18
“Y ou know we’ve been searching for you for hours –”
“Yeah?” Ray deadpanned, shutting Kyle up immediately, “ Bite me. ”
Angel choked on a half laugh as Verana’s eyes hardened into a glare. They’d walked out of the hallway in silence, mostly because Angel had been struck speechless by her words to Ira. Or because Ray was silently freaking out next to him. But then he’d slowly informed her that Kyle and Verana were in her room, and that fire in Ray’s eyes had returned.
Bringing back some of his own sanity.
Don’t be swayed. Don’t be foolish, his mind seemed to scream as he followed her.
Now, Kyle sighed from Ray’s bed, and flopped back, his hands behind his head. Angel was leaning against the wall, almost guarding the door from opening or any eavesdroppers as he listened to them argue. A faint smile touched his lips as Ray glared back and put her hands on her hips,
“Don’t give me that bullshit Verana.” She snapped and looked at Kyle as well, “Both of you can drop the fucking act. We have more important things to deal with anyway.”
“What are you going to do with the girl?” Kyle’s voice cut through her words, and Angel’s shoulders stiffened. Ray, however, didn’t even blink as she shot back,
“That remains between me and Alessandro. ”
Kyle’s eyes narrowed in frustration, his hands visibly clenching on the cover of her bed but he didn’t continue. Ray shook her head and swiveled to look at Angel with raised brows.
Go on, she seemed to say, and Angel pushed away from the wall, taking a step forward. Kyle sat up then, his shoulders drawn tight as he glared at him through his glasses.
Angel fought the smirk on his lips, so he hadn’t forgotten his jab from before. Good.
“Ever wonder who ratted you out?”
Not a very good start , he thought as a tired sigh left Ray’s lips. It brought forth a wave of satisfaction burning through him just as Kyle pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with more force than necessary.
“Come on ,” Angel said playfully and looked Kyle dead in the eye with a smirk on his lips, “I know you want to find out who told me about Raylene Walker joining your ranks.”
His jaw tightened, his hands flexing at his side once before he shifted on Ray’s bed and got off. Angel watched him move, a triumphant grin playing on his lips as Kyle's cool voice replied tightly, “We believed in your intel. But that doesn’t mean we have rats .”
Angel’s smirk only stretched at the way he spat out the word. He was about to taunt him back when Ray snapped from beside him,
“Fucking hell, just get on with it.” She snarled, and Angel scoffed in surprise as she turned to Angel, “ Quit baiting him.”
Turned to Kyle, “And stop biting it like a gaping fish. ”
Angel wanted to laugh but took one look at Ray’s clenched fists and the vein popping on the side of her neck and cleared his throat, “I know who your rat is. He might’ve helped us, but he was mistaken if he thought our allegiance was with anyone but the Lions.”
Verana interrupted, her tone doubtful, “Why?”
Angel made sure to keep his gaze bored as he spared her a glance,
“Because we want to maintain our peace. No more wars.”
Kyle seemed happy with that response because the boy bounced back on his heels impatiently and waved a hand in the air for him to go on. Angel glanced at Ray, confirming for the last time and she nodded.
Go on.
“Sorin Ardelean.” Angel said, and an odd silence descended upon them. But it wasn’t because Ray leaned back against the door of her room, or Verana’s look in Kyle’s direction.
No, it was because of Kyle’s sudden stilled figure. His eyes, which were averted, suddenly snapped in focus as he slowly looked up at Angel.
“Say that again.”
Angel frowned, crossing his arms as he noted the smallest trace of rage hidden in those icy words. Even Ray seemed to step forward in surprise at his tone, her arms slack at her sides as she said carefully,
“Why? Did you not hear him?”
Only a fool would mistake her tone for concern. Kyle’s eyes flashed, a sneer suddenly visible on his face as he stalked forward,
“ Sorin Ardelean?” he snapped, and Ray’s eyes widened beside him. Angel didn’t back down with the other boy neared him, suddenly so angry at… what ?
