Page 58 of The Merciless

Ray gasped, all strength leaving her as another message popped up in her notification bar.

‘How do you want it wrapped?’

A growl left her tongue at the blatant threat, her mind racing as she pieced back who he was.Zahir,the same man who’d told her to believe in this world. The same man who’d asked her to smile more often.The same man who had a wife and daughter and holy shit–

“What have I done?”Ray whispered, her heart thudding in her chest as Angel held her weight,

“Nothing.”

Hisvoice wasclearwhen another message rolled up, revealing an address. She glared at the message, fear and rage mixing and turning into somethingugly.

‘Alone.’

Angel read it as well and scoffed at it,

“No way infucking hell–”he began, and Ray shook her head, her body shaking with leashed rage as she took a step away from him. Her head was pounding, struggling to grapple with the situation as she clutched her phone tightly in her fist.

“Get this over with,” she started darkly and turned towards her bike, “With Mia, scout it out. Go with the plan. I’ll get this done–”

“No,”Angelresponded, stepping between her and the bike, “I’m not leaving you alone in this.”

“You won’t.” She said and showed him the address, knowing there was a dangerous glint in her eye, “Come get me after you’re done here.”

Ray willed him to understand. Glanced at Mia and back at him again.

His eyes flashed, understanding morphing into reluctance as she swung her legs on her bike and roared it to life. She looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with seriousness,

“Get out of here alive and comeget me.Do you understand?”

Angel gritted his teeth and started forward to wrap a steady hand around the side of her neck, hauling her closer,

“You willnotdie today.”

He stated as if it were a fact and Ray’s gaze shuttered, a smirk lifting her lips as she put her hand atop his,

“And you willliveto see tomorrow.” She replied, “You will live to seeme.”

Angel shook his head, a resultant smile rising on his lips as well,

“So self-entitled.”

Ray leaned forward then and brushed her lips against his,

“Only for you.”

13

Ray walked in knowing it was a trap. She walked in knowing that whoever had called her here had committed a great mistake.

Because they’d called her alone.

And ifanythinghappened to anyone outside this place, she wouldn’t stop until she’d rip them to shreds. It hadn’t stopped her before. It won’tnow.

Her gun was cocked in her hand, the cold metal digging into her skin as she gripped it tighter and placed her other hand perpendicular to the first one. She walked slowly, making sure to not make a single sound as she shifted through the shadows provided by the boxes that were surrounded in the storehouse she’d walked into. Or rather, had jumped through. Because there was no way in hell she was going to walk through the doors like a damned maniac.

Her phone buzzed in her hands.

‘How long are you going to keep me waiting?’

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