Page 27 of Burn Like An Angel

“Plenty.” Xander shrugs. “Ripley stays with us. End of story.”

“So you can have another shot at killing her?” Langley says incredulously. “I don’t think so.”

“Why don’t you back off?” Lennox cuts in to defend his best friend.

Langley scoffs in disbelief. “I’ll be doing her a favour by getting her away from you both.”

“Because you’re so perfect?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Langley narrows his eyes on Lennox’s prone form. “Says the guy incarcerated for burning his grandfather to death. I’ve seen your file.”

Raine inhales sharply, whispering a curse.

Lennox’s face is partially obscured by the thick dressing covering his cheek, but I can still see the angry red haze filtering over him. My attention catches the silver chain he never removes from his neck.

The military dog tags rest against the hospital gown he’s been clothed in. After the raw emotions we shared in the Z wing, I finally understand why he’s willing to wear that disgusting heirloom.

It’s a reminder.

Lennox will do anything for those he cares about. Anything at all if it protects them from the same fate his baby sister suffered because of their grandfather’s abuse.

Beneath the rage and hatred, his modus operandi is powerful, unconditional love. Lennox beats the world bloody so it doesn’t have the opportunity to hurt his loved ones. That’s how he shows that he cares.

“Congratulations,” Lennox drawls sarcastically. “You can read words on a piece of paper.”

“Just saying. You’re in no position to talk to me about being perfect.”

“Keep running your mouth,” Lennox warns. “Go on. I dare you.”

“What are you going to do from a hospital bed, huh?”

“Uh, guys?” Raine tries to interrupt.

Lennox acts like he didn’t even hear him, too busy trying to escape the various lines tangled around him. Xander steps in to place a hand on his shoulder then shoves him back into the mattress and holds him there.

“Stay, Nox.”

“No! I’m going to pummel his fucking face!”

“You think you’re such a big man, don’t you?” Langley goads. “And now you can’t even get out of bed.”

Still struggling, Lennox flushes red despite his sickly pallor. “I don’t appreciate assholes sticking their noses where they don’t belong.”

“Guys—”

“I care about Ripley,” Langley defends hotly. “Far more than you do. I’m trying to help her.”

“By lying to her?” Lennox laughs.

“By doing my job!”

On a good day, even Langley’s physique would be no match against Lennox’s oversized bulk, packed with hardened muscle.His injuries are the only thing stopping him from beating Langley into a pulp.

Beyond the sheer size advantage he has in most fights, Lennox’s deep-lidded eyes, round jaw smothered in unshaven stubble and slightly upturned nose give him a rugged, wild-like aura of threatening power.

“Guys!” Raine’s worried voice cuts through their bickering. “Shut up for one moment and listen.”

The room is quiet enough to hear the distant echo of voices humming through the early morning light outside. Langley moves to the window to assess the surrounding grounds.

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