22
A ngel sighed for what seemed like the millionth time. Ray had her head in her hands, a groan rising from the back of her throat as Noah lounged in front of them with his hands wrapped around the couch. ‘Noon had already passed by the time they’d gotten here. Ray had decided to stop by the hospital after meeting Noah, but Angel had warned her about the amount of time he would take.
Take to eat both their brains out.
“Just. Fucking. Do. It.” Ray said through gritted teeth and Noah’s head lolled to one side, his eyes shutting.
“You’re telling me to start working. I’m a lazy man–”
“Man, my ass.”
“ Excuse me ?”
Ray sighed and rose her head from her hands, her eyes tired as she tried to glare at Noah, who’d sat up at her statement, “ Look. You have but one thing to do–”
“And you have but one thing to tell me.”
Angel groaned out loud again, “We fucking told you, I came here on Maya’s orders. She asked me to help Ray and I just helped her out.” He said and Noah’s eyes flashed as a knowing grin grew on his face,
“I can decipher lies Santos–”
Thump.
Both Noah and Angel jumped as Ray slammed her hand down on the glass table in front of them .
Her head snapped up, her eyes exhausted and angry as she glared back at him,
“Look Hassan,” she began, her voice thundering through both of them, “I wasted enough of my fucking day looking after your toddler feelings. Now, you have orders from the people who’ve employed you. And…” Ray snapped as he opened his mouth to speak up, “If you have any other concerns, take it up with Kyle. My job here is to tell you your job. And your job is to just. Do. It.”
Noah blinked, “You said job a lot of times.”
Ray shot forward, her fists raised in a half frenzy as she went to punch him to death. Angel jumped in between just in time, his gaze wary as Noah flinched back from her stormy eyes promising death as he wrapped a hand around her waist and hauled her back against him. Both of them were standing now, Ray breathing harshly as Angel kept a cautionary hand poised against her waist and wrist.
“That was insanely hot – ” Noah began.
“ Oh My Fucking God.”
“But I’ll do it.”
Ray paused, and Angel’s fingers slackened against her waist. Noah sighed, his hands resting behind his head as he looked at both of them and then turned to look down at a half-asleep Ira on the couch.
“I just have to get things in order and transfer ownership, correct?”
“I’ve already transferred all properties to be under your name. You just need to get your people there and begin production. All the materials you need to start a picture-perfect business away from your father and his name, you’ll get it from me.” She responded and Noah nodded, suddenly serious as he stared back at her .
“You’ll have a business standing within these two days. My people work fast.” He said, “And we need not start the background production just yet.”
Ray nodded, “Showing others we’re fine is important.” She said, her eyes growing grave with a slight warning, “And if we lose investments, you will too. Remember that, Hassan.”
Angel bristled at her threat, but Noah didn’t even blink. He’d already seen it coming. So many years in this business, and yet a part of Angel still could stand the way people were forced to think. Were forced by situations to threaten everyone, and trust no one. He breathed out now, shaking himself out of his thoughts to assess the situation.
Noah coming to their side was a great way to boost business. At least until the Lions found their footing again. After the alliance was announced, Angel would have to make sure that their assets remained theirs. The Larsens would definitely look at leaching over their holdings, and he’d have to figure out a way to keep them happy while proceeding otherwise.
It was a dangerous game everyone was playing in this world.
Angel would have to make sure that he would win.
“Now,” Noah said, nudging his chin in Ira’s direction, “Take her and get out of my house.”
Ray moved away from Angel, turning to wake Ira gently. He saw her jerk awake, his heart fracturing at the sheer fear in her eyes as Ray held her in place and murmured words soft enough only for Ira to hear. When Angel looked back at Noah, the other boy had an odd sheen in his eyes. The briefest flicker of emotions before he wiped them away and matched Angel’s look haughtily .
“See you in a day Santos.” Noah said goodbye, and Angel nodded, turning to walk behind Ray and Ira, wondering how the boy had agreed suddenly.
Wondered if he had a soft spot for kids?
Angel tucked away that piece of information for later and strolled behind Ray as they strode out of his townhouse, tucking his hands in the pocket of his trousers. They’d both gotten here on their bikes, Ira riding with Ray while Angel followed them discretely enough to not attract any unwanted attention.
