“Okay.Okay.”She said finally and Ray stood next to her, a scowl on her face as Verana snarled into the phone, “Fuckinghell.Just tell Kyle about this first–I don’t fucking care!”
Ray placed a comforting hand on Verana’s shoulder, and saw her snap her eyes in her direction, “Yes she’s with me. I’ll let her know…God just fuck off and do your job for once.”
Ray breathed out as Verana huffed in frustration and hung up. She jerked away from Ray, and hurled her phone across the room,
“FUCK!”she snapped, making Ray wince at the loudcrackof the phone against the floor, “Godfuckingdamn it!”
“Vera,” Ray started softly, her teeth clenched as she stepped over her broken phone and saw Verana weave her hands through her hair, “What’s going on?”
Verana turned to her just as her phone buzzed in her pocket. Both she and Verana heard it, and the latter swore loudly as Ray took another step in her direction,
“Vera?”
Verana looked at her, her eyes wide in panic, angry bursts of breath leaving her lips as she snarled softly,
“It’s burnt down.”
Goosebumps erupted on Ray’s arm, her mind going blank.
“What?”
Vera breathed out, her eyes wide and a frown prominent on her brows. Ray had never seen herthispanicked.Thisout of her element.
“It’s fucking burnt down.All of it.”
* *
“Angel!”
Her voice was low, tinted with a hint of surprise and pleasure as she opened the doors to her room. Angel smiled back at her, ignoring Mia who was jumping in excitement beside him. His eyes softened as the woman opened the doors wider and extended her arms,
“Mrs. Andrews.” Angel responded softly, stepping forward to lightly put his hands in hers. Her lips stretched into a beautiful smile as she pulled him closer. Pressed a comforting hand to his cheek and said quietly,
“It’s so good to see you, Angel.”
Miranda Andrews was a beautiful woman. One who had her daughter’s uncontrollable red hair. But while Mia was all brown eyes, piercings, andbat-shitcrazy, Miranda was soft green eyes with a calm and collected resolve who’d ended up marrying his father. Angel’s entire composure softened at her words, at the way her eyes glistened as she ushered them inside.
After Isabella had died, Martin had waited for only a year before remarrying Miranda Andrews. It had been difficult for Angel to accept it all.
Not that his father was remarrying, but that there was another woman in their house who wasn’t his mother.
To this date, Angel couldn’t bring himself to regard her as anything butMia’s mother. But Miranda had always been patient with him, never angry at his outbursts.
Andneverunkind. Unlike Mia, who’d threatened to rip his balls off the minute he’d uttered a word against her.
It was that kindness that ripped his heartbecause deep inside, he knew he’d never accept Miranda as someone he could considerfamily.
Maybe he was bring childish. Or rather foolish.
But he couldn’t.
That was exactly why he couldn’t bring himself to go to her when she got here with Mia yesterday. But he was here now. And a part of him relaxed as she looked at him with nothing but understanding in her eyes.
Angel breathed out as they sat on the couch in her room.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come as soon as I heard you were here.”
Mia grunted her agreement, earning herself a chastising glare from Miranda. Mia was fiercely protective of her mother. And he understood that.Respected her for it.The older woman looked back at Angel, nothing but pure, unyielding warmth in her greeneyes as she smiled again,
