Page 14 of The Merciless

“You’ve always wanted me dead.”Ray managed to snarl back, unable to get the image of himdownbeside her out of her mind. Unable to stop hearing thatbangover and over again, “You’ve always wanted me gone–”

“As have you.” He snapped back, “Ray.” He said, but she kept her gaze averted, her jaw ticking, “Raylene Walker.”

“Look at me.”

Ray’s eyes snapped to his, a storm surging in her expression when she saw the same mirror on his devastatingly beautiful face.

“And listen to what I sayverycarefully.” The rage, thefuryin his words made her still in his hold, “I might despise you. I might hate the way my mind sways when you’re near me. I might despise your heart-wrenching smiles and honest-to-hellrage,”

God. Fucking god.

“But if you thought for a single second that I was going to stand andwatchyou getshot,you need to reassess every single thing I’ve said to you this past week, Raylene Walker.”

He shook. Shuddered. Shattered.

“Because I sure as hell didn’t want you gone.”

Raylene didn’t think. She didn’twantthis. Shehatedthis. She just crumbled.

“What about me?”she yelledback, and watched his eyes dart across her face, but she only clutched at her chest, “You think I wanted to see you getshotbecause of me? You think I wanted youdead?”her voice fractured at the words, the pain from before rushing back.

She took a step back.

And Angel took a step forward.

“There was no way you were getting hurt on my watch.” His snarled, all angry andhers,

“Not then. Not now. Notever.”

Just once and amidst that rage, thatangerthey’d forgotten their proximity. They’d forgotten who they’d become to one another. But he hauled her closer, hating their distance just as much she hated it. Despising the way their hearts hammered as if–

As if this was–

“I lost you once, Storm.” Angel breathed, so close that she had to grit her teeth from letting the tears flood her eyes, “I’ve known you one fuckingweek,but thethoughtof not seeing you smiling, you glaring, youhatingme again was–”

Death.

It was death.

Ray’s entire body caved towards him, hauled in by his arm, by the angry look in his eyes.

“You hate me?” she whispered.

Angel’s gaze flickered to hers, darting around, imploring, leaving herraw.His eyes were in absolute agony when he glanced up and said,

“What doyouthink, Storm?”

Her gaze flickered, and she knew he was watching her. Waswaiting.Stupid,stupid boy.

Ray didn’t answer his question.

Just inhaled one sharply and wove a hand around his neck and up into the mess of his hair to pull him closer.

Close enough that she could make out his coffee scent. Close enough that she felt him go still.

And sheachedto close that distance. Wanted to haul him close.

But Angel’s eyes were depthless darkness when he looked at her and held her with such force that she broke.

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