He saw as Ray and Ira strode ahead, one of Ray’s hands loosely hanging around Ira’s shoulder as they talked in hushed tones. Despite his mind rebelling, a small pout appeared on his lips as he saw the two girls converse.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to interrupt, not when it looked like Ira was carefully opening up with Ray.
So, he forced himself to look to the side, breathing in the ocean air as he heard the waves crash far away on the beach.
No matter the circumstance, no matter the situation, no part of Angel could deny the beauty of this place. It wasn’t a lonely place – not at all, with all the tourists constantly pouring in. Instead, this island was beautiful in an ancient way. The ocean was always calm, was always filled with blue waters that rippled and crashed gently upon one another. And then there were the buildings. The royal architecture hinted at the island’s heritage. And it was enough.
The Larsens hadn’t touched it. No building, no piece of architecture, not even the people were bothered when they’d bought the island.
Angel couldn’t tell if that was mercy or simply a long-term plan .
But ever seen he’d gotten here, all he’d seen was obedience. Whether it be from their staff or the locals around here, no one dared approach the Larsens. Everyone handled their own business, as long as it didn’t get in anyone’s way.
He gulped, wondering what other truths might come to light with this alliance will forge.
“Hey!”
Ray’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn’t realized he’d stopped walking long enough to simply gaze at the ocean. Angel looked back at Ray now though, his eyes darting between her and Ira. He couldn’t help the light smile that tugged at his lips as he saw the flicker of concern shine in those honey eyes. Her frown only deepened as he took two long steps in their direction, the wind hurling past them violently as he did so.
“Hey.” He replied and saw with a loud pounding of his heart Ray’s hair tip back as she inclined her head up to look at him. Angel’s eyes crinkled, his smile widening as he saw her gaze dart to his cheeks. To his dimples,
“Miss me?”
Ray scoffed as Ira mimicked gagging beside her.
Angel’s smile dropped, his gaze turning wary as he turned to the younger girl, “ Now you choose to interject?” he asked incredulously but Ira only turned on her heels in response. Ray whistled and turned to him with her eyes shining innocently,
“Take a hint, Raven?”
Angel clicked his tongue, extending his hand to ruffle her hair in annoyance, but she just darted away from him, a happy grin on her face as she turned to her bike .
“Where to now?” he asked, stepping beside her to remove his bike from the stand, suddenly uncomfortable with what he’d reached out to do. Since when was he playing nice with Raylene Walker? She didn’t seem to notice his scowl because she responded in the same warm tone she’d been using for a while,
“Hospital. I need to see David.” She responded as she handed a helmet to Ira and tugged hers over her head, “But we do need to get food before that.”
Angel saw her cast Ira a wary glance as the other girl stood silently, her back turned to both of them, her shoulders stiff as she gazed into nowhere. Ray sighed softly but moved to take her bike off her stand. Angel followed her actions, noticing the constant tapping of her fingers against the bike’s handles as she got on.
“Hey,” Angel started softly, leaning closer to her seated figure on the bike. She pulled the face shield down and tilted her head in question. He knocked on her helmet playfully, enjoying the annoyed sound that left her throat as he said quietly enough for both of them to hear,
“Get her checked out as well.”
Ray’s eyes flashed, her body stilling at his words. But he forced all the conviction in his hard gaze and Ray sighed at that look, turning to peer down at her hands as she pretended to think about it. Angel clicked his tongue and lightly whacked her helmet again, “Quit pretending. I know you’ve thought about it.”
Ray groaned softly, “She isn’t going to agree. And I don’t want to force her to do something she doesn’t want to.”
Angel sighed, understanding her words but still hell-bent on his ,
“It’s important Ray. We don’t know if there’s an injury she’s hiding. It could affect her later on.”
She stayed silent for a second. Angel watched her stew in thought and just took a step back when her head snapped up.
“Ira,” Ray started, and the other girl turned immediately. She was about to get on the bike when she saw the look in Ray’s eyes, and stopped, looking awfully as though she was going to run away, “We’re heading to the hospital.”
Ira inclined her head hesitantly, “Si. I know.”
