Page 29 of UnWholly Angels
“Please don't cry, freckles. I’m going to find some help, hang on. Then, we’re leaving this place once you’re better. I’ll leave it all to keep you safe.”
Her mouth opened, the pain showing on her face clearly, but I never got to hear what she had to say. In a flash, I was on the ground, ripped from her weak grasp, and punches landed repeatedly over my face. I felt around for anything at all that could help me. If I could only get to my gym bag. The only thing I could think of doing was to knee my attacker in the abdomen, so I did and smirked when he doubled over in pain. As quickly as I could muster, I dragged myself over to the bag, noticing my skates just next to it.
My skates.
I could hear her crying for me as another fist flew at my face and caught me in the jaw, sending me back to the floor. Before I could catch my breath, Lorenzo’s hands wrapped around my neck, squeezing the life from me. I was suffocating, my chest struggling under his weight to take in air. My eyes rolled from the loss of oxygen, but I couldn’t give up. In the distance, Rocco’s other goons were closing in on Maya, and I had to act fast. One last time, my hands shot out, trying to grip the skates. I think Lorenzo was too focused on beating the shit out of me to notice the death grip I had on one of them.
In one swift movement, his face was sliced with the blade, and he fell backward, gripping at the fresh wound. Right through the skin. The rest was a blur.
More fighting.
Sirens?
Screaming.
Where’s Maya?
The back of the police car.
Did they call the ambulance?
I can’t hear her anymore.
Kicking at the door, trying to find a way to get back to her.
“You fuckers left her with the wrong people…I didn’t do anything.” It was weak to cry, but how would you feel being ripped away from the love of your life like this?
“Son, there was no pulse, and we saw the way you were assaulting her boyfriend,” one of them said with a disgusted tone.“Son, you’re facing serious charges. They might try you as an adult for this one.”
I was her boyfriend, and I didn’t protect her. Nick’s family could help me. Yeah, maybe they could help. The tears fell down my face in an angry stream. Maya’s gone. A truth I refused to accept.
“Let me out!!” I screamed through gritted teeth.
“Yo!” A voice brought me out of the traumatic memory.
“Angel, watch out!” another voice called out.
Was someone talking to me? My own stupid question was answered when my body hit the ice. Painfully checked by the rookie, I lost my balance. Stupidly, I'd decided not to wear my helmet today, and my vision blurred for a moment when my head bounced off the ice.
“Fuck,” I groaned in pain. I sat up and attempted to steady myself before looking back toward the stands in what can only be explained as a mix of mild panic and shock. They…Rocco…knew Maya was with me. Lorenzo was sent here as a warning, but I had no intention of running this time.
What I would do is send a message right back to that coward.
Chapter Twelve
Riley
“You okay, man?”
“He must have his head in the clouds.”
“The day Angel settles down, hell would have frozen over.”
Laughter sounded around me, but I was still dazed and in disbelief. Everyone just needed to “Shut up!” I screamed out.I need to think.
Heavy, uneven breaths pushed their way out of my body. I’d never thought I would see Lorenzo, or any of them again. Was this to distract me or intimidate me? How did I know if Maya was safe or not? Using the ledge of the board to hoist myself up, I looked back up into the stands, but he was no longer there, and I was starting to question if he was there to begin with. They were playing with my mind, and it was not going to happen.
A low growl left my body as others skated closer to me. I-I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t been angry enough to do any real damage when it came to Maya…Well, aside from that server. This was too far though, considering my business was private. It was downright humiliating to seem like I was losing it in front of the team. To me, this wasn’t a laughing matter.