“The fucking driver?” Kyle continued icily, his shoulders lifting in emphasis. Angel’s chin tipped back, and he looked down at him blankly,
“Why? Is he family?” his words were meant to mock his reaction, but it only seemed to douse Kyle. He visibly calmed, raking a ruffled hand through his hair as he took a step back and rasped,
“How do you know?”
Angel’s head tilted, “I have my ways.”
Kyle looked over his shoulder, the sneer off his face as he shot a contemplating look in his direction, “Your ways got a name?” he asked haughtily and Angel scoffed as if saying, like hell I’ll tell you.
“I can vouch.” Ray said, her voice a fresh breeze in their conversation. Kyle turned to her, his brows rising as she inspected her nails, “I did my share of research. Sorin’s been working here for a while. Specifically, ever since I joined.”
Kyle’s gaze shuttered and Angel’s brow drew together at her words but he didn’t say anything about it. Just jumped as Ray clapped her hands and said,
“Alright,” she said, her eyes sparkling with fake cheer as she looked at all of them, “Please handle Sorin amongst yourselves for the time being. Kyle, now you know where Angel’s alliance lies,” a deadpan look from Kyle, “And Angel you can continue proving yourself.”
He glared back at her.
She didn’t spare any of them any glances as she looked past them and out of the closed windows. At the dark night sky. Her lips pursed and Angel’s confusion dissolved as she asked,
“Vera, what time is it?”
Verana grumbled but removed her phone, “10:30. ”
The longest he’d gone without eating. Angel scoffed, realizing the same was true for Raylene Walker as she sighed and turned on her heels with a hand in the air, “I’m off. By the time I get back, you lot better be out of my room.”
And with that, she walked out the door.
Angel was going to follow but realized he was stuck with Kyle and Verana in her room.
Withholding his sigh, he turned to Kyle, searching his face for any signs of the previous anger. He didn’t question it though, not as Kyle rubbed the back of his neck and turned to Verana,
“Dinner?” he asked, and as if realizing something, Angel’s stomach growled loudly in response. Kyle’s half amused turned to him and Angel grinned back at him,
“Dinner.”
Knew sure as hell he wasn’t going to eat until–
Kyle didn’t know that though, because the other boy rolled his eyes and brushed past him with a faint but familiar quirk on his lips,
“Didn’t invite you, Raven.”
He said and walked out the doors of Ray’s room. Verana was close to follow but paused beside him. Raised an elegant brow as she said softly,
“Beware of your friends Angel De Santos.” Her words made him pause, “They’re the ones you should be wary of.”
The girl walked out as well, a satisfied smirk on her face as Angel scoffed a small laugh in her wake. Hell, this place was insane. Four days here and he was starting to lose his mind. Angel turned to face the open door behind him and breathed out.
Thought about how he’d managed to finally win their favor .
And what good that was going to do for him now.
* *
She should be scared. Terrified, if she was human even a little bit. But no, she had to have some nerves of steel that blindsided her from the potential and deadly consequences she would be facing if this didn’t go right.
Ray was pacing in the hallway, just a few feet away from where Alessandro and Maya were sitting. Waiting for the past one minute.
And she knew she shouldn’t have kept them waiting, but her heart was pounding in her chest and within another minute, she knew she wouldn’t be able to breathe.
It wasn’t because she was scared.
It was because she really wasn’t.
“Fuck,” Ray breathed and fished her phone out of her pocket, knowing she shouldn’t, but still dialed the number. The phone rang once. Twice.
Click.
No one said anything for a second. And Ray tapped her foot in frustration and gave in to her stupid mind.
“Tell me I should do this.” She said, making sure to whisper her words in a foreign language. Tell me I’m not jumping into this blind. That I’m not making a terrible decision because of my stubborn mind. Ray waited for a pause. Just a second. And then the voice on the other end breathed out, the smallest chuckle.
“Rip the fucking bandage, sweetheart.”
Click.
That hadn’t been her question but –
Ray huffed out a laugh, her composure returning as her eyes cleared .