“You’re going to get checked up there as well.”
That had the other girl flinching back as if the mere thought of anyone apart from Ray being near her terrified her. But Ray’s voice was calm, coaxing her back, “I’m going to be with you. In the same room, in the same place. But I need to know you’re alright–”
“Sto bene! I am alright.”
But Ray wasn’t stopping, “And that you’re going to be alright.” She sighed at the devastation that showed in Ira’s eyes. She hadn’t put the helmet on yet and had resorted to holding it like a weapon. Angel took a careful step back, making a show of giving Ira her space. Ray’s eyes noticed it as well, because she straightened in her seat, “Look, kid,”
Ira flinched at the word,
“This is a two-way street. I’m not asking you to do anything that doesn’t involve your consent. But you need to understand that this is important for your health. There’s nothing else to it. I’m trusting you, holding you to your words.” Ray twisted the key and started her bike, “Isn’t it fair for you to do the same? ”
Angel followed her movements, a breath leaving his lungs at her words.
He sat on his bike and started it in one fluid motion, waiting for Ira to get on and make a decision. When he turned to look back at her, Ira was blinking at both of them with something like a crazy rage in her eyes. Angel couldn’t blame her. But he still doused the tense air by turning the handle of his bike. A loud roar filled the air from his accelerator and saw as Ira jumped in surprise.
Her brows furrowed in a frown but Angel shrugged back at her as if saying, get on with it.
Ira sighed finally and turned to Ray, “You will be with me?” she asked, and Ray nodded, putting the face shield back,
“Every step of the way.”
“Just not when you head to the washroom,” Angel deemed it important to add and earned himself two glares. The helmet hid his cheeky grin, but he still sighed in relief as Ira nodded briskly and put the helmet over her head, heading to sit behind Ray as she did so.
“Food first,” Ira demanded a bit numbly but both Ray and Angel chuckled at her words. He looked at the girl,
“Any preferences?” he asked and chided himself for the enthusiasm in his voice. When was the last time he’d looked forward to something so mundane with anyone apart from his friends?
“Anything but seafood.” She said, and Angel had a cute sense of her crinkling her nose in disgust as she said the word, “Fishes smell awful .”
Ray’s honey laughter spilled through the air as she roared her bike to life, “Alright. Seafood it is! ”
They both didn’t miss it when Ira groaned out loud and murmured something that sounded quite close to fucker. Ray gasped but Angel only cackled and turned his bike on. He didn’t hear the other girl’s response because he was already riding the bike with the violent wind hurling past him.
Angel’s mind was a mess with everything that had happened.
With everything he’d learned about the Lions. About how they did damage control. About how the Ravens had finally pledged their loyalty to them. Angel breathed out, his mind straying from other details of this week. Other unimportant bits kept flashing behind his eyes.
Her and her honey eyes.
Her and her playful words.
Her and her grins.
Angel cursed as they rode on the lonely road. And just wondered if it was worse that he was worried about the latter of his thoughts rather than their involvement with the Lions.
* *
Surprisingly, it had all gone better than she’d expected.
Maybe too better considering how she was sitting next to Angel De Santos late at night with a half-empty vodka bottle in her hand.
Ray sighed, flopping back on his bed as she put a hand against her forehead and groaned. What the hell was wrong with her? Getting here so late at night? Where were the boundaries?
She saw Angel’s slumped shoulders in front of her, his body turned to look out the open windows as he grabbed the Vodka and took a large swig. She was just returning a favor, she thought to herself as she sat back up at looked at him. Angel’s amber eyes had dimmed ever since he’d called her an hour back .
They’d had lunch and had gone to the hospital. While Ray had spent her time getting yelled at by David, Ira had been inspected for any infections or injuries but had none. She still couldn’t get the image of her bruised body out of her mind, not when she’d gotten back from the hospital with a bandage on her shoulder. And not when Angel had walked away from both of them after being called by Martin De Santos.
Ira had been curled up on Ray’s bed while she was working through some documents when her phone had buzzed.
Raven: Return the favor, Raylene Walker.
Was all Angel had written. She’d replied immediately,
You: Where are you?
