8
T his was getting old very fast.
Ray was on the third glass of her wine when Kyle touched her shoulder in warning, just as he had been doing ever since she’d stepped out. She sighed, looking away from the faraway ocean as she turned her heels, plastering a smile on her face. They had a timeline, a plan. And according to that, she was supposed to be meeting specific people. When the hell would she–
Familiar black eyes, a dark set of hair, and that cut-throat jaw. Ray blinked, her glass going slack in her hands when she saw him smile at her politely and look at Verana, who was standing beside him.
“This your new member?” Akash Smith asked, his voice betraying a hint of an accent as he turned back to face her. Ray blinked, calming her surprise as she turned to Verana as well. The girl smirked and snorted, nudging her chin in Ray’s direction,
“A fresh face. Let’s see if she lasts long.”
Bitch.
Ray turned to face Akash again, noting his blue long shirt– a kurta? She thought as she smiled back at him politely,
“Pleasure to meet you.” She said, keeping the hint of tremor in her voice locked away, “And you must be Akash.”
He nodded, but she caught the glint in his eyes. A wave of panic washed over her at the familiar amusement in his gaze .
But when she blinked, it was gone, replaced by a cold politeness that he’d worked on developing for years. Akash braced a hand against his abdomen, his movements practiced as he inclined his head,
“I’m here as the representative for India.” He drawled smoothly, those dark eyes of his glinting in the dark, “I’m afraid I’m only here with some of my friends. The rest of us should arrive by the end of the week.”
Of course, Ray thought as she nodded, only the representatives from each country would arrive first to feel them out. Her eyes roamed around, landing on people she hadn’t had a chance to talk to yet. People from different places, all representing different countries with hidden agendas. It was as though she were in a place where everyone was constantly thinking of ways to rip out her throat. Ray turned back to Akash, a part of her relaxing,
“It’s great to have you here Akash.” Kyle was saying when they heard footsteps echo behind them.
“Akash Smith!” came the gravelly sound of Alessandro’s voice as he stepped into their little huddle and thumped a hand against his back with a loud laugh. Akash grinned, an almost boyish smile as he turned to look up at Alessandro’s cunning green eyes. Alessandro was in a good mood this evening, with everything going well and according to their plan, Ray noted as she saw Akash shake his hand vigorously,
“How is Mr. Smith?” Alessandro inquired, making Ray wonder how easy it was for all of them. To act this friendly when all they were really doing was hiding their true murderous intentions. She guessed, in that sense, the Ravens – especially Angel – were so different.
As if proving her point, she heard his voice drawl from behind her suddenly.
“How is he doing? After having half his empire burnt to ashes? ”
His presence came like burning coals pressed against her back, making her tense as if he had poised a knife against her skin. Angel’s hands were warm as he stepped beside her and brushed his fingers against hers almost tauntingly.
Oh shit, her eyes didn’t dare widen, what if he–
Akash’s gaze shifted to hers and back to Angel. To outsiders, it might look like a simple glance, but Ray caught his expression. Don’t worry, he seemed to say, I got this.
Calmer, Ray slapped Angel’s hand away as she sipped her wine and her gaze turned to cold steel again. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him grin as if he’d won something. Akash’s dark eyes flashed, his smile turning deadly as he faced Angel,
“Santos.” He said, venom barely concealed in his words. It had been the Ravens who’d struck them down last year – after having discovered one of their men spying for the Smiths. Ray hadn’t known the details until Kyle had filled her in the night before after Angel’d left. She looked between them now, her shoulders tense with anticipation as Angel’s poisonous grin grew,
“That’s no way to treat our guests.” Alessandro’s voice was firm, but it lacked any bite. In fact, Ray noticed the sparkle of pride shining in his gaze. She despised him for it.
As if understanding the situation at hand, Akash chuckled under his breath, shaking his head slightly before snapping his stone eyes up to Angel, “You recovered after losing a battle against a nameless group,” he said, his voice dangerously low. Ray hid her smirk behind her glass as Angel’s eyes turned lethal and Akash continued, raising his chin as he did so,
“We did the same. ”
Ah, Ray thought, tipping her glass back to gulp the liquid with a satisfied grin, perfect.
“You’re enjoying this too much.” Kyle whispered in her ear, and Ray put her glass down, turning her sparkling eyes in his direction. She saw the green in them glint in amusement as she chuckled at his expression,
“I’m afraid this is the most drama I’ve seen in years.”
Power did dangerous things. Like giving her the confidence to taunt two of the most dangerous groups in the world.
