They’d decided to remain on guard the entire time, with Angel on Noah’s side and Kyle on Ray’s. There was no doubt that the latter was a larger target than Noah was, but Angel hadn’t tried reasoning with her. He’d been worried, sure. He’d seen the way she winced with any movement because of her shoulder and her healing stab wound.
Raylene Walker was vulnerable, and someone in that crowd out there
knew. But she was also annoyingly proud.
Thud. Thud.
“Hey!” came Luke’s yell from the other end, and Angel snapped out of his thoughts with a soft curse.
“Come in!” he yelled back and turned back to face the mirror. His eyes widened at the sheer darkness his suit revealed. One he amended with the silver chain he would attach on his vest. Luke strode in the room just as Angel placed the silver boutonniere on his blazer.
“Are you ready?” Luke asked as he entered and paused long enough for Angel to rip his gaze from the mirror. He rose his brows at the question in Luke’s stance,
“You’re going to wear that tonight?” he asked, his eyes pointing at the black band that hung from his neck. No one knew it belonged to his mother. No one knew the glass was tainted red with her blood from that night ages ago. Angel barely stopped his urge to grab that cool thing as it touched the inside of his chest. Just gazed up at Luke and quirked a brow,
“It’s a good luck charm, Luke,” he said with a serene smile and tilted his head as he saw the rest of them pour in. Luke shrugged and turned to face Christina, who whistled as soon as she entered Angel’s room.
“Looking great Hawthorne,” she sang and turned to Angel as well, “You too Santos.”
Angel scoffed out a laugh and shared a glance with Luke before turning to Christina.
“You look good too Morris.” Luke said in Angel’s steed.
For the record, all of them looked like the true members they were brought up to be. Luke was wearing a sleek ember tux over a crisp white shirt that show off the bow he wore oh so proudly.
Christina, on the other hand, looked like the epitome of elegance and beauty in her royal blue gown. She’d paired them with sheer gloves that went all the way up to her elbows.
One which Jack played with as he stood next to Christina, looking remarkable uncomfortable in his suit. Angel smiled as he saw Christina slap his hand away but turned to regard him nonetheless, an odd look in her eyes.
He was wearing a blue tux as well, one with a black shirt inside.
Angel concealed a laugh as he tugged at his tie and held his blazer in one hand.
“It’s notthatbad.” Mia drawled as she stepped through the doors as well, tugging at the sleeve of her blazer. Her red hair was swept up into a braid crown – one matching the red of her outfit completely. She was wearing a corset white top, upon which she’d draped a pressed red blazer and matching pants.
“Not foryou,”he snapped back and glowered at Christina and she slapped his hands away from his tie, “You don’t have to deal with this stupid tie.”
“Child.” Mia chided and Jack glared back at her,
“Psycho.”
“Alright!” Luke clapped his hands and turned to face Angel with a pleading grin, “Let’s get his show over with.”
Angel nodded and tugged at the cuffs of his shirt as he turned to face the ticking clock in his room.
Seven Thirtysharp.
He patted down his hidden pockets one last time, seeing his friends do the same. A knife on either side, a knife in the boot.
Two pistols in the waistband of his jeans, both of which he’d have to surrender when the party would begin. Another hidden in the pockets of his blazer. They’d be patted down before they could enter, but none of them would ever find the hidden gun or knives. Or the vial he’d hidden in one of the hands of his watch.
His eyes lifted in question Luke, who was sighing at something as he finished thinking of all the hidden items in his tux. The other boy just shook his head at the question and nudged in the direction of the open doors. The others followed his line of sight and let lose an uneven breath.
Christina turned to look at him through hooded eyes, a crazy sort of seriousness and focus entering her eyes.
Angel nodded only once. And all of them filed out of room. He walked out at last and shut the doors behind him. The others hand began walking already, but they’d left a gap in the middle for him to fill.
Angel suppressed a smirk as he tugged at his blazer and strode ahead.