After hearing those words and having a sense of reason back in her mind, Ray was ready to talk. Was ready to deliver her words without looking like a hard-headed idiot.
Manipulation, she thought to herself as she knocked on the doors of their meeting room, is the best form of survival.
“Come in.” a rough, gravelly voice said from the other side. And Ray breathed out in an attempt to calm her nerves before she twisted the knob.
Alessandro and Maya were sitting on the opposite end of the round table, both their arms crossed as a flutter of papers surrounded them. Those green eyes were narrowed in her direction just as Maya uncrossed her hands and leaned back in her seat. The temperature dropped, and a burst of goosebumps erupted down her spine as Alessandro drawled,
“I don’t like waiting, Raylene Walker.” He said, his voice so low, so dangerous. Ray’s lips parted to respond but he held up an unflinching hand, his eyes like embers as he continued, “ Remember that.”
So not dead yet.
Praying silently in her mind, Ray remained rooted in her spot, lacing her hands in front of her as she dipped her chin as a sign of apology and obedience. Both the Larsens seemed happy with her actions because both their shoulders relaxed. Ray breathed out as Alessandro placed an impatient hand against the glass table and tapped his fingers, an arpeggiated sound erupting from the action.
“What do you have for us?” Maya said silently, her eyes slowly lifting to Ray’s in sheer boredom, “ After you interrupted my attempts at breaking the girl.”
Breaking the girl .
A roar began in her ears at those words. Those lifeless, destructive words and a flame flickered back in her stance as she lifted her chin and answered,
“I have two things. Two tasks completed.” She began and saw Maya lean forward, a clear sign of interest.
Ray’s gaze swiped to Alessandro’s and back to Maya’s, “I have a replacement for the Krafts.”
Maya huffed out a laugh, her head turning away as she pressed a hand to her brows but waved at her to continue.
“The Hassans.” Ray started, her words enticing a snapping gesture from Maya and Alessandro both. Their heads snapped up, their eyes going wide in disbelief as Ray continued, undeterred, “Noah Hassan to be exact. His business with the Ravens has brought them to the position they stand at today.”
Alessandro’s green eyes flared, “And yet they’ve come to us for an alliance.” He snapped back, clearly offended by her words. But Maya placed a hand on her husband’s, a calm yet chilling smile lifting at the corner of her lips as she motioned for Ray to continue.
“That was Martin .” Ray said, quiet but firm, and saw Alessandro freeze. A wave of satisfaction washed over her at his reaction, and she had to force herself to stop her lips from tipping, “Angel De Santos has maintained a profitable relationship with the Hassans. And by doing so, can gain an upper hand in any situation. ”
Ray could see the gears turning in Maya’s mind, trying to figure out if Ray was bluffing. But she’d never let the Lions down, not once since she’d been appointed to her job. Her job of defining the alliance had been perfect, and even Maya knew that. Ray could see that she did. Maybe it was with that confidence in her that Maya nodded, a smirk on her lips, and looked up at Ray,
“If you can manage to get Noah Hassan on board, then we will have no issues in replacing the Krafts.” She said, her gaze calculating as she spoke. Ray breathed out, her chest deflating as she saw that sheer ice in Maya’s eyes.
So cruel, Ray couldn’t help but think, some people could be so cruel and inhumane.
But was she any different?
“And what of the girl?”
Alessandro’s jagged question came like a bullet. Ray’s eyes sharpened, but she made sure to keep her annoyance, her rage to herself as she looked at both of them and forced her facial expressions to relax.
“She broke.” Ray said and saw Maya’s eyes flare. Despite her reasoning, a smug look crossed her eyes as she looked at Maya, “And she shared some vital information.”
Ray paused, and Alessandro leaned forward, his hands laced as he rose his brows, “Well?” he probed. It was almost comical, looking at both of them prying for information they hadn’t earned. Didn’t even deserve to know. Ray breathed out.
Now for the difficult part.
“In return for this information, I ask for one thing. ”
Maya’s eyes flared, a scoff leaving her lips as she shot up from her seat. The chair creaked loudly beneath her, but Ray didn’t dare flinch as the woman showed that raw anger she’d stored away,
“You have no right.”
