Page 30 of Angel

It’s still early, and the only people up are Throttle and Charger, who both happen to be at the gym next door. I wouldn’t mind getting a workout in myself. To sweat off some tension. Sexual tension. Something that pains me to admit having in the first place.

“Well, halle-fucking-lujah!” Tequila practically runs to my side. “Are you okay?” She smacks my shoulder. “You stayed at Venom’s last night!? Are you insane? Did he hurt you?”

Should I tell her? Should I tell her how, no, he didn’t hurt me, but instead tended to my wound and fulfilled my wet dream? “How did you hear that already?”

“Oh, I might have eavesdropped on the meeting last night.” She looks guilty as I glide past her and into the kitchen and dining area. It’s not even seven a.m., so everyone is still sleeping. “Angel, what happened?” She stops behind me as I grab a left-over bagel from the pantry. “Earth to Angel…”

I hear her. I just don’t know what to say. “Huh?”

“I asked if you were okay?”

“Yes, Tequila, I’m fine. Were you all waiting for me to call and have one of my brothers come save me? Well, I didn’t need a hero. And I didn’t need saving, all right?” My voice quivers, and I’m close to shedding tears, but I take a breath and the urge passes.

She stares at me, then squints. “All right, cool it with the bitchiness first thing in the morning. No one thought that at all. It’s just, when I heard you were staying at Venom’s place, I guess I was a little concerned, given his history. But never mind. I take it back.” She scurries out the door, and I already feel bad for snapping at her. She’s acting like a good friend, and I’m over here being a bitch.

I trudge out of the kitchen as she gathers glasses from behind the bar. “It’s a little early to be prepping for tonight, don’t you think?” She ignores me while continuing to stack and reorganize the liquor bottles. “I’m sorry, okay?”

She sighs, slowly pivoting on her heel. “I’m worried about you, Angel. And I don’t mean just because you’re over there playing nice with the Skulls, although I still think it’s a terrible idea…” She takes a deep breath. “I’m worried about how you’re acting. You’re just so distant and moody lately. What’s going on with you?”

I stare past her, watching my reflection in the giant mirror, while visions of Victor Galiente swirl in my head. The internal disgust swallows me whole. “I’m fine, really. There’s nothing going on. I swear.” Lying to my best friend sucks, but I could never tell her. How do you tell someone you have a secret life? An alter ego? That your side job consists of being a prostitute, and you can’t escape from it? Yes, I’ve been doing this for years, but lately the mask is starting to fall. The one I thought I wore so well.

She sighs. “Yeah, okay… just stop being a bitch.” She whips a towel at me.

“Deal.” I smile.

Warm air pours in, and Charger and Throttle thump inside, both shirtless. Sweaty and shirtless. Tequila swallows back her urge to lick the perspiration off Throttle’s abs, and her cheeks glow with a tint of rose.

“Hey, ladies.” Throttle nods in greeting. “Mind pouring us a glass of water, Tequila Rose?”

Tequila tilts her head to the side. “My shift doesn’t start until six. So, you’ll have to get it yourself.” She smiles.

“Damn, tough love.” Throttle shifts around her smaller frame, grabbing for a glass, but his chest brushes against her back, and she stiffens.

“How was last night?” Charger asks me as he pulls out a stool and plops down.

Throttle leans on the counter. His well-defined triceps flex, and Tequila practically salivates, her mouth hanging to the floor. If I didn’t think of these guys as my brothers, they would have me flustered as well. But since that will never happen, their good looks don’t even phase me. I mean, a girl can appreciate the view—sculpted bodies covered in ink—but they just don’t have my lady parts in a frenzy. And who does have that effect on me? Venom, apparently…

“It was fine.” I flick my finger in the air, gesturing for Tequila to close her mouth. She clears her throat, busying herself behind the bar. “I made nice with one of the hang-arounds there. She’s cute, but seems like she will blurt out just about anything. May work in my favor.”

“Good.” Charger gets up and closes any remaining distance between us. “Now, let’s talk about why the fuck you stayed over at Venom’s house. And then after, you can explain to me what the fuck happened to your face.” His eyes bore into mine.

Throttle and Tequila gawk.

He noticed? Of course, he fucking noticed.

“Oh my God, wait… what did happen to your face? You said he didn’t hurt you!” Tequila practically yells.

I rise from the stool and stand toe-to-toe with my brother. “Back off, Charger. This doesn’t concern you. You’re not President. Hell, you’re not even VP. So, I don’t have to answer to you. And as far as my face is concerned…” I turn to Tequila. “No, Venom did not do this to me. I slipped on a puddle coming out of the Skulls clubhouse last night, and the ground wasn’t good to me.”

His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t take his eyes off mine. We fight like brother and sister. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying. Venom didn’t do this.” It wasn’t a lie.

“Fine, do what you want. Just don’t be stupid. That guy is not your friend or an ally. You should remember that. And if I ever find out who did do that to your face, I’ll kill him.”

“I am well aware of who he is, Charger. So, stop treating me like a defenseless woman. And nobody did anything to my face.”

We stare at each other before he lets out a sigh. “I would be saying the same thing if it were Throttle in there.”

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