Page 85 of The Merciless

“Chris,” he began and saw Jack’s body go still, “Did she get here?”

“What do you mean–”

“Get the fuck AWAY FROM HER!”

Angel’s eyes snapped away from the entrance, his body going rigid as he recognized the red hair and thatdevastatedvoice. He watched from the corner of his eyes as Jack jerked away from them,

“Christina–”he cried as Angel ripped away from Luke in a frenzy, his eyes flared wide in agony as he watched an injured Mia Andrews run in Ray and Miranda’s directions. Black tears streaked down her face as she wretched Ray’s hand off Miranda’s body and shoved her away. A dark sort ofragerose in him when he saw Ray fall back willingly, her eyes blank as she watched Mia fall to her knees.

“I’m sorry,” Christina’s wheeze brought him back, “She got away when she saw the ceiling fall.”

Angel didn’t want to, but still ripped his eyes away from the scene, “Are you alright?” he asked Christina as Jack wrapped a hand around her waist and hauled her up, “Are you hurt?”

Christina shook her head, nothing but dust and a single cut on her face. The bruises shone on her neck, on her fists, and her abdomen as she inhaled sharply, “I think she might’ve broken a rib though.”

“Fuck,” he heard Luke murmur as Angel shook his head,

“Get out of here–”

“I got her good though.”

Christina continued as if she hadn’t heard him, “She’s stabbed in two different places and I’m pretty sure I broke her right arm.” She looked up at Angel then, something like regret shining in her eyes, She paused, her shoulders shaking, “I could’ve killed her.”

Angel gulped but nodded his understanding. He wouldn’t have been able to either.

“Your mother murdered a lot of people here.” Ray’s voice was sharp through the daze of his mind, “She was the one behind–”

A sob made her pause. Angel started walking in their direction, his gaze wary as he saw a crumpled Mia against her mother’s dead body. Saw her red hair curtain her face as she sobbed against Miranda’s chest. Her body shook as Ray continued,

“I’m sorry.”

Mia’s head snapped up then, her dark eyes looking downrightevilas she glared through the rough strands of her hair, “You’re notsorry,”she spat, her uninjured hand curling into a tight fist,

“You weren’t sorry when you murdered myfather.And you aren’t this time either.”

Ray’s eyes were cold, “Areyousorry?” she began. Goosebumps rose on Angel’s arm as Mia’s fingers crumpled Miranda’s white and red shirt, “Wasshesorry? For killing my sister? For planting an agent inmyhouse and then murdering them when she turned?”

Mia scoffed, “She–”

“Do you even know hername?”

Ray’s voice came out every bitpainedas she stared at the girl. Angel didn’t take a step forward, remained a few inches away as Ray’s shouldersshook,

“Did you know how old she was? What she loved? What she hated?”

Mia didn’t respond. Shecouldn’t.

Angel saw Ray inhale a deep breath and watched calmly as Ray got to her feet carefully. Brushed the dust off her pants and looked down at Mia Andrews, the pain disappearing from her voice,

“I won’t kill you now. But make a mistakeagain,and I won’t be just as kind.”

Mia’s shoulders curved inwards as Ray’s chin tipped upwards,

“And her name wasLia Walker.”She snarled, that ragenevergone, “She was fourteen. And your mother killed her because she broke one rule.”

Mia’s eyes snapped up, dark and delirious.

“I hope that haunts you for life.”

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