Page 37 of The Wildcard

“Because you were looking for me before.”

“You mean when you were losing your mind?”

Her glare snapped up to his eyes, unamused as he threw his head back and laughed. His eyes crinkled at the edges and Ray’s eyes widened by a fraction.Shit, she thought,dimples.

He looked back down, and Ray snapped back. His eyes were still shining with mirth, but she saw the underline of seriousness that laced that gaze. She straightened, raising her chin in an attempt to strengthen her resolve,

“What’s your relationship with the Krafts?”

His question didn’t surprise her at all. No one apart from Kyle and Verana knew about her relationship with Nathan Kraft. Her tongue bittered at the memory of him. And now he was dead, along with his good-for-nothing replacement.

Ray blinked back and tilted her head, “Why do you want to know?” she asked and saw Angel sigh. He leaned back and sat back, crossing his legs as he did so.He’s getting awfully comfortable, she thought sourly as she saw him brace his hands back against the floor. The gun his hand was still cocked in her direction but it didn’t seem like he was going to shoot her any time soon.

Fair enough. She wasn’t going to hurt him today either.

“Because I might have some information,” he said, “And I want to know if I can trust you.”

Ray nodded slowly, appearing as though she was lost in thought. And then, as if making up her mind, she averted her gaze and pursed her lips reluctantly,

“You didn’t kill June, did you?” Her name was venom on her tongue. But if Angel caught that hatred, he didn’t show it. Instead, his eyes glinted in amusement as a small smile curved his lips,

“I did not.” Was his easy response, “But I know who might have.”

Ray’s eyes widened in interest, and she saw him nod, “But it’s your turn now, Storm.”

Again, with that nonsense.

Ray shook her head. Better to be out with it and get it over with now than later.

“He’s my biological father.” She started and saw Angel lean forward, the smile falling off his face as he gazed at her in surprise. Ray smiled humorlessly at his expression, “I guess now, hewasmy biological father.”

Angel opened his mouth to say something stupid, but Ray rose her hand before he could, shaking her head as she did so.

“Your turn Santos.”

He hummed, the surprise draining out of his eyes as he leaned back on his outstretched hands as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on him. Ray saw his arms flex, her eyes fixating on his upper arm before he started speaking,

“Ever wondered how I got to know about you?”

Ray shrugged and pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her hand which held the gun on it. Angel shot her a deadpan look as she pointed it at him lazily and she responded with a quirky smile,

“I heard there was a bounty on my head,” she said, recalling Akash’s words from the first day. Oh, how far they had come, “I assumed you got to know from there.”

His eyes didn’t believe her for a second.

They stayed like that, silent for an entire minute before Ray rolled her eyes, relenting,

“Fine,” she started, “It was obviously a rat.”

Angel smirked in response, “Well, do you know who that rat works for?”

Her brows shot up and he read her like an open book.Didn’t he or she work for you?She seemed to say and saw as Angel's lips quirked up,

“He doesn’t work for me. But decided to give me intel on his own.” He said and Ray leaned forward, intrigued,

“Who does he work for then?” she asked and Angel leaned towards her, a lock of his chocolate hair falling over his eyes as he smirked,

“He used to work for the Krafts. But guess where he is now?”

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