Akash and Angel had fallen silent at her words, noting how brilliantly she’d turned the conversation in her favor.
Ray shrugged her shoulders at their dead expressions, unable to hide her grin when she heard a familiar voice speak from behind Akash.
“If you lot are done,” Maya Larsen’s voice was like a cold pail of water doused upon all of them. It made the grin on Ray’s face fall as Akash moved and revealed a pair of new faces. Maya was the tallest among the three of them, but Ray’s gaze fell on the two women standing erect on both sides. Maya's smile was pure honey when she looked at Ray, her eyes glinting with a hidden challenge,
“I’d like someone to make introductions.”
Her words landed true, sparking a humbling amount of annoyance in its wake. Ray didn’t dare let it show on her face. She’d been dealing with Maya’s tests for a long time now, and although they never seemed to end, Ray had gotten used to them too quickly. So her eyes were on the girl with ombre hair and copper eyes, who was busy inspecting her nails when Ray stepped in her direction and extended a hand .
“Irene Sinaga.” She said, her voice calm as those copper eyes snapped up to her. Spoiled only on the outside, Irene was a cutthroat businesswoman. No one ever dared to cross paths with her, not since she’d become an integral representative for those who sat in Indonesia. This woman wielded power with her words and her alert eyes. Ray saw her beautiful cowl-necked lavender dress sway softly as she took a step forward, assessing Ray.
“Raylene Walker.” Her voice was quiet enough to be mistaken as timid. But as she slid her hand into Ray’s, it was anything but as she shook it swiftly and smiled. A slow torturous smile spread on her face when Ray nodded and turned to face the other girl standing on Maya’s other side.
Compared to Irene, she looked like a breath of fresh air. With her beige trousers and a silk bikini top upon which she’d worn a smooth white shirt with the buttons all ripped open, Myra Jelani looked beautiful. Ray turned to her carefully, aware of her friendly personality and how much damage it had done.
“Myra Jelani,” Ray said finally, shaking her hand as well and taking a step back to assess both of them, “It’s a pleasure to have you here. I hope you both enjoy your stay,”
Myra's smile was infectious. It almost made Ray wonder how the rumors of her killing a person had gotten around so swiftly. These people, these representatives were all Alessandro truly needed for their plan to succeed this week. Maya smiled, her eyes turning soft as she turned to the girls,
“I’m sure they will,” she said, but Ray found no hidden warning behind those words, “Lastly, I’d like for you all to meet one of our most important guests. ”
If she had a million years to guess who was standing behind Maya, Ray would have never guessed it would be her.
Maya moved, and Ray’s gaze fell on the shorter woman standing behind her who was busy in conversation with Vera. Her brows furrowed in confusion, her breathing going shallow.
No way, Ray a voice in her head cried, no, no, no. And then those familiar set of eyes turned, and she couldn’t deny it anymore.
“Hello.”
Fuck.
Ray almost stumbled back, barely keeping a leash on her emotions as the other woman’s gaze swept over all of them. Ray wasn’t breathing when those similar short blonde curls of hers swayed with the wind and those familiar set of light blue eyes settled on hers.
The smile was friendly, but Ray knew June Kincaid better. Now that those blood-red lips curled and she inclined her head in her direction, Ray couldn’t help but be grateful for those times when June had ignored her presence.
Because now as she smiled up at her, something deep inside Ray’s gut twisted like a sharp knife.
“Meet my sister. June Kincaid.” Maya’s voice fell like a tidal wave upon Ray, rendering her speechless. She barely noticed as Alessandro shook her hand politely and said some words in Italian,
“It's good to have you here,” he said, “I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”
“Oh Alessandro,” June’s voice was rough, was everything Ray had ever hated as she turned to look at her, “You don’t have to speak in another language for my sake. ”
Alessandro’s eyes softened and Ray stiffened as June’s gaze zeroed in on Ray, “You can offer your condolences in English.”
Her words were honey-sweet, but the deadly glint in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed. Ray raised her chin, daring her to go on.
“Oh darling,” Maya’s sweet voice purred, her hand moving and landing on June’s shoulder, “I’m terribly sorry. Cole deserved to live a long, happy life with you.”
Ray stopped her urge to scoff out loud as June sniffed, her eyes moving from her to Maya, shining under the moonlight, “I’m sorry, it’s been months but–”
Maya shushed her, running a soothing hand down her back.
“Let’s not think of that now,” Maya said softly, and Ray turned away, biting her tongue as she did so, “For now, I think we can move the part down to the beach, can’t we?”
