26
T his was it. This was the day they’d been working for.
This was the place they’d been striving for.
It was an outdoor event. A beautiful place renovated by millions. It wasn’t an old building, or an ancient architecture. So, it wasn’t all too long ago, but now, as Ray looked at the venue with parted lips, she realized what they could build in such less time. Even with a million people hustling around them, preparing for the last day of this week, Ray couldn’t really bring herself to listen to their muted conversations.
A cool breeze hustled past her, making her once again regret her choice of clothes for today. But she swore past it, looking up at the venue instead to calm that shiver that ran up and down her arms.
They’d put up pillars, upon which they’d draped a sheer orange cloth that was laced with a bunch of fairy lights that hadn’t been switched on. There were multiple seating arrangements made around a circular dance floor. On its crown was a small stage where they would stand when making the announcement. Ray breathed out as she saw the cloth on the stage sway with the violent wind. That’s where she’d stand as Alessandro introduced her to the entire world.
Made her into a fucking target for everyone.
“So?” Vera’s question brought her back, and she looked to her side, sighing as she saw the arrogant grin on her face, “How’s it look?”
“You put all your life in this didn’t you? ”
Vera nodded, “I did.”
Ray smiled venomously, “It looks lovely.” She said, “Perfect for a night where everything could go wrong.”
“Quit being the prophet of doom, Walker,” Vera drawled with an annoyed pout, “We don’t need your bad vibes tonight.”
“I’m not listening to a girl who refuses to acknowledge reality.” Ray murmured and moved away before Vera could shove her. A laugh sounded behind them, and Ray looked over her shoulder to see Myra Jelani walk in their direction. Beside her walked Irene Sinaga, who looked pissed off at the world as she gazed at them both.
“Aren’t you freezing?” was Irene’s way of saying hello. Ray smiled back at her politely, eyeing her outfit in return.
“Hello to you as well,” she said. Irene was wearing a pair of ripped jeans with a full-sleeve t-shirt, looking absolutely snug and warm as she crossed her arms and shifted back on her foot. Ray sighed at her expression and rubbed her arms,
“I thought it was going to be warm today, as it had been for the past few days.” She said and shook her head as Myra shot her a sad look. The other girl was wearing a grey, body-hugging winter dress, her pink highlights swaying violently behind her as she placed an empathetic hand against Ray’s shoulder.
“I don’t have a sweater,” she started in a soft voice and Ray laughed under her breath, “But I would’ve given it to you if I had one.”
Ray hummed and smiled back at her, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.”
Vera said something from behind her, but Ray’s gaze strayed past the girls, widening as she caught the sight of those chocolate locks .
Angel had walked through the entrance of the venue, Kyle at his side as the others trailed behind them both. Ray averted her gaze, sudden warmth flaring in her stomach as she recalled how she’d walked away from him yesterday, and how he hadn’t talked to her since.
From the corner of her eyes she noticed Kyle call out to Vera, but kept her focus on Myra in an attempt to keep herself from staring at Angel just to gauge his response.
“So,” she started, and saw Irene and Myra take a step closer, “It’s your last day here. The event should start by 7:30 in the evening today, so you’re free to do as you wish until then.”
Ray was acutely aware of another form of chill climbing up her spine as she turned away from Vera and pointed at the architecture, “It’s like an outdoor party,” she said, making sure to keep her voice steady,
“Filled with grim warnings.” Irene muttered and Ray turned over her shoulder, her lips quirking into a smirk,
“As expected.” She said and laughed as Myra sighed dramatically.
“Walk with me? I’ll show you around?” Ray asked and saw Myra nod enthusiastically as Irene jutted her chin out,
“Why the special treatment Walker?” she said in a low voice, and Ray was aware of Vera’s attention snapping in the direction, “Not fishing for favors, are you?”
Ray laughed just as the familiar scent of coffee and cologne filled her lungs. Angel was still far, but not far enough when she turned to Irene calmly and said, “Have you ever seen us fishing for favors, Sinaga?”
