“Mom did.”
He clenched his teeth and was about to respond when Kyle continued grimly, “Ray interrupted.”
Angel stilled, his eyes going wide.No, she couldn’t be that stupid.But by the look in Kyle’s eyes, apparently, shewas.
“What do you mean she interrupted?” Christina asked, appearing from the doorway suddenly, her shoulders taut as she faced them, “What thehell is going on?”
His head was beginning to spin. He was going to lose it.
“Where is she now?”
Kyle took forever to respond, making Angelmadin the brain.Whatwas she thinking?
“I don’t know.” It seemed like the sincerest thing he’deversaid.
Angel ran a ruffled hand through his hair, suddenly confused and pissed off.Moreconfused and pissed off at the way he was so affected by Ray’sstupidactions. He wondered how her brain worked, how she had fuckingsurvivedin this messed up world by holding up value that led her to this extent.
“Is she–”he couldn’t. Couldn’t ask it.So he changed it,
“Did she get what she wanted in the end?” Angel asked, knowing how dangerous it was. But Kyle didn’t seem like he was in the right mind as well, because he was running a ragged hand through his hair and was breathing out harshly,
“Yeah, she did.”
Angel’s eyes closed, in annoyance or triumph, he did not know. Just knew that Raylene Walker had been one of his mostconfusingacquaintances of all time. He didn’t knowwhy–
And then he got his answer.
All their eyes snapped to the sudden sounds of the splatter of water and faint footsteps as they opened the washroom door. A sudden roar started in the back of his mind. Fusing and merging with the ringing of his ears, he saw a girl, maybe fifteen years old, standing at the foot of the door.
“Fucking hell,”Jack cursed from behind him, but Angel’s eyes were onher.The girl, with her hair wet, her entire body bowed with pain andagonyas she looked up at all of them.Staredwith a dangerous glare in those young eyes.
Then Angel saw the bruise, angry andredand blue on the side of her face. Peeking through her long t-shirt over her shoulder, from the back of her neck–
He clenched his teeth so tightly that it hurt his jaw.Thisis what Ray had almost sacrificed her life for. He felt like such a fucking fool. Angel turned to face Kyle, his eyes wide inrageas he stared at the boy in a way he hadn’t dared to before,
“This?”he snarled softly as saw Kyle’s brief flinch. Because Angel didn’t have to continue for him to hear his words.This is what your mother did?
This is what you are?
“Don’t kill me,”the young voice rasped, drawing their attention once again. Angel looked her straight in her eyes, not flinchingonceas he willed her to understand,
“That’s not why I’m here right now.” He said softly and saw those blueish-grey eyes glint in the sunlight. Angel’s chin tipped upwards, his eyes shining with a sort of conviction that was beginning to scare him,
“Nor wasshe.” He said, his tone sharp with confidence. The girl’s breath loosened, her shoulders flopping down as he made sure she saw that determination, thattruthin his words.
“When she gets back,” he continued,because there was no way in hell she wasn’t coming back,“Tell her your name.”
The girl’s eyes shone, a sudden sheen falling over like a curtain, and ducked her head. In exhaustion or relief, he did not know. So, Angel turned his head, his eyes dangerously dark as he looked at Kyle. A part of him recoiled at the sudden rage that had gripped him. Angel had always guessed at the reality of the Lions but looking at them now,
Looking atKylenow, he knew his path was right.
Knew it with the same conviction that believed Raylene Walker.
“And she’ll remember it until the day she fuckingdies.”
16
Today, she was going to die today.
