Page 50 of The Merciless

“A multiplication sign,” he amended, “Gangs back then didn’t hold symbols. Theystilldon’t. It’s a stupid thing to do, considering we’re all trying to attract the least amount of attention in the world.”

Ray scoffed as he continued, “But they always wanted to stand out.” He looked up, his eyes glazing his thought, “Ironically, no one knew who the actual head was.No one knows this, but it wasn’tmewho brought him down. By the time I’d destroyed their business, someone else had already gotten to the top and had him assassinated.”

Well,shit.

“Yeah,” Ray managed to say and bristled as Angel snapped up, his brows drawing together, “I might’ve had something to do with it.”

He blinked, stilling for a second before erupting,

“What?”

Ray winced, “Well, I was working for the Lions back then. They didn’t knowwhoI was, but they’d hired me to get rid of two people.” She started and Angel blinked rapidly, “That entire gang and well,you.” She mumbled the last line, in an attempt to mask the truth, but Angel caught on.

“What?” he said again, looking lost and honestly like he was going to pass out,

“I might’ve killed him.”

“You. What?”

Ray ran a hand through her hair and bounced on her heels, “Back then there were the Ravens, the Lions, and the Phoenixes.” She cringed at the names, “And you all were monopolizing this bullshit underworld. I was already entangled with the Lions, and they were looking to get rid ofbothof you. So, when I gathered that both the leaders were going to be at the same place at the same time I jumped at the chance.”

It was silent for a second. Ray let him take it in, crossed her arms as she waited, and counted the seconds in her mind.

A sound drew her to cease her counting. Ray’s eyes snapped in his direction, widening when she saw him with his face in his hands. His shoulders shook and she took a shocked step forward,

“Angel?”

It was then he threw his head back and let out a loud laugh.

Oh shit,she swore out loud and darted ahead to slap a hand over his mouth, muffling his laughs.

Tremors ran down her body as he continued laughing, his amber eyes twinkling in the nightlight as he wrapped a hand around her waist and tugged her closer. Ray moved, unable to bring herself to deny him when he removed her hands from his lips and placed his forehead against her stomach.

“You. Areinsane.”He managed to wheeze out. Ray glared down at him, not amused by his humor as his laugh subdued into silent chuckles,

“And here I thought I had a guardian angel back then.”

Ray scoffed, “You’re lucky you got out of there alive.” She said and narrowed her gaze when he muffled his laugh against her t-shirt again.

“I know,” he said and looked up at her, his chin lifting with a playful look in his eyes, “Extremely lucky.”

Another laugh erupted from his lips, and she shushed him furiously, rolling her eyes at him, “Howdid I not know you up until now?” he asked, his shoulders shaking as he stared up at her,

“How in the world are you even fuckingalive?”

Ray’s gaze narrowed, and she took a step back ignoring the widening of his lips, “How lovely of you to say,” she remarked, and Angel shook his head, a grin lining his lips, “No it’s great to know that my boyfriend–”

His head snapped up at that, his eyes going wide. Ray paused with anerand took another step back.

“What?” she asked hesitantly after a second. Angel just blinked up at her, his brows in the air. She was still blinking down at him when a slow smile curved his lips.

He got to his feet then and extended a hand in her direction. Ray took it, confused by the pause in the conversation as he tugged her closer and

wrapped his other hand around her waist.

Dipped his chin enough for his hair to fall atop his forehead,

“Say that again.” He murmured softly and realization hit her square in the chest. Ray tilted her head, her lips threatening to break into a smile,

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