Page 81 of The Merciless

Three.

Ray didn’t wait for her to return. Just took a step through the destroyed circle and saw the bloodied man and woman right in the middle of it.

Some power couple,she thought as she cocked her gun in place. Martin saw her first, and his amber eyes wentwidein rage as he stilled. Ray grinned at its sight and leveled her gun to his forehead. Specifically to the angry vein that was popping through it.

“It’s begun and he isn’t here yet.” Martin snarled, his words carving her chest as he raised his gun as well.He couldn’t be dead,

“Think Raylene Walker,” he baited, “Why isn’t he here?

“Why don’t you worry about yourself Martin,” she snapped back, keeping up her façade even as her heart pounded in her chest, “Your wife’s taken to the shadows and left you behind.”

Martin whirled on his heels, and she saw his surprise at the lack of Miranda's presence. Ray hadn’t been surprised at all, had let Miranda disappear. She had to get rid ofhimfirst. Raylene took his distraction as a chance and pressed the trigger.Bangand a bullet buried itself in one of his knees. Martin’s yell had her gaze narrowing, but the prideful man didn’t fall to his knees. Just clutched his thigh and heaved.

Two.

He’s alive,she told herself over and over again as Martin glared up at her,he’s alive.

“Or maybe,” he rasped, a menacing smirk tilting his lips despite the bullet in his leg, “Maybe he left you behind after all. Maybe you’ve been imagining it all.”

Ray’s lips curled in disgust at theaudacityof this man. A rush of red blinded her vision, herentirebody shuddering in leashed anger as she looked at his other hand. Saw the gun he was stillholding. Ray’s eyes narrowed at the same time the realization dawned upon Martin. And he was a second late as she shifted her gun andshot!

An ear-splitting screamwrenchedout of his throat, his eyes wide as his gun dropped to the ground with a silentclick.

One.

Ray breathed out as Martin shook before her, soft whimpers leaving his lips as he looked up at her, his face ashen. And yet suchmurder waswritten in his gaze that she felt itsearthrough her. Ray scoffed at the sight and shifted the gun towards his head.

“He,”Martin panted and groaned out in pain again, clutching his shaking wrist, “will not come.”

Her fingers tightened on her trigger, but this was Angel’s trigger to pull–

“Such petty lies.”

Ray’s entire body stilled. His voice was like a soft curtain that parted and slowly drew her in. Out of the massacre around her. Into his arms.

Relief exploded through her chest,he’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive.And his eyes, they glinted likeemberswhen he stepped into her view and barely looked at his father.

“You came.” Ray couldn’t help but say, her voice barely above a whisper. But he heard it. Somehow, he always did. Angel turned to face her, his brows contorted in worry as his palm wrapped around the side of her neck, inspecting her for any injuries. A soft sound left her throat as he took a step closer. She lifted her free hand and placed it on his cheek, her eyes almost wide in surprise, “Youcame.”

“Of course I came,” Angel scoffed and leaned into her touch, the twinkle in his eyes sparking, “Who was there to stop me?”

Ray’s lips parted with a smile before she drew back.

Angel turned back to face his father again, still looking like the amber-eyed boy she’d fallen for back on the island. He showed everyounceof that happiness to Martin.

“This girl right here?” he pointed to her, and Ray blinked, her heart stalling as something likeholy shitcrossed her mind,

“I’m going to marry her someday.”

Ray blinked.

And her mind didholy shitfor a whole other reason now.

“You’re going to what now?”

He didn’t turn to look at her as he faced his father and covered her body with his own, “Stay back babe, I got this.”

“Babe?”

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