Page 17 of The Merciless

Akash was lying on the floor, already asleep with dark bruises on his neck, dangerously close to broken glass. Myra Jelani, who was sitting closest to him, clicked her tongue and pulled him away by his ear, her pink highlights spilling over her shoulder. Irene Sinaga who was also sitting cross-legged beside Myra, eyed Akash in disdain with a straight back and tipped chin. Ray hadn’t seen them all in a while and had no doubt the others would get here soon but till then–

A groan reverberated through the room, attracting all their attention. Ray turned to see Mia Andrews push herself on the non-broken counter on the opposite end of her torn couch. The red head was eyeing them curiously over the top of Christina’s head. Christina Morris was standing right in front of her, with her lower back poised against the same countertop when she shared a glance with Jack. The boy was also standing tall, despite the faint bruises that covered his face. Luke, on the other hand, simply looked exhausted by the entire situation when Irene decided to break their silence,

“You seriously don’t recognize him yet?”

Even Akash stirred from his sleep for long enough to extend his hand in her direction and whack her head gently. Irene gasped in surprise and shot him a dirty look before turning to look at Jack,

“Recognize who?” he shot back, and Ray couldn’t help a muted groan at their exchange. This wasn’t how she wanted this conversation to go.

“Him,”Irene snapped back and pointed at the boy standing beside the main door. Sorin yawned as their eyes whirled on them and leaned back against the wall. His silver necklace swayed with the movement, but hisblackeyes shot up to them,

“What?”

Jack blinked and Ray sighed again.

“Let’s just say all of us aren’t enemies.” She began a bit gently and immediately regretted it as Angel barked a laugh from beside her. Her glare shot to him, and he put his hands up in mock surrender, still grinning that shit-eating grin.

“What do you mean?” Jack asked, not having heard her statement as he stared at Sorin for long enough to make the latter uncomfortable. Ray tapped her foot against the floor impatiently,

“Seriously?” she asked, “There isn’tanythingabout him that reminds you of someone?”

God, when was he going to get here?

Mia hummed and placed her hands on Christina’s shoulder to lean forward and peer curiously at Sorin, “His eye color is a tad uncanny,” she began and turned to Luke, “Isn’t it?”

Luke nodded in thought, his brows furrowing as his blue eyes scrutinized Sorin, “There’s somethingoffabout him.”

Sorin’s eyes widened, and he turned the pleading look in Ray’s direction, “End this.” He said in a faint voice and Ray groaned, putting her face in her hands. She didn’t respond, just fished her phone out of her pocket and dialed the number. It rang as she pressed it to her ear and looked around to find everyone’s eyes on her.

It rang again. And this time, everyone heard a ringtone muffle in the hallway.

Ray’s brow arched, her patience torn to shreds as she waited for him to open the damned doors. But this washimshe was talking about. So why would he do anything that wasn’t dramatic? Her phone clicked and Ray forced herself tocalm downas he chuckled from the other end,

“Miss me?”

“Just get in.”She hissed through gritted teeth and hung up.

“Who–”

But the door lock turned, and the handle dropped before the white, large door opened with a loudwhoosh.Ray blinked at the dramatic entrance, almost thought she was imagining smoke when–

Wait. That was smoke…

“Oh my god,” she heard Sorin groan from the doorway as the others coughed at the smoke that filled the doorway.

Angel had crossed their distance when the door opened and was standing next to her with his fingers wrapped around her elbow when she heard his voice echo from the door,

“Miss me?”

The room silenced. Even Angel’s hand on her elbow froze, his mouth dropping as Ray pursed her lips in distaste.

“No,”she heard Christina whisper as the smoke cleared.

The first thing she saw was the glint of his silver rings. Then she saw his dark locks peep through the wisps of smoke and couldn’t help a small smile at that atrocious grin on his face. His black eyes glinted with mischief when Angel took a step away from her and let out a sharp breath.

Because how could Noah Hassan be alive?

Ray shook her head again when Luke choked on his saliva and Jack gasped loudly,

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