Raven: Rotting away in my hideous room.
And that’s how they’d ended up in Angel’s room, stewing in silence for more than half an hour since Ray had walked in. Angel hadn’t looked at her but had simply extended the bottle in her direction and she’d shrugged at his actions, grabbing the bottle and taking a long swig.
Ray followed his line of sight now, ignoring the light sinking in her chest when Angel’s eyes dimmed further in thought.
“Why is it that we always end up in situations like these?” she asked just when she couldn’t take it anymore. Angel shifted beside her, straightening at the way her voice cut through the silence.
“Well,” his voice was low, almost subdued as he responded, “Everyone’s at the club, but I don’t feel like heading up somewhere with loud music and bad alcohol tonight.”
“So, you chose bad thoughts over bad music.” She noted briskly and chuckled as a growl rumbled through the air and Angel swiped another sip from the bottle .
They’d been drinking for a while, but Angel’s eyes weren’t hazy at all. Instead, the asshole was handling the alcohol like a professional.
She, on the other hand.
“You’re not drunk.”
Was not doing very well.
Angel’s wary eyes finally turned to hers, his lips quirking at whatever he saw on her face, “No.” he said, the smile in his tone growing as her scowl deepened, “Are you?”
Ray scoffed and swiped a hand through her hair, “Just tipsy.” She mumbled, “I need food with drinks.”
He hummed in response and shifted on the bed, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her. Ray breathed out, forcing herself to not look back at him.
Him and his disheveled hair. Him and his unbuttoned shirt.
Ray cursed in her mind, her eyes falling shut as the cool air breezed past her in a frenzy. When she’d walked in, Angel and his stupid unbuttoned – only the first two buttons to be fair – shirt was the first thing she’d seen. That smooth skin and the red necklace that hung from his neck, she’d almost walked back out.
Her gaze had snagged on the black band and even sober, she hadn’t been able to deny it at all.
Angel Santos was–
“What’re you thinking?” he sang from beside her, and her mind snapped out of its daze. His daze. Ray exhaled harshly, opening her eyes and blinking to get the fog out of her mind,
“So, I was your last choice for tonight?” she chose to ask and rolled her head to one side to look at him .
Those amber eyes followed her every movement, tracking and noting with such attention that she couldn’t –
“Si,” he responded calmly, his eyes darting down to her bare shoulder. The cardigan had fallen off one shoulder, showing a barely covered black tattoo…
Oh shit.
Whatever tipsiness she was feeling disappeared within an instant as she sat up suddenly, her eyes going wide. But with whatever strength she had left, Ray made sure to keep the panic off her face. She tilted her head to peer at Angel innocently. His head snapped up and Ray sidled closer to him, making sure to keep her breathing in check as she leaned in closer.
Angel’s amber eyes darkened and her heart stalled. Or stopped. But Ray gulped past the sudden dryness of her throat and reached over him to grab the bottle in his other hand. His eyes flashed, showing a sudden melted core as her face remained but a hair’s width away from his.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“What’re you doing storm?” he whispered so softly. Ray had caught the bottle at the very second her other hand lifted the cardigan over her shoulder.
She forced herself to look his way. To match his look haughtily as she ripped the bottle from his hand and fell back.
“Just getting a drink Raven.” She responded innocently and tilted her head back to take a large sip again, her heart wild in her chest. The vodka burnt all the way down to her throat, but she bore it with a confidence she’d steeled over years. She saw him release a harsh breath and brush a hand through his hair, the movement making her heart light, and with a small grin tugged at her lips she pushed her fucking limits ,
“Why?” she purred and saw his head snap away from hers, “What did you think I was doing?”
Angel cursed so violently that Ray couldn’t help the laughter that spilled past her lips. Ray got up steadily, her hands on her hips as she peered down at him with a grin,
“Alright now that you’ve been taken care of,” she began, and saw Angel still at her words, “I shall take my leave.”
She didn’t know what she wanted him to respond with. But when he did respond, her heart, and her blood jumped in a way that told her yes, that was it.
And her mind cursed her for it.
