Page 9 of The Merciless

“I’m taking you and your entire fucking imagedown.”Kyle was rambling as Ray remained quiet and still against him. Angel grit his teeth and extended an unwavering hand,

“Calm the fuck down,” he snarled over her shoulder, “You’re shooting a defenseless person– godfuckingdamn it Ray,”he snapped as Ray removed a pistol from the waistband of her jeans and pointed it in Kyle’s direction. The other boy barked a laugh but strode forward, his hands not shakingonceas he snarled,

“Your nameisRaylene Walker, isn’t it? Or was that also afucking lie–”

Tak, tak, tak.

He didn’t see her. He only heard the familiarclickand light panting before his realityfractured.

Bang!

Angel flinched back, pulling Ray with him.

He saw Kyle jerk forward, his entire body arching as the bullet made home right in his back. With a gasp on his tongue, Kyle coughed and braced a shaking hand on his abdomen. His green eyes shot up to his and Angel breathed out harshly. Disturbed andso terribly afraidwhen the Larsen fell on his knees and hands. And as he fell, Angel’s eyes rose to find a familiar figure standing in the doorway.

He couldn’t help a surprised sound as Kyle let out a string of gurgling sounds before falling face flat on the floor. The dark, short hair swayed up ahead as those striking dark eyes blinked, just once. He saw Ray jump away from him, surprised to see Verana Smith breathing heavily as she stepped through the doorway with her gun smoking from its end.

That’s it. This was it. He was going to lose his fucking mind.

“Fuck ‘em, right?” Verana panted and Ray looked at her like she wasinsane.Verana only sighed at her reaction, “I’m onyourside. Can you believe itnow?”

She pointed at Kyle’s unconscious body.

Ray rubbed her brows together and Angel didn’t really know what to do. He wanted to scoff, wanted to say he was going to rip out Akash’s throat when all the pieces of the puzzle knit together. Andholy shit.

“What did he mean by, it’syou?” Angel asked and watched her shoulders bunch up. Her head turned over her shoulder as Verana whistled and stepped over Kyle’s slumped,bleedingbody,

“I can’t believe you ruined your plans because of him.”

Ray’s head snapped in Vera’s direction, and he saw the ice in them. Saw Vera take a step back as she laughed out loud, “Calm down. I’m just guessing you were out to get the Santos as well.

What?

“You need to leave.”

Ray’s words were aimed at him. Were firm when she turned to face him. His eyes darted around her face, trying and failing to catch a glimpse of something he knew. But this was all too new. Too unexpected.

The ground seemed to sway beneath him as Ray shook her head atwhatevershe saw on his face,

“Go Angel,” Ray said in a low voice, and his eyes flared, “I’ll find you.”

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

Angel snapped ahead and grabbed a hold of her hand, keeping his hold light enough for her to move away even as he hauled her closer. Ray moved without a complaint, her face sealed off any emotions.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

“Leave.”

She snapped instead, and Angel flinched back, his eyes not leaving hers once. She seemed to shake violently before him, back to the same, dangerous girl he’d seen the night he’d talked to for the first time,

“Get on your jet, anddon’tchange your location. Takeeveryone.”

Angel’s brows furrowed in confusion, his breath coming out harshly as she continued, noting his losing temper, “I’ll know where to find you. And Iwill,I swear to you.”

That’s where you’ll get your answers,sheseemed to implore through her wide gaze,that’s where we’ll be able to talk.

“I promise.”

---