Her question was aimed at Alessandro, but Ray had stopped listening, too shaken to do so. A part of her knew Akash was trying to catch her eyes, but she wouldn’t mess it all up now. Not after they’d gotten so far. She’d win, she thought as Maya and June walked past her, June’s familiar eyes glaring in the dark as if saying,
I haven’t forgotten you.
I’m going to expose every dirty secret of yours.
Ray’s eyes were cold in response, a sudden rush of annoyance washing down her chest as she gazed back at her. Didn’t dare show an ounce of emotion until they walked past.
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when she felt a warm hand touch her back gently .
She didn’t have to turn to know it was him. Angel leaned down, his lips against her ear as he whispered quietly enough for only her to hear,
“You’ll pay for before.” He said, and Ray couldn’t help it. Her eyes widened as a sudden laugh left her lips and she felt his entire body freeze behind her. She didn’t wait for his reaction though, just angled her head sideways and saw Kyle already looking at them, his eyes unreadable.
Panic crawled up her spine as Ray plastered a smile on her face, one even she didn’t believe “You said the beach’s true beauty shows at night.” She said softly and Kyle’s eyes lightened slightly. She kept her friendly demeanor up, knowing that he could decipher her tone. Understand the small figment of desperation in her eyes, “I hope you weren’t lying.”
His face lit up with a small grin, “I wasn’t.” he said and winked in her direction, “Shall we?”
She smiled and nodded, forcing herself to forget the panicked buzzing through her veins when Kyle turned to relay the same thing Maya had said to the entire crowd. In the meanwhile, Ray turned on her heels and faced those amber eyes head-on. His mouth opened but she beat him to it,
“Don’t forget,” she said, stealing the words right out of his mouth. His eyes darkened, a retort ready on his tongue when she shot him a small grin, “I know.”
And started walking past him without a backward glance.
* *
He really should be angry. Or at least a bit irritated. But as they all stepped off the light of the Larsen’s beach house and walked to the waterfront. He couldn’t bring himself to be.
The walk to the beach was dark, and Angel was walking beside Kyle, who was beside Ray .
Instead of listening in on their conversation as he usually would have, he was left wondering where Luke and the others were. His brows were furrowed in concern when he heard a faint cheer from far away.
All three of them froze, but Kyle only laughed silently as he faced Angel and said, “There they are.”
As if on cue, Angel saw all three of them race on the sand towards him. He heard Ray say something to Kyle, but he didn’t stop to listen. Instead, he turned in the sand with a grin on his face as he heard a familiar female voice call out his name,
“Angel!” was the only warning he got before Christina Morris caught up to him and grabbed onto his forearms, her hazel eyes dark under the night sky as she grinned up at him, “This place is great,” she panted, but her words were aimed at Kyle, who was standing behind him. Christina let go of his hands, her short bob swaying violently with the wind as she walked past him and started speaking animatedly,
“Honestly Kyle,” she started, and Angel smiled, turning to face Luke and Jack near him with similar grins on their faces. So easy, he couldn’t help but think, so easy to appear this friendly and happy in a deadly environment.
“This was really good news,” Christina’s tone was sincere, and Angel heard Kyle chuckle. When he turned to face them, he saw Kyle’s hands in Christina’s as he nudged his chin in Ray’s direction.
“It’s all because of her.” He said, and Angel’s gaze strayed to her. But she wasn’t paying attention to any of them. Her eyes were looking at the waves crashing against the sand, wide as her hair swayed violently with the wind.
“Ah yes,” Christina said and tilted her head, trying to get her attention, “Raylene Walker. ”
Ray didn’t respond to her though. Her honey eyes were wide, and her long skirt was moving with the wind when they all heard her breathless murmur,
“Holy shit.”
Angel had somehow sidled closest to her. So when Ray suddenly bent and removed her heels, she didn’t even turn as she pushed her shoes in his hands and took off. Angel blinked in surprise, suddenly holding her white heels as Raylene Walker ran towards the water.
A breath of silence descended upon them.
Until Christina cleared her throat awkwardly and Jack spoke behind them,
“Is she insane?” he muttered but Angel was frozen in place. What in hell just happened, he was thinking when he saw what she’d run towards. A sudden realization dawned upon him. He turned to Kyle, who was looking at Ray’s back with an amused gleam in his eyes,
“She didn’t know about it being a bioluminescent beach, did she?” he asked, still holding her heels in his hands as a rare smile turned Kyle’s lips.
“Nope.”