“My father called me in.” he said suddenly, and Ray’s brows shot up in surprise. But it wasn’t this, she couldn’t have him talking about all this with her. A sudden course of panic flooded through her, and she swam past it, her grin dropping as she started,
“You don’t have to–”
And stopped as he looked up. Past her with that same dim look in his eyes. Her stomach dropped at that expression, her mind fracturing. He wanted to.
God. Damn. It.
Ray sat down beside him, nursing the bottle as she faced him.
She might have been imagining it, but Angel's shoulders relaxed beside her, “He’s a bitter asshole.” He snapped, some of his anger rushing through his words.
Ray bit back the warning, flinching at the bite in his words but understanding it nonetheless, “He doesn’t know how to run the business. Hasn’t been doing for a while now. ”
Of course, she knew that. The entire world knew that.
“But he still deems it important to look into what I do. It’s suffocating, and I don’t know if these are simply daddy issues–”
“Definitely.” Ray chuckled and beamed as a smile tugged at his lips, hinting at the dimples.
“But conversing with him today was like falling back into a well I’ve been trying to climb out of for ages now.”
That line, those words, were like a slap to her face. Or more like a brush of the same reality she’d been facing for a while. No part of Ray wanted to share anything close to her life, but it didn’t seem fair to let him speak alone.
“My dad was an imminent bastard as well.” She began softly and Angel’s eyes flickered with surprise beside her, “But a while back, before I got here to the Larsen’s, I had this friend back in my hometown.”
Her throat dared to close, but Ray plowed forth. She blamed it solely on his undivided attention. And how much it surprised her.
“She was nothing like me. Absolutely wonderful in everything she did. Her family loved her shitless. And maybe I should’ve been envious, but I simply admired her too much for it.” Her voice was steady, her eyes looking right into his. Angel’s back straightened and he sidled closer, his attention all on hers. Ray didn’t know if it was liquid courage, or if it was simply those hell-raising amber eyes. But she didn’t stop.
“Then one day, she died.”
Angel blinked in surprise but didn’t say a word as she took another sip of the vodka, wincing at the burn, “And her dad became an imminent asshole as well.”
She laughed at the way she abruptly cut off her story, “Maybe it’s just those dads who lose everything, you know. ”
Ray whispered, and looked out the window.
Her mind swayed with the flooding memories. Angel exhaled beside her, and turned to the window as well,
“Who loses everything and turn on what they have left?” He completed and turned to Ray with a grin. Ray shook her head, her mind blanking at those dimples as her own lips mirrored his grin.
“Fuck them.”
Angel laughed beside her, “Fuck them indeed.”
Their chuckles sobered after a moment and Ray let out a tired breath, “Ah, I should really go.” She said, not moving from the bed.
Angel hummed beside her, his shoulder brushing hers tauntingly, “You really should.”
Ray groaned out loud, putting her face in her hands as she mumbled, “I’m too lazy to move.”
“Do you want me to–”
Thump. Thump.
Ray shot up beside him, her hand going to the waistband of her jeans as the bottle dropped to the ground. Angel flinched as well, getting up from his bed carefully with narrowed eyes as he stalked towards the door. Ray made a soft hissing sound, and he turned over his shoulder to look at her, his eyes going wide as he saw the panic in her stance.
“Angel!” a muffled voice from the other end called out, “I have the keys, I know you’re in there!”
Angel’s eyes widened as Ray cursed, stepping to go to the washroom when he grabbed her forearm and said as quietly as he could,
“You go in there, you won’t be out till morning.”
“ What do you want me to fucking do? ” Ray whispered back harshly and saw him wince. Her head whipped around as she tried to push him away and possibly jump out the window when he caught her arm again, seeing her intent with a deadpan look in his eyes. Ray growled deep.
If anyone saw her in Angel’s room this late at night, she was bound to get reported and all she’d managed to accomplish by now would be all for nothing .
The knob twisted and she heard a faint voice call out,
“I’m coming in!”
Angel swore before her. And maybe it was the drinks. Or the fucking situation. But for the first time in her life, Raylene Walker didn’t move. Angel moved fast enough for both of them. Ray didn’t have time to breathe as his fingers pulled her cardigan to cover her shoulder and moved so he was covering her entire body. Raylene gasped and he silenced it as the door flew open and he–
What. The. Fuck.
