff of coffee and whiskey tossing around him,

“I’m simply here to offer an arm to the lady with no date to the event.” He continued, not having noticed her ravishing stare .

Angel was turning back and forth, looking for a place to keep his empty glass. She knew exactly what he was doing. Ray sighed, even as her heart beat wildly in her chest, and took a step forward. Angel paused and looked back at her, his eyes shining with faint amusement and a hidden challenge as she grabbed the glass out of his hands and turned to face her closed door.

She didn’t hesitate. Hoped to God that Cameron would stay hidden as she twisted the knob and opened the doors. Kept them wide open as she stepped into her room and placed the glass on the empty table right in the middle. When she turned, she caught Cameron’s golden hair under the white light but didn’t dare turn to look at him. Instead, she kept her eyes on Angel as she stepped through and out the doors of her room.

This time, she didn’t turn to face the door as she pulled it close behind her. Instead, she was looking up at Angel’s amber eyes flashing in the white light as she said, “I don’t need a date to the event.”

His lips turned into a smirk just as she heard a pair of footsteps turn around the corner of the hallway they were standing in. Their gazes didn’t break though. Not as she stepped closer and let go of the knob. Left the door slightly open for Cameron to escape.

There are no CCTVs here , Ray was thinking when she heard Kyle’s voice echo through the corridor, not when it was me who installed them in the first place.

Me, who changed their images every second of every day.

“Raylene!” Kyle said and finally, Ray let a faint smile touch her lips as she gazed up at Angel.

“I already have one. ”

She heard Angel scoff when Kyle stepped close to them, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he placed a steady hand on Ray’s back. His eyes warmed with an undercurrent of darkness as Angel continued to gaze at Ray.

Their eyes remained upon each other’s only for a few more seconds, before Angel broke away with a friendly smile on his face, turning to look at Kyle.

“Shall we?” he asked, and Ray found no tightness in his voice. No sense of the previous annoyance. Maybe he had it in store only for her, she thought grimly as Kyle grinned back and they started walking.

Maybe it was his true self, after all, she was still thinking when they rounded off the corner of the hallway, and only then did she hear the faint click of her door closing behind them.

Relieved, Ray stepped away from both the boys, leaving them to their conversation as she took calm yet quick steps ahead and pushed open the glass doors of the beach house. With the open doors came a cool gush of wind that had Ray swaying back suddenly.

But then there was a warm hand braced against her lower back as Kyle stepped past them and out onto the beach filled with cursed people. Ray stopped though, taking a moment to calm her mind as she tried to breathe through her nerves. Men and women, people who held the lives of others in the palms of their hands. Businesses that profited from other’s losses.

Other’s deaths.

Ray’s eyes snapped open. Blazing under the moonlight as she saw some faces unfamiliar to her. Some familiar. It didn’t matter though.

She was going to tear them all down .

“That’s it.” Angel’s voice was a whisper in her ear, his tone too excited for this entire situation. His hand was too warm against her back. Too familiar for her to be comfortable. Her hand snapped back to grab his hand and rip it off her body. But Angel just barked a laugh from behind her.

“That’s who you are.” He was saying when she stepped out on the sand and into the open mouth of a beast she knew too fucking well.