Irene’s lips quirked into a smirk, “After yesterday, it might seem inevitable for any of you to do so.” She said and Ray’s lips stretched further .
Vera started from beside her, but Kyle must’ve pulled her back because her words were muffled. Ray let out a calming breath, taking a step forward as she tilted her head in Irene’s direction,
“You want to start talking about favors now?” she said, her voice low and dangerous as she probed past the glint in Irene’s eyes, “We all know who’s in deeper debt now, don’t we?”
“So, you are in debt?” Myra question was unexpected, but not enough to deter Ray. She looked at her, saw her inspecting her nails. Ray had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling.
They weren’t going to make this easy, were they?
“Ah, I should’ve phrased that better,” she said, straightening her shoulders in a smooth move, “Debt might be a common term for you. But it’s foreign to us. You understand?”
Myra’s eyes snapped up, the same dangerous look entering her gaze. Ray shifted back on her heels, grinning as she did so,
“So, how about you leave our finances to us, and focus on your own?” she asked politely, “I’m sure yours need far more work. Isn’t that right, Myra? Irene?”
Both the girls clicked their tongues but let the matter fall. Ray hummed and clapped her hands, snapping them out of their dazes. Her chin lifted, her eyes looking down on both of them with a wide smile as she continued,
“Now, shall we?” she said but didn’t wait for any of them to respond. Instead, just turned and started walking away from the group.
At the last second, she turned her head over her shoulder and said haughtily ,
“And for the record, I’ve already shown the other representatives the place, so they know their way. I just wanted to spare your feelings, but looking at you now,” Ray made sure to move her eye up and down Irene’s stiff figure, “I don’t think I need to.”
And started walking with a small grin.
She was vaguely aware of Kyle butting into their deceased conversation with a, “I’m pretty sure that was a compliment.”
Ray laughed at his words, but continued to walk away, veering away from the staff that was making the last minute arrangements, all hoping that it wouldn’t rain or snow tonight. This event had been planned for months now, with so much work put into it that Ray was half afraid even the staff would revolt if it all went to hell.
“That was rude.” Came Luke’s soft voice from behind her suddenly. Ray paused in her tracks, her brows furrowing as she saw him and the others behind her. Others including Jack, Christina, and Angel. Her brows shot up as she saw him stand beside Luke, his expression sealed off as he looked at her warily. Ray cleared her throat but looked back at Luke with a serene smile,
“I never said I was nice.” She responded and took a step back as she realized how close all of them were standing, “Can I help you lot?”
Jack peeped in line with her vision with a small smile, “We just tagged along because Kyle said he had to talk to you and Angel.”
Ray’s eyes shifted to Angel, who shrugged at the question in her eyes, offering her nothing else. The wind blew past them and Ray shivered inwardly, forcing herself to not rub her arms together to seek warmth.
“Ira’s not with you?” Christina asked curiously, and Ray’s eyes snapped in her direction, narrowing at the question,
“No. She isn’t going to be here today. ”
Christina nodded but it was Jack who asked, “Where is she?”
Even Angel shot him a tired look as Ray leveled a look and tipped her chin, “Somewhere safe.” She said. Luke cackled from beside him just as the other boy sighed and took a step back,
“Fair enough.” He muttered under his breath.
“So, what’s with the meeting?” she asked Angel, trying to stop herself from smiling as she saw his icy eyes snap to hers, “Do we have to–” paused to shiver as the wind blew past them again.
Christ, it was getting cold, she swore as she took a breath.
Regretted it immediately as cool air filled her lungs.
“Well, I guess we can head off by ourselves.” Mia’s voice was a surprise enough to snap Ray out of her freezing stance, “You guys carry on.”
Ray nodded in acknowledgment and Luke shot her a salute before turning away from her and walking away.
She turned to face Angel as the others followed, and fisted her fingers to keep herself from freezing as she started,
“Where do we need to– mph!”