She froze. His fingers curled around her cheek and his lips hovered over hers, his eyes narrow. His breath fell upon her, quiet and worried. Her mind shuttered. He was too close. And Oh God. It was only for a second, barely so, and her entire body ached with the urge to haul him closer. Those soft lips brushed hers, and a soft moan almost, almost wretched from her throat. butterflies everywhere . It lasted forever. And ended too quickly.
Ray didn’t hear the throat clearing behind her. Could barely formulate thoughts when Angel breathed out but didn’t look away from her when he said in a low, dangerous voice,
“Out. ”
He didn’t move an inch. Covered her face with his hand and her body with his own. But didn’t look away. Her heart pounded in her chest, setting her body aflame when he hovered closer. When he breathed out unsteadily and–
“Now.”
“ Alright!”
And thud!
The doors fell shut. And yet, with her fingers fisted in the hem of his t-shirt, and him but an inch from her, they didn’t move. Ray wasn’t sure she wanted to when the pad of Angel’s thumb caressed her cheek. His eyes had gone dark in a lethal, beautiful way and all she wanted to do was pull him closer and–
Angel let go of her abruptly, his throat bobbing up and down when she blinked and stepped back. Away.
Silence descended for a span of five seconds. Five seconds of the tingle against her lips and the dark look in his eyes. They darted to her lip and up again. And she was utterly gone.
“I’m sorry.” Angel breathed, his voice low, but it was no use. He’d imprinted himself upon her. And she would never, ever forget it.
It took incredible willpower for her to snap her fingers away from her lips and glare up at him instead.
“Really? That’s what you came up with?” she snapped, and Angel’s expression softened. She willed that reluctance in his gaze to go away with a wave of her hand. His shoulder loosened in front of her, and she breathed out harshly. That wasn’t even a kiss. Grow the fuck up.
His lips turned into that infuriating grin as if he could read her mind, “It just seemed like the right thing to.” His eyes crinkled ,
“Plus you didn’t look like you minded it either.”
Ray looked up at him, willing her mind to shut up, as she drawled back in a smooth voice, “You didn’t do anything for me to enjoy.”
Angel’s brow arched, and he took a slow step in her direction. Ray tipped her chin, ignoring the loud pounding of her heart as he cast a painful glance in her direction.
“Did you want me to?” he asked softly, and a part of Ray hurt . Because what could she say? Yes? I wanted you to close the distance.
Yes I wanted you to help me forget everything.
“No.” Ray said suddenly, toning her voice to be cooler than the heat of her mind, “I was looking for a way out . Not a way in your fucking mouth.”
Angel laughed in surprise, backing away with a flash of pain in his eyes, “So vulgar .” He said, but her heart throbbed at the flash of emotion in his eyes. Anyone else and she’d be delighted.
When the hell had it changed for him?
“Didn’t look like you minded either.” she echoed softly and took a step away from him. Ray turned away from him, breathing in deep as she pressed her ear to the door to make sure she was alone in the hallway. Angel didn’t stop her then, and she didn’t wait for his response. And she should’ve left.
Should’ve walked out.
But her fingers on the cold knob froze before she could twist. And his gaze scorched her back like he was waiting. Like he was… hope.
Raylene Walker was an asshole for giving that hope on a golden platter when she looked over her shoulder.
“Here’s a question for you to think about.” She said softly, her head turning to look deeper into those amber eyes .
Ray knew if she stayed any moment longer, he’d cross the room. He’d wait for her, but he’d cross the room. And she wasn’t sure her resolve could remain strong for that long. Angel’s hair swayed back as he cocked a brow.
Their eyes met. And her lips twisted.
“Why didn’t you do anything, Angel?” she whispered softly and his entire body went still .
“Why did you stop?”
And slipped out of his room.
Ray breathed out harshly, swiping a hand through her hair and moved away from his door, afraid that he was going to step out and she wouldn’t ever return to her room. Couldn’t. Maybe he’d answer the question and she’d stop losing her mind.
Maybe he wouldn’t.
For now though, that dark flash of his eyes would do.
Her eyes tilted to the CCTV she was going to delete soon.
It would do.