Page 41 of The Merciless

“We’ll manage some damage control from our end. Let Martin believe that we aren’t onto him as of yet. And let the world believe the alliance

has been broken and the Lions are now forgotten.” He paused and Ray took a step forward, “Let the world believe you’re in a coma and will be for a while.”

Never again,she seemed to say and Angel nodded, the fear of thinking that Ray was that close to death washing over him.Never again.

“Hey,” Akash said, and Angel looked over Ray’s head at the boy, “Sorry for shooting you in the arm.”

Ray beamed at Akash as he turned away after shooting her an unamused glare. Angel nodded as well, a smile turning his lips as he replied haughtily,

“Consider us even then.”

Akash halted, brow arching.

Angel shrugged, “You shot me, I don’t pay for your broken house.”

“Fuck’s sake.” Akash mumbled but waved a hand in the air, walking away now. Angel grinned and turned to the rest of his friends. And turned back to Ray, who had her eyes fixated on her end of the group. They stood like that for a second and moved so they were standing closer. Angled their head so they were looking at each other now.

“I’ll come to you tomorrow.” He said soft enough for her to hear and saw her nod. Smiled softly when she melted,

“And every day after.”

* *

“So, that was…” Jack began as they stepped out of the car Angel had arranged beforehand. The others followed him out,

“Insane.”

“Crazy.”

“Stupid.”

Angel only sighed as he too followed their movements and got out of the car. The driver reversed it away, leaving the five of them at the foot of their mansion back here. Back home. Who knew Ray was hiding right under his nose this entire time. Wondered if she would ever go back to the house he’d brought down.

“I still can’t believe half of what’s happened,” Christina mumbled and turned a sharp glare on Angel, “And now we have to deal with your idiotic father.”

Angel groaned.

And an overbearing step-mother.

Both Martin and Miranda had arrived at the mansion a while back. He’d received a notification back when Ray had been in the washroom.

He tilted his head now, staring at the desolated place without a ripple of emotion in his mind.

Once, it could’ve been a beautiful place, with its crème walls and golden-brown doors. It wasn’t really a mansion, now that he thought about it, nor did it resemble the palace as the Larsen’s had built on the island.

No, this place was big, but somehow, it was home.

At least until his mother had lived in it.

“No one says anything about Raylene.” Angel said softly, knew for sure his father might have eyes and ears on them the entire time, “And no talk of the new players at all.”

Luke nodded beside him, a movement the rest of them reciprocated as Angel tucked his hands in the pocket of his jeans. He’d been wearing the same clothes for a while now, except the white shirt he’d borrowed from Ray’s place. His fingers itched to touch the red glass that hung from his neck, but he resisted the urge.

Was suddenly reminded that Raylene Walker was wearing the same thing after all.

The thought brought him enough peace of mind to continue.

“We don’t know where Kyle is. But we do know that now that Noah’s dead to the world, Larsen’s business had crumbled. No one knows where Maya or Alessandro is. But now’s our chance to talk over the Lions and maintain our status.”

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