She gasped as a jacket came hurling at her face, rearing back as she grabbed its edge and turned to glare up at Angel, who had obviously thrown it at her.
The other boy glared back at her, eyeing her shorts and her cotton T-shirt as if it had done him some personal offense. Ray’s anger faded, a small grin shaping her lips as Angel’s glare intensified,
“Put it on.” He said, his voice low and scratchy as if he hadn’t slept all night, “Your nose is fucking red.”
Ray couldn’t help the laugh that left her lips, but still put the jacket over her shoulders .
It did nothing for her legs, but at least she was half-warm. She opened her mouth to thank him, but Angel just muttered something under his breath and stormed away.
Shit, she thought as she saw him shiver with the violent wind and walk away, this was getting bad very fast.
It would tear their entire plan apart.
And yet, not a single part of her could care for the time being.
* *
Her laugh had followed him all the way to the hideous tent Kyle had asked them to come to. That and the sight of her shivering. Angel grit this teeth, annoyed that she’d gotten under his skin yesterday. That she bothered him even now.
Was he being childish? Maybe.
Did he care? No.
“Where is she?” Kyle asked when Angel entered the tent, ignoring the hideous gray cloth that draped across the poles. He frowned at Kyle’s question, but seeing as the boy paced restlessly from up ahead, he didn’t seem to care for Angel’s reaction,
“It’s been a second since I got here. Give her a minute.” He said and as if on cue, Ray entered behind him, wearing his jacket. Thank god, Angel thought and turned away from her, at least she’s listening to him.
“What’s up?” Ray’s voice was significantly chirpy, and it made him sulk even more as she jumped beside him. Probably a way to warm herself up.
“This is important.” Kyle said, stopping in his tracks to look at both of them gravely. A ball of dread grew in the pit of his stomach as he saw that expression in his green eyes. What now ?
“Quit beating around the bush,” Ray snapped, shifting on her feet, “Just spit it out.”
Kyle glared back at her, his eyes going wide as he eyed her outfit but deciding to let it go for the time being. Angel let out a breath of relief, knowing that Kyle didn’t know that jacket belonged to him, but relieved nonetheless.
“We don’t know where Sorin is.”
That snapped him out of his reverie. Angel turned to him sharply just as Ray swore viciously. Kyle’s eyes were dimmed as he continued,
“He disappeared after you returned from the hospital. After you found the girl.”
“Ira.” Angel snapped at him and saw Ray’s eyes settle on his as he glared at Kyle, “Her name’s Ira.”
Kyle's nostril flared in annoyance but Ray cut through their conversation, “So you’re telling me, when I asked you to take care of Sorin’s issue with Angel, you lied?” she snapped, an undertone to her voice suggesting violence.
“No,” Kyle said as he bristled at her words, “We just didn’t know where he was.”
Ray let out a harsh breath from beside him.
“That’s not all.” He continued and Angel frowned deeply. What else could go wrong–
“The man who was alive at the sight of the ambush,” Kyle said with a loud sigh, “He’s gone too.”
Oh. That.
Angel schooled his expressions to utter surprise as Ray cursed wildly again. He barely stopped himself from grinning at the atrocious words that left her tongue as Kyle sighed again and turned away from both of them ,
“When?” Angel asked through gritted teeth, rubbing his brows as Ray continued swearing.
Kyle’s shoulder slumped, but the boy still looked back at him,
“Yesterday night.”
Well.
Angel put his face in his hands, “What. The. Hell.”
Ray groaned from beside him and ripped that jacket off her shoulder, throwing it to the nearest chair as she strode around with her hands in her hair, “I leave you lot for one day, and you manage to get rid of every fucking lead we had.” She seethed, and glared at Kyle.
Angel saw him shoot back helplessly, “Not all leads. You still have the–”
The words left his mouth before the roaring began in his mind,
“ Don’t.” he said, just as Ray snapped dangerously,
“Fucking don’t.”
