Page 146 of Angelic Vengeance

Zach and I crawled behind the cement rock at the same time, using it as a shield.

“It’s an ambush.”

“What now?”

My eyes met his. “We finish this once and for all.”

We looked at each other for another moment before nodding. Taking our own side, we peered behind the cement plate and began shooting. The air had somewhat cleared and I watched masked soldiers, dressed in all black, fall to the ground like flies.

“Stop!” A familiar voice boomed through the tunnel and all opposing fire stopped. “Come out,Ángel,” She sang like a lunatic.

Zach threw me a glance but I shook my head, and he read my mind. We hid back behind the cement and waited for the right moment.

“Come kill me with your hands,Ángel.” Ruiz’s voice grew disturbed.

Not falling for that again. I didn’t care about making her suffer. I just wanted her dead. A bullet to the head would suffice.

“Nah, you’ve always been a disappointing fight,” I shouted from behind the barrier.

“And you’ve always been a disappointing daughter.”

I faltered.What?

“So much potential...Sucha failure.”

The cold cement against my back sent a chill down my spine.

“I mean look at your life. You’renothing. Anobody.” Ruiz’s words bounced off the tunnel walls. “I knew it right there in the delivery room when you smiled like your father.”

Zach’s hand grounded me. “Don’t listen to that bullshit. It’s a distraction.”

“I remember,” I whispered, my eyes locked on the brick wall ahead of me.

It wasn’t clear. I was too young; at most three years old. But faint memories came back to me.

Ruiz. Crying. Screaming. A man crawling on the floor in a pool of blood. Police. Beige room. Ruiz.

“Guess the cat’s out of the bag.” A hysterical laugh. “You know… You’rejustlike your father:weakandpathetic. Nothing like me. I don’t even regret slitting his throat in the kitchen.”

“Maria…” I felt Zach’s hand grip my wrist. I didn’t even realize I’d stood up, out from behind the barrier.

“You might look like me...”

Ruiz stood dead in the center of the tunnel. I stared at her. At her hazel eyes. And dark, brown hair. Same tan skin. Same straight nose. Same height.

“Holy shit…” Zach muttered standing up by my side. Guess he saw it too.

“But you’re just like him…” Disgust coasted my mother’s voice. “Selfish. Ungrateful.A fucking leech.”

Zach’s hand tightened on my wrist, his other on his rifle hanging by his side.

My chest heaved in a frenzy. “You fucking ruined my life.”

“I. Haven’t. Even. Started.”

I didn’t know how it all happened.

Somehow, I was pushed down, hitting the ground;hard.

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