Page 5 of The Merciless

It had been, what? At leastfiveyears since he’d heard his name from his father’s tongue. Somehow he wasn’t even fucking surprised anymore. Angel couldn’t help the light chuckle at his words though, and he turned over her shoulder, sparing him the bare minimum,

“I was busy surviving a bomb,” he said just as easily and smiled at the gleam in his father’s eyes, “And while you spared your suit from getting ruined, I’ve been busy making up foryourmess.”

Martin’s nostrils flared in annoyance, and he took a dangerous step forward, but Angel shook his head,

“It wasyouwho lost Akash Smith last night.” He said and turned away from him again, not deigning him enough attention, “Yourpeople who couldn’t graboneguy, and I mean…” he laughed, “I’m used to it. But isn’t it time you started, oh I don’t know,” he looked at his best friend and snapped his fingers, “What’s the word I’m looking for?”

Jack Davis made a show of thinking deeply, his blonde hair swaying as he tipped his chin in thought, “Improving?”

Angel smiled, “That’sit!”he said with fake cheer and didn’t have to turn to see theragepour off Martin in waves, “Improving.”

He left it at that, a carrotdanglingfor the fucking ass to bite onto as he stepped out of the room. Jack was behind him in an instant, making his alliance crystal clear as he left without a word of goodbye.

There had been a time when Martin had become too involved in his business and had tried to sway his inner group. Luke Hawthorne had laughed in his face, while Christina and Jack had blatantly ignored his embarrassing words. It had left Angel smug sure but had initiated an odd sense of confidence inhispeople.Hisfriends.

“God, he’sstillan asshole,” Jack Davis spat from beside him and Angel shrugged in response, the smile falling off his face as they moved across the empty hallway, “Why do peoplelikehim?”

Angel scoffed,hell if he knew.Jack wasn’t talking about people who belonged to their world. No, he was talking about the outsiders, the people who had no idea what went outside the facade the Santos had maintained over generations. And everyone Martin met, and talked to, came out of the conversation looking absolutelymesmerizedwith him.

Pity that the people who mattered knew he was a spineless coward.

“He shows them what they want to see.” Angel responded briskly and paused before his door.Soon,he’d be out of here. Soon, he would be on a plane away from the ruined island and wouldn’t have to deal with the Larsens for a while. The thought comforted him as he twisted the knob of his door and pushed it open.

The room was cold despite the closed windows when he stepped in.

Deserted and looking awfully dreary. Jack stepped past him and threw the curtains open. They moved with a clacking sound, one that made Angel cringe as Jack let out a satisfied hum and turned on his heels.

The sun was setting behind him, its orange hues already submerged within in the dark waters that washed upon the shore. It was evening already, had taken them longer than he’d expected to get here and talk to Miranda.

“We leave in five hours.” Jack said, and Angel looked back at him.

He was still dressed in that suit of his, looking anything but exhausted as he heaved a breath, “Get what you need, and I’ll come get you when we need to leave. Maybe get some sleep till then as well.”

Angel nodded in response and crossed his arms, “What are you going to do?” he asked, feeling a bit guilty that he hadn’t asked how they all were feeling. Jack’s eyes settled on his, a knowing smile crossing his lips as he scratched the back of his neck,

“The bomb wasn’t as close to us as it was for you,” he started, answering a question Angel hadn’t had the heart to ask, “But it took its toll. I was still further away than the others. Luke and Christina were a few feet away from it and got thrown back so hard that they–” he inhaled a sharp breath, “Tina couldn’t hear anything for a good five minutes when I reached her.”

Angel shook violently at the images his mind conjured up. He saw the raw pain, fear cross Jack’s sudden solemn eyes as he looked away from Angel to gaze out the window. It had always been him and Christina.Always.Between the two of them, there was no place for anyone else. Angel didn’t know the details of their relationship but knew enough to know that Jack cared for her more than he did his own life.

And the same feeling was reciprocated.

“Mia was closer to it than any of us. She was coming to check on you after she got Martin,” Jack spat out his name venomously. Angel’s jaw ticked. He’d felt a bit betrayed too when she’d gotten Martin on the ground withhispeople, but knew it was the right thing to do in the end.

“She suffered a concussion, and glass shards had almost penetrated her arms by the end of it, but she made it out.” He continued, lacking the sense of raw pain he had when he was talking about Christina. Angel’s eyes softened in understanding.

Because it had been hard.

Had been…difficultfor allof them to accept Mia when she’d come in the first time.

Hell, Angel didn’t know ifhecould trust her. But then she’d taken a bullet for him, and that was that. She’d become a part of their family. He knew Jack was still tentative considering her, and knew Luke wasn’t a big fan either. But that’s where Christina had come in and placed all her trust in her. Had managed to convince all of them to give her a chance. That somehow allowed him to let go of any prejudice he’d held in his heart about her.

Because it wasn’t her fault.

Just as it wasn’t his.

“I’m sorry.” Angel’s voice came out raw, his mind still reeling from the injuries they’d sustained. And how he wasn’tthere.

“’Bout what?” Jack laughed and stepped ahead, the mist in his eyes clearing as he placed a hand on Angel’s shoulder, “We’re all alright. You have nothingto worry about here.”

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