Page 15 of The Silencer

I wait with bated breath, my body thrumming in excitement until another man starts to make his way down the path, his lumbering form almost shielding the sun from view.

“Oh, fuck me,” I murmur when Casey smirks over at me. This is so not Anthony.

I flip Casey off, and it’s his turn to blow me a kiss.

The man comes to a stop near me and folds his arms across his wide, muscular chest. I eye him up and down as I rub at my chin.

“Hello, big man. I’m Tatum.”

The man just stares at me behind his sunglasses. He’s broad-shouldered with muscles nearly as big as me. He has a shaved head and a neatly trimmed beard, and he apparently doesn’t feel the need to speak.

“Do you have a name?” I ask. He doesn’t respond, just stares at me.

Well, this is no fun.

I sigh and then make my way back to where Angel is. I’ll help him look for flowers. At least then I’ll have something to distract me.

When I finally make it to him, my large shadow in tow, I bend down as much as I can and take a look at the small bouquet Angel has arranged in his wicker basket.

“Those look nice,” I say, and Angel beams up at me.

“They’re lovely.”

He focuses back on the task at hand, and I’m left to just watch him. I guess it could be worse. “I could be dead,” I mumble.

“You could be dead,” Angel says and then sighs, glancing back up at me. “But I’m glad you’re not. I’m glad you thought to call me.”

I nod and then lower myself to the ground with a grunt. My ass continues to ache from the bruise and my ribs scream at me when I lean forward, but it could be worse. I could be a ghost.

Suddenly, Angel hops up, two purple flowers between his fingers.

“Hold that thought.” He prances over to the bodyguards, slipping one behind each of their ears before making his way back to me.

I stare at both of them and grin. Casey looks ridiculous with that purple flower behind his ear, but that big guy looks even more so. And yet, neither do anything to remove them. Ha.

That’s what they get. I hope they have to wear them the entire day.

“Anyways, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been lonely since Diablo moved in with Skylar.”

“I bet. It must be hard having your twin so far away.”

“It is. I miss him so much.”

“Angel,” I begin, and he cocks his head toward me. “Why is Diablo allowed to live off the property, but you’re not.”

He sighs. “Because Diablo can take care of himself. My dad doesn’t think I can, doesn’t think I have what it takes if someone comes after me. I’m too much like my mom.”

“That’s not fair.”

“I know, but he’s right. I don’t have it in me. I’m too nice, and that’ll get me hurt one day.”

I nod and then reach over and fiddle with the petals of one of the white flowers peeking out of the basket.

“That’s a tulip.”

“Yeah, I know what a tulip is,” I say, and Angel huffs a small laugh.

“Sure you do. Anyways, I think my dad would like this bouquet, don’t you think?”

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