Page 77 of Angelic Vengeance

I must’ve not been as low-key as I thought, because Natalia – friend of Francesca and Kali, and long-lost daughter of mafioso Salvatore Moretti – told the girl I was looking at her. She turned her head but not enough for me to see her face, so Natalia subtly pointed in my direction. My blood warmed with anticipation as the mystery girl searched for me in the busy nightclub.

After a moment, her eyes met mine.

The breath was knocked out of my chest.

Death.

The Mexican Cartel was the most dangerous Cartel in the world. Violent and ruthless. I was raised in it; trained to live and die by its commandments.

No outsiders. No mercy. No loose ends.

I never had an issue following those rules. At least not untilshecame along.

I’d spent over two years thinking about the specific moment I’d find her, but when it actually happened, I didn’t know what to fucking do.

Though, it turned out it didn’t really matter because she simply turned back to her friends and continued having fun for the rest of the night. She never attempted to run or gave any hint that she knew who I was.

She dismissed me like I was worth less than the dust under her shoes, when in reality I was worth more money than numbers could display.

A fresh, newer wave of anger washed over me; a type I’d never felt before. It frustrated me more than made me mad, and filled me with a confusion I’d never had about the situation. I’d always believed that when our eyes would meet again, we’d have a ‘shoot on sight’ type of interaction.

If it hadn’t been for her eyes haunting me the past two years, I would’ve thought I went crazy and was seeking her in random people.

Eyes of such an emerald green; they pierced through my soul, and entangled so deep in my chest, I still saw them every time I closed my eyes.

Those goddamned eyes.

The first thing I thought about when I woke up. The last thing I saw before sleep took over me at night. And the only thing that randomly entered my mind in every situation in between.

Oh, but she didn’t rememberME. Yeah, right.

I would’ve laughed if, for some unknown reason, it didn’t fucking piss me off.

I watched her throughout the night… dancing, sipping her drink, laughing withmyfriends… I hid my anger when I asked Trevor for her name.

Maria.

If that was even her real name.

He’d answered distractedly, as if she was just anybody. I burned to ask for more information, but I pushed the need down, knowing Trevor had no idea who she actually was.

I knew I was going to go after Maria when she left for the night. What I was going to do once I got her? Not a fucking clue.

So, when Francesca asked me to return a favor and make sure her little friend got home safely, how could I refuse?

I scoffed at the irony.

Safely.

She was danger encapsulated in an objectively beautiful woman. But I was too caught up on her eyes and the scar that cut from her brow to her cheek to bother noticing. Her beauty was just part of the deceiving act she put on.

I was proven right, when after following her outside, she almost killed some random guy. He’d been arguing with a girl further down the back alley of the club, and when hegot violent, I had no choice but to intervene. I’d barely even pushed the guy off the girl before Maria was all over him; pummeling him into the cold concrete and showing her true colors.

Cool relief had washed over me when I watched my memories come back to life.

At least I wasn’t insane –Yet.If this cat-and-mouse game wasn’t going to drive me over the edge, she sure was.

No one seemed to have any idea who she really was, and I couldn’t help but wonder who her current target was.

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