Angel huffed out a laugh and turned back to face Ray’s faraway figure. What was this girl? He wondered as he felt Luke’s hand thump on his back. When Angel turned to face him, his blue eyes shone in the darkness with an odd emotion. And the atmosphere was almost breathable. Was almost lovely before a rough voice spoke from behind them.
“New recruit?”
It was a sort of voice that brought back all the alertness they’d all built. Even Kyle’s eyes were wary as he turned to face the man standing behind them .
Jack and Luke moved almost instantaneously, coming to Angel’s sides as Christina carefully sidled between Kyle and Angel. All previous pretense of friendliness had faded on her face as they all faced the most vexing businessman in their world. Nathan Kraft was a tall man, with growing stubble in place of a beard and deadly eyes. Their colors seemed to remind Angel of someone, but he couldn’t quite place it. Not when Kyle spoke from beside him,
“Yes,” he started, the same steel they all used evident in his tone, “She’s our newest member. And a valuable one.”
No one missed the warning in his tone.
Not even as a polite smile graced his lips.
Nathan didn’t seem bothered at all though, as he rubbed his stubble and looked at Angel, an amused glint in his eyes,
“So I guess this is where she ran off to.” He said softly, but loud enough and laced with enough mockery for all of them to hear.
Angel wanted to frown but kept his face emotionless as he kept his gaze on the other man, “So you’ve come to the Lions then.” He started, his voice cold as he turned to Kyle with a knowing look in his eyes, “Careful. This one’s a bit slippery.”
Nathan’s eyes flashed, but Angel smirked as Kyle blinked, having received the message. But before they could send him away, he started speaking, his eyes lighting in a way Angel didn’t like as he peeked a look in Ray’s direction,
“So, what’s the story behind that one?” he started, and Angel’s shoulder tensed, not knowing what was coming, “Did you take pity on her after she begged at your doorsteps? ”
Kyle opened his mouth to respond but Nathan waved a dismissive hand in the air, a dirty grin twitching on his lips, making his entire face turn into this devious version of an expression. Angel didn’t like that look one bit.
“I’m sure you’ll toss her in the wind after you’re done with her. I mean,” he levelled a look on Kyle, as if the other boy were on the same page as him, “She’ll be destroyed and all.”
“But I guess some people get used to being abandoned.”
A roar started in Angel’s ears, sudden and abrupt. What the fuck? Who the hell was this man to Raylene Walker? Angel didn’t know what he was doing when he took an angry step forward but was stopped immediately by a cold voice speaking from behind him.
“Is that what you told yourself when the Ravens tossed you out on the streets?”
Ray’s voice was pure ice, fuelled by a blazing fire that had been burning for far too long now. Angel didn’t turn, not when Ray was already stepping in between him and Nathan. He saw the older man’s eyes flash, and he opened his mouth to continue, but Ray held up a hand, her shoulders erect and tense.
“Don’t mistake your stay here as an invitation to weasel your way through our ranks.” Her voice was low, dangerously so. Enough to send an array of shivers down his spine. He saw the emotionless look in Kyle’s eyes as he listened to their conversation, not interrupting once.
“And don’t,” she said, her voice dropping an octave, “Mistake my hospitality as forgiveness.”
It was then a shrill scream filled the air and Angel’s eyes snapped up.
Everyone around him jumped in surprise .
Everyone except Ray, who kept her eyes level on Nathan’s, so cold, so angry. When Angel looked over her shoulder and saw Nathan’s pale face, an odd sense of calmness spread through him.
This was familiar, he thought as everyone around them scrambled to find the origin of the voice. As Kyle’s gaze narrowed and he turned to look past them all. He and Luke took off immediately, Christina and Jake trailing behind them. He was vaguely aware of Jack asking him to come as well, but Angel didn’t move and Jack took off.
Someone screamed again, and Angel saw Nathan flinch back. Saw Ray’s shoulder roll once, before she turned away from him and started walking.
But he saw the look in Ray’s eyes as she stepped past him. Couldn’t help but smile a bit crazily as he turned to a deathly pale Nathan.
“You might die today, Nathan Kraft.” He whispered. Nathan flinched, so hard that he almost fell on his ass. But then Ray was pausing in her tracks and turning to him, her eyes unreadable as she dipped her chin. Just once.
Beckoning him.
“And no one’s coming to save you.” Angel grinned one last time in Nathan’s direction, his eyes gleaming dangerously.
And with her heels in his hand, he went to inspect the reason behind that scream.
Knew it was only the start of a new war.