Ray moved away from Angel, turning to wake Ira gently. He saw her jerk awake, his heart fracturing at the sheerfear in her eyes as Ray held her in place and murmured words soft enough only for Ira to hear. When Angel looked back at Noah, the other boy had an odd sheen in his eyes. The briefest flicker of emotions before he wiped them away and matched Angel’s look haughtily.
“See you in a day Santos.” Noah said goodbye, and Angel nodded, turning to walk behind Ray and Ira, wondering how the boy had agreed suddenly.
Wondered if he had a soft spot for kids?
Angel tucked away that piece of information for later and strolled behind Ray as they strode out of his townhouse, tucking his hands in the pocket of his trousers. They’d both gotten here on their bikes, Ira riding with Ray while Angel followed them discretely enough to not attract any unwanted attention.
He saw as Ray and Ira strode ahead, one of Ray’s hands loosely hanging around Ira’s shoulder as they talked in hushed tones. Despite his mind rebelling, a small pout appeared on his lips as he saw the two girls converse.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to interrupt, not when it looked like Ira was carefully opening up with Ray.
So, he forced himself to look to the side, breathing in the ocean air as he heard the waves crash far away on the beach.
No matter the circumstance, no matter the situation, no part of Angel could deny the beauty of this place. It wasn’t a lonely place – not at all, with all the tourists constantly pouring in. Instead, this island was beautiful in an ancient way. The ocean was always calm, was always filled with blue waters that rippled and crashed gently upon one another. And then there were the buildings. The royal architecture hinted at the island’s heritage. And it was enough.
The Larsens hadn’t touched it. No building, no piece of architecture, not even thepeoplewere bothered when they’d bought the island.
Angel couldn’t tell if that was mercy or simply a long-term plan.
But ever seen he’d gotten here, all he’d seen was obedience. Whether it be from their staff or the locals around here, no onedaredapproach the Larsens. Everyone handled their own business, as long as it didn’t get in anyone’s way.
He gulped, wondering what other truths might come to light with this alliance will forge.
“Hey!”
Ray’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn’t realized he’d stopped walking long enough to simply gaze at the ocean. Angel looked back at Ray now though, his eyes darting between her and Ira. He couldn’t help the light smile that tugged at his lips as he saw the flicker of concern shine in those honey eyes. Her frown only deepened as he took two long steps in their direction, the wind hurling past them violently as he did so.
“Hey.” He replied and saw with a loud pounding of his heart Ray’s hair tip back as she inclined her head up to look at him. Angel’s eyes crinkled, his smile widening as he saw her gaze dart to his cheeks. To his dimples,
“Miss me?”
Ray scoffed as Ira mimicked gagging beside her.
Angel’s smile dropped, his gaze turning wary as he turned to the younger girl, “Nowyou choose to interject?” he asked incredulously but Ira only turned on her heels in response. Ray whistled and turned to him with her eyes shining innocently,
“Take a hint, Raven?”
Angel clicked his tongue, extending his hand to ruffle her hair in annoyance, but she just darted away from him, a happy grin on her face as she turned to her bike.
“Where to now?” he asked, stepping beside her to remove his bike from the stand, suddenly uncomfortable with what he’d reached out to do.Since when was he playing nice with Raylene Walker?She didn’t seem to notice his scowl because she responded in the same warm tone she’d been using for a while,
“Hospital. I need to see David.” She responded as she handed a helmet to Ira and tugged hers over her head, “But we do need to get food before that.”
Angel saw her cast Ira a wary glance as the other girl stood silently, her back turned to both of them, her shoulders stiff as she gazed into nowhere. Ray sighed softly but moved to take her bike off her stand. Angel followed her actions, noticing the constant tapping of her fingers against the bike’s handles as she got on.
“Hey,” Angel started softly, leaning closer to her seated figure on the bike. She pulled the face shield down and tilted her head in question. He knocked on her helmet playfully, enjoying the annoyed sound that left her throat as he said quietly enough for both of them to hear,
“Get her checked out as well.”
Ray’s eyes flashed, her body stilling at his words. But he forced all the conviction in his hard gaze and Ray sighed at that look, turning to peer down at her hands as she pretended to think about it. Angel clicked his tongue and lightly whacked her helmet again, “Quit pretending. I know you’ve thought about it.”
Ray groaned softly, “She isn’t going to agree. And I don’t want to force her to do something she doesn’t want to.”
Angel sighed, understanding her words but still hell-bent on his,
“It’s important Ray. We don’t know if there’s an injury she’s hiding. It could affect her later on.”
She stayed silent for a second. Angel watched her stew in thought and just took a step back when her head snapped up.
