Page 42 of The Merciless

“And our previous plans?” Jack asked quietly, his eyes cast ahead, a dark curtain over them as he looked at the wretched place.

“We’ll give Martin some control and take advantage of the situation by slowly beginning to pull out.” He turned to Luke and Christina, “Find all the people who want out. Buy them out, threaten them, I don’t give a shit. But start acting on years of contact.”

“What do you want me to do?”

Mia’s question didn’t really surprise him. He turned to her calmly, “Keep Miranda out of all this,” he said gently, “And find out where Maya and Alessandro are.”

“Are we sharing that information?” she asked and crossed her arms. Even Christina turned to him, waiting for his response.

Angel nodded, “We share everything now.”

Mia’s eyes darted down to his necklace and back up again, something like displeasure running in her gaze. But it was Luke who rescued their conversation,

“Good.” He said and Angel looked back ahead, “We need someone on our side.”

Youneed someone on your side, he seemed to say.

Angel smiled a rueful smile and was about to respond when the main doors up ahead flew open revealing a frenzy of red hair and a pair of dead amber eyes. Angel’s gaze narrowed as Jack sighed and Miranda came running down the stairs, Martin in tow behind her,

“Let it begin.” He murmured and Angelscoffed.

Once and for all.

9

There used to be dull ache in the middle of her chest. Right above where her heart pounded wildly against her ribs. Now however, it was replaced by a cool feeling of the glass pressing against her skin as she leaned down to tie her shoelaces. It was unfamiliar, having something that belonged to someone else. Holding a part of them so close to one’s heart.

It was…different.

“When are they getting here?” Noah’s question drew her out of her reverie. Ray let go of her laces and got to her feet, pulling the sleeves of her beige hoodie down. She didn’t really pay attention to the conversation that followed. Instead, just stood between the twins and fished her phone out of her back pocket.

She’d had it changed the minute she’d gotten back and had shared her number with Angel last night as well.

Now as she opened his chat, she found the list of sites they had to visit waiting for her. Ray breathed out as she scoured the places, trying to figure out where each was. They seemed as though–

She shook her head. She’d have to plan this out carefully. Slowly. And now, she knew should focus on Kyle and Vera, but she couldn’t help this nagging feeling in the her back of her mind. Which was why she took a step back from the twins and said in a low voice, “I need to go do something.” Ray said and looked up to see those dark pair of eyes staring back at her in equal amounts of surprise and questioning. They were standing in the lobby of opposite building.

Neera had a place here, but their true place was where they’d gathered before.

This building was taller, wasmuchmore expensive than the penthouse Akash owned. It attracted more attention as well. And served well as a diversion.

“Do you need help?” Sorin began but Ray only shook her head, taking another step back as she looked at the five sites again.

“Just ask Neera to get a map.” She said and saw Noah’s brows scrunch,

“A map?”

“A map.”

She turned an apologetic look on Sorin, “Get them upstairs. I’ll help you out then.” she said and barely saw him nod as she turned on her heels. Ciera Wilson, their special security personnel, smiled as Ray passed by her. Ray returned the gesture and ran to the elevator.

The house here was on the top floor as well. Even the elevator was extravagant when she stepped in, wrapped with a red carpet and golden souvenirs. She tapped her finger on her phone impatiently, waiting for her floor. Her thoughts drifted to Angel, wondered whathewas up to when the elevatordingedand stopped. Ray breathed a silent breath of relief and stepped out, immediately greeted by a huge door.

She tapped in the password on the digital lock and watched as the doors swung open dramatically.

Christ she hadn’t been here in a while.

The place was just as beautiful as they’d left it. She strode through the small hallway and entered the large living area with glass windows surrounding it.

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