“May I?”
Ray’s eyes flashed, her lips parting ever so slightly as she reared back by a millimeter. But then, as if realizing something, a look of resignation passed her face as she pushed his hand away.
Angel bit back the rush of hurt that flinched through his chest and saw as she looked past him and raised her own hand to grab the hem of her blue T-shirt. Angel didn’t have time to brace himself for the damage before she pulled the fabric harshly.
A sharp inhale was all he could manage as a sudden ringing began in his ears.
Angel had to stop himself from going forward to inspect the blue-black ripped skin across her shoulder, and disappear down her T-shirt. She gave him ten seconds to look at the damage before she let go of the fabric. Ray’s eyes were solemn and tired when she leaned back on her hands and breathed out a shaky breath.
A shiver passed through Angel’s body, horror, regret, and rage all merging to form an ugly form of emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time. Ray turned to look at him, and he made sure she saw the rage echo in his eyes. In the way, he leaned forward and raised his hand carefully.
This time Ray didn’t push his hand away. And he took that as a sign to continue what he wanted to do. Her eyes darkened by a dangerous degree as his fingers brushed the side of her face lightly, and a fire sparked in his chest at that look. Angel exhaled as his hand lowered to the side of her neck and wrapped around the uninjured part. Her eyes flashed, but Angel was already clenching his fingers lightly into her skin and hauling her close to his face.
Surprisingly, she moved without protesting. Angel looked at the expanse of her face, at the raised brows, and surprised wide eyes. At the faint rush of red on her cheeks and her nose.Probably because of the cold,he was thinking when his gaze dipped to her lips and darted right back up to her eyes. So serious. Soangry.
“There’s a saying my mother used to use back when I was young,” he started tightly, gulping the lump that rose up his throat at the memories that resurfaced. Instead, he took refuge in that beautiful honey of her eyes and continued,
“La muerte no te hace ningún favor. Muerto, no puedes hacer nada.”he said, stopping his urge to grab the necklace that hung around his neck. Instead, he focused on the confusion that lit her eyes and he grit his teeth to fight past the blinding rage that rose,
“You can only protect if you’re alive.Death does you no favors. Dead, you can do nothing.”
Her chin tipped back, and he rose slightly, his thumb rubbing the side of her cheek gently as he looked at her with a rare sort of fury in his eyes. His fingers dug into her skin, “Stayalive.”
Ray flinched at those words, a harsh breath leaving her as Angel let go of her abruptly. But she didn’t move back. No, her own eyes flashed with a dangerous sort of rage as she glared back at him,
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
Angel rolled his eyes and leaned back to sit cross-legged in front of her, “I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just saying don’t die before you fulfill all your promises.”
All your debts.
He saw the tick in her jaw. Grinned at her. Enticing a string of swear words from her tongue as she shook her head and dug her hands through the sand under her. Angel scoffed out a soft chuckle before turning his head away, his hands fisting in the sand as well.
A sudden blaze had begun right in the missile of his chest, searing through his pounding heart as a cool breeze brushed past them. It was silent except for the faint sounds of the waves crashing against the sand. A moment before Angel gave Ray time to recover. So she could start speaking first.
“I think we should discuss our lead about Sorin with Kyle and Verana for now.” Her words drew his attention, and Angel looked back at her through wide eyes. A flicker of anger sparked and disappeared from her face, but he’d seen it.
Wondered why Raylene Walker was–
“It’s only till we find something concrete.” She continued, breaking his train of thought. Angel’s only show of surprise was the blink of his eyes before Ray shook her head and looked back at him. Angel saw her hair sway back violently. Blinked at the way the orange sunlight solemnly lighted up her face.
“I thought you were loyal to the Lions.” Angel probed, even if a part of him chastised him for it.
Dios,he couldn’t tell anymore.
Ray’s eyes flashed, taken aback by his unwanted jab, and she shot back immediately,
“Iamloyal to them.” She said savagely, leaning forward close enough for him to rear back by a fraction as she neared him, “I just don’t need to share every waking detail with them.”
Angel didn’t balk. Just stared at her in deadpan as he replied, “This ismylead. I hope you know that.”
Ray scoffed as if coming to her senses and Angel's heart thudded in his chest at that expression on her face. But he looked away, unable to bear it as she continued, her voice suddenly cold,
“They wouldn’t ever believe you without me.”
Angel’s teeth grit, his fingers flexing dangerously in the sand as he snapped his head back in her direction and found those honey eyes suddenly so frigid. So cold.
He fought with a relentless fire in his own. Ray’s chin tipped upwards as he neared her,