Ray bristled but didn’t move an inch. Screw this.
“Then I quit.” She said venomously, her eyes flashing as a sneer crossed Maya’s lips, “You kill me and that vital key dies with me and the girl.”
They both fell silent at her demand, their surprise evident on their faces as Ray’s hands clenched. Never had she thought of fucking up the plan like this. But she couldn’t just let this be. Couldn’t just let this go on. Not with a girl’s life on the line.
And just when she thought Alessandro or Maya were going to rip out a gun and shoot her right in the head, Alessandro threw his head back and let out a roar of laughter.
Ray’s entire body filled with ice, her eyes widening by a fraction as the man banged his fist against the table and laughed. Even Maya seemed to look back at him with a small tip of her lips.
What in hell–
“About time you made demands of your own Raylene Walker,” Alessandro said through his roaring laughter. A shiver climbed up Ray’s spine as Maya turned to her with a wry smile,
“Even Kyle has threatened us,” she said, and a faint numbness settled on Ray’s heart. Holy shit, she thought as Maya continued, “You were far too obedient to not look like a fucking spy. And now you’ve proved me wrong.”
As if proving her words Alessandro placed a gentle hand against her upper arm and said with a grin, “Pay up.”
Holy. Shit .
Maya sighed and flopped back in her seat, but pulled out some money from her pocket and handed it to her husband. Ray wasn’t sure if she was breathing when Maya’s cool eyes settled on hers,
“Make your request Raylene. We’ll see if we can grant it.”
She’d broken it. She’d broken the wall, the barrier.
Ray’s eyes widened, excitement jumping in her blood as she forced herself to swallow her laugh, she’d earned their trust. She’d earned her fucking way in.
“I want to adopt her. I want her protected and under my name,” She didn’t know how she’d managed to say the words. How she’d managed to do anything but scream at the entire world.
She’d done it.
Maya’s lips twitched and Ray braced herself, breathing out heavily as a curtain of silence descended upon them. Five, six, Ray counted, forcing herself to calm down. To not mess this opportunity up. And then Maya said one word and that sealed the deal. Sealed everything.
“Done.”
Ray could see it all. The trust shone in their eyes. Albeit it was laced with a warning, Ray couldn’t believe it. After months, years, of trying to gain the upper hand. Of trying to gain their trust. And all she’d needed was Ira Walker in her life.
It was humbling, she thought as she dipped her head, how the Lions trusted the back stabbers. The manipulators. The suspicious.
“Thank you.” She breathed out, making sure to show that tremor in her voice. Giving them the upper hand.
“Now.” Alessandro drawled, “The intel. ”
Ray didn’t miss a beat, “It’s the vigilante group. The girl calls them Il Senza Nome.” She said, making sure to keep Ira’s name out of this conversation. Even if they’d agreed to hand her over to Ray, she couldn’t bring herself to trust their words wholly.
“The Nameless.” Maya breathed and laughed at the atrocious name, “How original.”
Even Alessandro seemed to smile cruelly at her words, his eyes cutting to Ray’s, “How dangerous are they?” he asked, looking for her opinion on this. Ray’s eyes averted in thought, making herself look like the perfect strategist for the Lions,
“They’ve managed to cut us where it hurts.” She started tentatively, making sure to notice the glint in Maya’s eyes as she continued,
“And they know where to strike. Which makes them dangerous enough.”
“I’ll get Verana on this.” Maya cut in, her fingers laced together, the ever-perfect picture of a poised leader. Alessandro’s head lolled to look at her, his lips quirking further as he looked at his wife. No matter what happens here, Ray thought, these two would always remain knit together.
Not because of love.
“Ask her to use whatever means necessary.” Alessandro said, his words aimed at Maya, “I don’t want a nameless group to ruin anything else.”
But because of respect.
Ray nodded, lost in thought. The excitement from before was already jumping through her bones, coursing through her blood. But she forced herself past it as she moved to step back, only stopping as Maya changed their conversation .
