Page 127 of Angelic Vengeance

The bitch was trying to stab me in the back.Again.

My hands tightened on the machine gun, the image of Ruiz flying backward with bullets invading my mind.

Ruiz’s eyes turned to slits. “Put the toy down and fight me. I know you want to kill me with your bare hands.”

I took the bait.

In a matter of seconds, I threw the gun on the ground and launched forwards. She did the same, raising her fist, but before in the last moment, I dipped and went for stomach instead. I could swear I heard a rib crack from the force of my attack. As my fist barely disconnected from her body, my other hand landed a punch on the other side of her abdomen.

Ruiz sneaked a step back, whacking me across the jaw with her elbow. I turned my face to the side, spitting a mouthful of blood before facing her again. I steppedforward, she stepped back. Something flashed in her eyes, encouraging me to place the next foot in front of the other.

Reaching for the ground, she grabbed a broken pipe to use against me. I blocked every hit, yet my arms ached from the clash against the metal. At the right moment, I used her momentum against her and pushed the pipe to her throat. She pushed back; I pushed harder down. Sounds of frustration and struggle filled the warehouse as we battled with the metal.

A helicopter began sounding in the distance, faint red and blue lights getting closer. Relief eased into my blood, giving me more force. I overpowered Ruiz, smashing the metal pipe against her throat.

“Have fun in prison, you fucking maniac.”

She forced the words past her lips, her voice strained, “Who are they going to believe?” Her eyes brightened. “Whose bullets are inside them?”

The thread inside that kept the last of me together snapped, allowing just enough distraction for Ruiz to push me off and get away. I reached for my gun and shot after her, but she had already disappeared into the dark, in the direction of the police helicopter.

My chest began to raise frantically, realization settling in.

I had nowhere to go. I had nobody;nothing. The organization had been my only reality; false, yet stable.

It was only a matter of time before I went completely rogue, but I’d always pictured a more uneventful outcome. My head was spinning with how this could play out, my slim chances of making it out alive, and the severe consequences of my actions.

I drew my eyes back to the captive, still passed out and tied up to a chair. Probably a DeMone soldier. Ibegan making my way over but stopped abruptly when multiple SUVs pulled up outside the rundown building, the headlights cutting through the night. The engine roared as car doors slammed and men entered through the far end of the warehouse.

I quickly stepped back and hid behind a cement wall.

“Hermano!” One of the men yelled. Francesca’s backup and probably the Connect.Thank fuck.

The man began cutting the ropes holding the captive. I didn’t hesitate to grab my bag and sneak out through the back of the rundown warehouse.

My job was done. I’d protected the narcotics the best I could. Now I had to get the fuck out and figure out how I was going to get away with this shit without Ruiz covering my ass.

I ran until the lights of the SUVs faded behind me and the darkness of the night enveloped me.

CHAPTER 39

Present

HER HEELS ECHOED IN THE silence as my lips parted in awe. When she stopped a few inches in front of me,she raised one manicured hand and pushed my jaw up with one finger,closing my mouth. Her glossy lips turned into a playful smile. She knew exactly what she was doing to me.

Rubbing my hand over my jaw,I took a step back to take a better look at her.

“Fuck,”I breathed out,not able to look away.

Maria raised an eyebrow at me and tilted her head,but didn’t step forward. I closed the distance between us and looked at my hands as I gripped her waist. Our eyes met when I drew my gaze back to her face,and it was like a sledgehammer hit me in the chest. Her gaze melted in mine,and warm liquid spread in my chest.

When the intensity got too much,Maria cleared her throat.“So?”

I smiled.“There’s a reason I call you hermosa.”I leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips,before pulling back.“You look beautiful,baby.”

She bit her lip to stop from smiling as she wiped her lipstick off my lips with her thumb.“Should we go?”

“One more thing.”I dug into my pocket,pulling out a fancy black box,tied with a white bow.“For you.”

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