“Why are you here?” she asked him and the grin on his face subdued to a small smile as he looked down at her. Specifically at the hidden wound on her abdomen.
“You’re a liability,” Angel replied and snapped his gaze up just in time to see her wince at his harsh words. His smile inched upwards,
“And Kyle wasn’t looking forward to cleaning up after you.”
Ray scoffed, “He isn’t going to be doing anything.” She said, her tone turning the smile on his lips into a frown, “I’m going to be doing all the work.”
Angel’s frown deepened as she reached into the bag and pulled out a laptop, a heap of papers, and a black pen. Ray sighed down at the papers, blinking down at them, all lost in thought when he finally spoke up,
“What’s all this?”
His tone was taut. But it wasn’t surprising.Why the hell was she working right now?A part of him cursed himself for asking such a foolish question. But Angel blinked out of that selfish part and inched closer to her. Ray let out a breath, not answering him as she braced her hands on her sides and tried to pull herself up. Tried and failed, Angel noticed with a scowl as she flopped back into a weird angle.
His gaze shuttered in annoyance at his stupid conscience as he stepped closer and wrapped a careful hand around her upper arm. She flinched suddenly, making him almost let go of her. But Angel just sighed at the expression on her face,
“Quiet.” He said, too softly to his great annoyance, “I’m just helping you sit up.”
He knew Ray wanted to rip her hand from his, but she didn’t. Angel’s eyes bored into hers as he pulled her up gently, not missing her wince as she settled properly in the pillows and shut her eyes. His brows drew together as he saw her breathe through the pain that must’ve washed over her body.
“Don’t pull your stitches.” He murmured as saw her eyes snap open. Angel gulped at the intensity of those eyes but didn’t turn away as she dipped her chin in a small thank you. His lips etched into a small smile,
“Can’t say the words?” he asked, tilting his head as he caught the flash of annoyance in the pursing of her lips. The glint in her honey eyes. The tick in her jaw. His grin widened,
“Thank you.”
And with that, she turned to look down at the laptop in her lap. Angel saw her open it and looked at the white light flashing on her face as she started typing something. He stood like that, staring at her face, watching her breathe and stir in silence as her eyes darted from the screen to the papers and back to the screen again.
“What do you want?”
I want you to rest. I want you to sleep so you don’t feel this pain anymore.
“What are you doing?” Angel asked through gritted teeth, completely caught off his feet at his thoughts.Insane, he must be going insane.
“I’m searching for a person who could replace the Krafts.” She replied and he blinked at the honesty in her response, “And I’m looking for anyone who could be responsible for today.”
“Did you see the culprit’s face?” Angel asked, tucking his hands in his pockets as she looked up at him slowly,
“That man.” She said and averted her eyes to look back at her screen, “The one Kyle stopped me from–”
“Killing?” Angel voiced and saw her glare snap up to him. He grinned and raised his hands in surrender as she shook her head and mumbled.
“I wasn’t going to kill him.”
“Hestabbed you?” he asked, keeping his grin intact as he brushed a hand through his hair. He saw her nod and closed his eyes at the sudden wave of annoyance that crashed over him.
Not annoyance, he recognized with a start, anger.Raw, pure anger.
Shit.
“I’m going to play the Sorin card tomorrow.” He said, expecting a startled response from her end. But Ray just nodded, looking back down at her laptop,
“I thought so.” She said softly and Angel’s brows rose in surprise. Her eyes rose up to his, all serious and honey–
“I’ll play my part.”
Angel’s brows shot up in the air, “What?” he asked and saw her scowl at him. His lips tugged up into a smile as he stepped closer and leaned down. She didn’t back away but he saw her scowl deepen as she looked at him in distaste, “Say that again? You’ll help me out?”
Ray rolled her eyes and turned away from him, making his grin widen, “I didn’t say that, you moron.” She said, her voice low as Angel probed his face closer to hers.