Kyle’s eyes widened and Ray took a step in his direction, obviously reinforced by Angel’s words as she snarled lowly, “Don’t bring her into this. Ira plays no part.”
Angel’s chin rose as Kyle’s eyes cut to his and narrowed. He opened his mouth to snap back but Ray got right in his face, her eyes flaring with rage,
“I fucking told you Sorin was the mole.” She snapped, and pointed in Angel’s direction, “ He told you. When are going to listen to me?”
“ God damn it ,” Kyle cursed and pulled away from Ray, the realization finally dawning on his face as he turned away from them. Ran a ruffled hand through his hair and cursed again, “God. Fucking. Damn. It.”
Ray scoffed and swiveled. Angel froze as her gaze met his, and stiffened as a look of appreciation crossed that honey look .
He grit his teeth, but forced himself to nod stiffly before turning to Kyle, focusing on enjoying the boy’s breakdown.
“We need to increase security for tonight.” Ray said, gnawing on her nails as she stomped back and forth, “And we need to keep an eye out for Sorin – specifically.”
“I think someone knows about our alliance.” Kyle said softly, making Ray stop pacing. Angel frowned as well, taking a step forward as Kyle’s hard gaze rose to his, “And they’re doing everything in their power from stopping it.”
Angel nodded in thought, “I don’t think Sorin was working alone. He’s obviously under someone else.”
“The same person who kidnapped our one lead.” Ray said, her hands on her hip as she gazed away, “They don’t know about Ira though.”
“Are you sure?” Kyle sneered, and Ray glared back at him dangerously, “With the way you’ve been parading her around town–”
“I know what I’m doing.” She snapped back viciously, and Kyle turned away from her with a huff, “Do you think I’ve been taking her around to show the world our one lead? If so, why hasn’t anyone come for her yet?”
“You’ve branded her. No one would dare.”
Ray shook her head, lifting her chin, “If they’re brave enough to go after our facilities, and our people in the hospital, they would’ve gone after Ira.”
Angel let loose a harsh breath, rubbing his brows as he interrupted, “Okay so what do we know? Sorin Ardelean is a mole from your end who works for someone else. We know this because he came to us with information about Raylene. ”
“In an attempt to cause a rift between us.” Kyle added and Angel nodded,
“Which means they were provoked by the alliance rumors that were going around back then.”
Ray hummed, “Then the event was planned and sent all over the world, confirming their doubts about us coming together–”
“But they still needed proof.” Angel said and looked at Kyle, “So they sent someone here.”
Kyle shook his head, “But that person isn’t Sorin. We’ve had our eyes on each and every staff member we’ve hired. No one knows anything.”
Angel didn’t know why Kyle protected the boy as he did, but he decided not to question it. Partly because Ray looked as though she was going to loose her mind and because he didn’t want to know.
“Alright, so someone working above Sorin comes on this island, and confirms our alliance.” He said a bit numbly, the effect of his father’s stupid actions hitting him like a blow. If he could’ve stopped this, could’ve gone back in time to haul his father’s ass back home instead of heading to the Lions he would’ve–
“And with the limited resources they have, they decide to ambush us.” Ray said, “With the intent being–”
“You.” Kyle said through gritted teeth, “Because you’re new. You had a bounty on your head, which made you important.”
“And then the fires.” Angel chose to add, and with a blink continued with the sudden thought that had hit him, “And your aunt. They’re burning all your options.”
“Which means if they know every detail about us somehow,” Ray began, her eyes widening with every word .
Angel gulped at the buildup, but his thoughts were running wild at the way she turned swiftly to face Kyle, “If they know, we know who they’re going to go after tonight.”
It took a second for him to piece it together. But then Ray was turning to him with wide eyes, with pursued lips.
Burning our options.
Angel swore just as Kyle threw his head back and ran a ragged down his face.
Noah fucking Hassan.
That’s who they’d target tonight.
That’s who they would have to protect.