Page 141 of The Wildcard

“I want to see her.” He said again, his words cutting past the obvious grief in Kyle’s figure. But when he lifted his head, Angel couldseeit wasn’t from losing Raylene Walker. His disgust, hisloathingfor the Lions spread at the gleam of rage in those eyes. Kyle was pissed about losing an importantasset.

You should be too,a wicked part of his mind crooned,why are you grieving when you should be raging?

She isn’t fucking dead,another part of him roared.

“You can’t,” Kyle replied, his voice still subdued but firm as he looked at Angel straight in the eye, “Not until you’re in a better condition yourself.”

Angel opened his mouth to reply but the world around him spun suddenly. He blinked in surprise and slumped further against the bed, his eyes snapping down to the blood leaking from his arm and his bandage. He still managed to snap past the blinding pain that numbed his senses and turned to Kyle,

“I want to...seeher.” He said through gritted teeth and saw Kyle scoff before his vision blurred.

Before his ears began ringing all over again.

“What’s the point?” he heard Kyle say and couldn’t stop that brush of griefhittinghim straight in the chest,“She’s already dead.”

* *

Minutes passed. Or maybe it was hours.

He didn’t really know. He’d just awoken.

And when Angel opened his eyes, he hadn’t expected the memories to comerushingback in his mind like a fucking tidal wave. Hadn’t expected that black hole to carve it’s way through his chest.Hadn’t expected Ray’s smile, her eyes to flash in his mind.

In a coma,he thought helplessly as he stared at the white ceiling,she was on a bed, in a fucking coma.

Buthow? Another part of hisrebelled. Akash could have shot her in cold blood, but he’d covered her body with his own. He’d seen that flash in her eyes before the gun went off and the excruciating pain from the bullet left him in the dark. He couldn’tstopseeing it. It left him breathless, almost panicked becausehow did she–

Maybe it was the bomb as Kyle had said. But if it was, then how was she still moving before Akash shot them. Angel shifted on the bed as he thought and grunted in surprise as a shot of pain ran down his arm.

“Fuck off–”

The familiar voice, the familiar tone–

Angel shot up on his bed and immediately regretted it as a wave of nausea washed over him. Mia Andrews ripped the door to the room open and stepped in, her eyes searching for only one as he groaned and fell back against his pillows. And yet he couldn’t really help his breath of relief as her eyes widened when she saw him and she turned over her shoulder, and for now the images of Raylene Walker disappeared in the back of his mind.

“HE’S HERE!”

Angel winced at the scream and managed a rueful smile as he heard an echo of footsteps run in their direction. Mia was at his side in an instant, her eyes already darting all around his body to search for any wounds.

Angel knew she found plenty but still deemed it enough to lift his chin and say softly,

“Just a bullet in the arm. Nothing major.”

Not when Raylene Walker was in a coma.

Mia huffed next to him, and he noticed the white bandage wrapped around her head, like the same one wrapped around his. His brows furrowed,she must’ve gotten injured during the explosion,he thoughtand faded back in his memories again.

Mia was in the same hospital gown as he was but was obviously in better condition. Angel could barely keep himself from swaying when he stood on his feet.He blamed it solely on that fucking explosion that had ripped his sanity to pieces.His eyes snapped up as the footsteps shuffled closer and the rest of them poured through the doorway, a tired nurse trailing after them.

“You can’t be in here–”

“Angel!”Christina managed before Jack and Luke shoved past her and jumped on the bed. Angel’s eyes widened as the two boys, still wearing their dusty and torn tuxes, wrapped their hand around his neck and hauled him closer to the huddle.

“Oh my–”came the nurse’s exasperated voice as Jake fake sobbed against Angel’s hospital gown and Luke patted his back, “That’s it. I’m getting security.”

Angel snapped his head up, pleading with his eyes as he looked at the older lady. She shot him a glare but he only dropped his chin, “I’m really sorry.” He managed and kicked Jack as he let out a wail against his chest, “But please don’t get security. These morons are with me.”

Unfortunately.

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