Page 21 of The Merciless

A blatant threat. A sign ofdismissalthat Angel had never faced before. Because no one had ever dared, hadnevercrossed the line. Ray stepped over it and wiped it clean as if it never existed. He saw the murder shine bright in her eyes,

“It doesn’t matter to me who you are, orwhatyou are to any of us here or one another,” her voice was brimming with dark undertone,“But if you cross me. If you endanger anyone sitting in this room here, there will not be a place on earth where you can hide from me.” A tip of the chin, a glance to look down upon them all, “I’ve bought this world now. Iownit. I hope you can remember that.”

Angel couldn’t help the light smirk, not understanding the mix of emotions stirring in his chest. Not believing that the displeasure from hearing her words had turned into something new.

Something he couldn’t contain. Something that nearly resembledpride.

And hereallycouldn’t help poking the bear.

“Careful Ray,” he purred as though they were back to the beginning. Ray’s head turned to his slowly, something familiar lighting in her eyes, “We never did stand for blatant threatening.”

“And I don’t stand for blatant betrayal.”

Angel’s smirk was going to break his face.

God, he liked this girl. A lot.

“I hope you come to trust this world once again, Raylene,” Christina began softly from beside them, completely unfazed by their conversation, “Because we will not betray you.”

Ray opened her mouth, but Jack cut through,

“Not if you have a good enough reason.”

Ray’s eyes became cold. Unresponsive.

“I aim to destroy the very foundation of this side of the world,” Ray said, arching a brow as she confirmed his deepest fears, “I’m going rip the Lions into shreds.”

She looked at Jack, a small smile twisting her lips, “Is that a good enough reason?”

Angel put a hand on his face, covering his grin as he turned to look at Luke who matched his glance haughtily. So much. There was so much she didn’t know about them. Abouthim.Luke’s bronze hair shifted as he shook his head subtly.

Not now.

When he turned his head back to Ray, his brow arched at the look of suspicion in her eyes.

He gave her a light smirk in response, agitating her further as Jack waved his hand and motioned for her to go on.

“Remind me,” came Noah’s light words from beside Ray. Angel turned to him, still unable to believe that Noah wasalivewhile the other boy looked at them in distaste, “Why are we involving them?”

He frowned. This was starting to get annoying.

Ray sighed, “For starters, Akash got himself stabbed by a tracking device.” She said and Akash let out an outrageous sound, offended but unable to deny it, “And they ended up here.”

No one mentioned the shot he’d taken for Ray that day. She didn’t. Akash didn’t.

He could only assume it was because they hadn’t discussedthemyet.

“And there’ve beenotherfactors,” Ray added, albeit a bit painfully. Angel had to bite his lip from grinning as she looked at anywhere but him, “But now they’re here.” She rolled her eyes, “Might as well get it out.”

“Whatever.” Came Irene’s murmur before Ray rolled her uninjured shoulder and began once again,

“I got within the Lion’s line of sight. I got these people,” She pointed at all of them, “places where they could rise to become key figures. And by doing so I could secure their downfall in the future years. I had to get the Lions in a vulnerable position and not attract any attention to myself.”

She scratched the back of her neck, looking a bit uncomfortable as she continued, “The attack on the Ravens last year was my play,” Angel's brows furrowed, “It was a way to get Martin to propose the alliance.”

Something wasn’t adding up–

“You’re not looking at tearing down the Lions only, are you?” Angel deadpanned and Ray shrugged,

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