“Raylene Walker.” Maya’s voice echoed and her eyes turned to face her. A silent gesture even as she caught the triumphant yet cunning look in those depthless eyes, “You’ve proved yourself to be a predator. At least to us.”
Alessandro’s beard twitched as a hungry grin flitted across his lips,
“Now it’s time to prove it to the world.”
An odd sense of dread roiled in her stomach, making her forget the ache in her bones. The tear of her skin. In the silence that descended yet again, Ray finally heard the tick-tock of the clock behind them. Her gaze snagged to the clock, her eyes widening at the time.
Tick tock it went .
11:59 it read.
Ray breathed out, the excitement dying out in her veins. Her brows scrunched, her mind suddenly recalling Maya’s previous words.
Too obedient to not look like a fucking spy.
Her gaze snapped down, the excitement, the thrill fizzling out as she looked at the two of them sitting across the table. Something was wrong. Something was–
Maya’s lips turned so slowly. So quietly. So lethally. Ray’s breath caught, and she barely stopped herself from stumbling back as Alessandro lifted his hand and swayed it, as if asking someone to go. Ray knew she shouldn’t have, but her eyes still snapped away from them, and she caught it. The briefest shift of shadows. The smallest glint of metal under the moonlight. Her mind was a mess when she looked back at Maya, cursing herself for not having expected this. For having dodged the trap just barely.
“And if you fail in doing that.” Maya said, lowering the octave of her voice, “Well,” with a cruel twist of lips, “Good luck. ”
If she hadn’t brought back any leads, she would’ve died here tonight. They would’ve killed her.
A breath left her lungs, her eyes widening.
Tick tock.
“Do not ever forget to lock your windows at night again Raylene Walker.” Alessandro’s voice was calm. But Ray caught the undercurrent of triumph in those words. A storm of silence, of ringing, began all at once in her mind.
That assassination attempt. Those hands on her neck.
The hatred that bloomed in her blood was hot. Was deadly. Was a fucking reminder. She couldn’t believe she’d been so foolish. So na?ve in mistaking their intentions thus far. She should’ve guessed it. Should’ve been more prepared.
But this was good in its own way. Her heart calmed in her chest, a familiar undercurrent of cold numbness flowing through it as she forced the storm in her eyes to settle. Maya grinned maniacally at her attempts, placing her hand on Alessandro’s as she did so.
Ray didn’t dip her chin, didn’t let any emotion pierce her gaze as she waited. And saw Alessandro’s grin. Maya’s cold eyes.
It had been them.
“It wouldn’t matter either way.” Ray said, her tone taut with hatred, “Only cowards hunt at night.”
She’d dodged a bullet. But for how long would she be able to survive?
Ray didn’t bid them goodbye, nor did she wait for their permission to leave. Just turned on her heels and pulled the door open. And at stark midnight, she walked out with her head held high .
The door closed behind her silently, hiding the huffs of laughter as she stepped away from the suffocating room. Forcing herself to not think, to barely breathe, Ray just focused on her steps as she walked. And walked.
It was during that brief numbness, that mad silence, that Ray realized something.
If she wanted to win, she thought as she removed her phone from her pocket and dialed the same number, she would have to do more than just obey. More than just wait.
The phone clicked and Ray didn’t wait. Just walked out the hallway and out the damned house, “Fuck the slow burn.” She snapped as soon as she stepped out in the cold air and heard a slight intake of breath from the other end, “Let’s just set it all on fire.”
She’d have to make them believe they had no one else.
Ray was out of the hotel, with nothing but the breathing on the other end and the cold air to keep her company as her gaze snagged on the beach bar they’d built. It was midnight, she was alone, and this was such a bad idea, but Ray still swerved on her toes.
It was when she grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the closed glass door that the other person finally responded.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that for ages.”
No one but her.
A grin curved her lips as she twisted the lid and took a huge swig. Just as the voice on the other end lowered their octave to say,
“Let’s fucking burn them all down.”