Page 61 of The Wildcard

But a part of him knew she was probably up and out of bed, looking for ways to get out of the hell-forsaken hospital immediately. Angel shrugged in response to Luke’s question and reached into the pocket of his jeans to fish out his phone just as he pulled the door open.

He was still scrolling through his contacts in search of David’s name when he stepped out into the hallway. And heard a loud thump echo on his side.

Angel’s head snapped up, his hand reaching out to grab the handle of his gun. But the scene up ahead hadn’t been something he’d been expecting.

Angel froze, a terrible feeling climbing up his spine as he saw Verana open the door to Ray’s room and push a smaller, hooded figure inside gently. Those black eyes snapped at him, daring him to say a single word as she walked through Ray’s room and shut her door. Maybe he should’ve walked away, but just as Angel started striding towards her room, he heard faint footsteps echo through the narrow corridor.

He saw Kyle run through the hallway, his eyes wary and tired as he looked down at his phone and swore out loud. Angel was about to say something when he saw the other boy notice his presence. Angel’s curiosity heightened as he saw all the emotions leak out of his face, not a hint of friendliness from before shone in his eyes as he looked away from him and pushed Ray’s door open as well.

Disappeared inside.

Angel grit his teeth, his mind still reeling with that terrible feeling as he dialed David’s number in a frenzy. He pressed the phone up to his ear and his gaze wandered to the front of Ray’s door.

What the hell were they doing here?He was thinking as he walked forward and stopped until he was right in front of her room.

David answered on the third ring.

And Angel’s eyes fell to the carpeted floor.Found drops of red coloring the pale carpet.

“Hello?”

His lips parted in surprise as his mind went into shock.What in god’s name was going on here?Angel didn’t answer David’s words, was just staring at the drop of blood when he felt Jack’s presence behind him. He didn’t turn but somehow, Jack had already noticed Angel’s tense set of shoulders. Angel saw him move to stand in front of him and go down on his toes in front of him.

Angel grit his teeth as Jack examined the red color once and looked up with a grim look in his eyes.

“Blood.”He stated and Angel’s mind went blank.

“Tell me Raylene Walker is in the hospital right now.” Angel snarled into the phone, and he swore he heard David’s sharp inhale.God fucking damn it,“Whereis she, David?”

“She ran out!” David said hurriedly from the other end, and Angel’s eyes flitted to the closed door, “Verana Smith came into her room and the next moment, she was running out like her life was on the line.”

Angel thought back to the hooded figure and his eyes shuttered in annoyance.Not her life,he thought venomously as he hung up the phone and turned to face the door,someone else’s.

He didn’t wait. And he didn’t have to work really hard either. Just thought of the dark look on Kyle’s and Verana’s faces and gripped the door handle tightly.

As if they had something to hide.Angel was thinking when he twisted the handle and threw open the door.

So lost that they had forgotten to lock a simple door.

Angel’s eyes snapped in the dark room, flashing against the sunlight that rushed through as he caught Kyle and Verana standing with their bodies frozen. As if they’d been deep in conversation. He saw both of them move swiftly after a moment’s pause, their faces drawn tight as they shifted on their feet and their weapons already fixed in their hand. Angel just tipped his chin upwards with a questioning look as he saw the blonde hair and green eyes. As he heard the faint drip of water coming from the closed washroom doors.

“Kyle,” Angel said and tucked his phone back in the pocket of his jeans. He saw the boy stiffen, his eyes casting a dark glare, “What’s going on?”

Kyle let out a ragged breath and it was then Angel noticed the splatter of blood on his clothes. The exhausted yet haunted look in his eyes.Something was wrong,he realized with a start,very fucking wrong.

“What happened?” he probed, his voice sharp enough to earn Kyle’s attention and friendly enough to keep it. The other boy heaved a breath and turned to face Verana warily. The girl shrugged back at him, as if suddenly tired and tucked her gun in their pants as Kyle looked at him,

“We caught a girl.” Was Kyle’s fast response, making Angel frown in confusion. Kyle caught the look and dragged a hand down in face, “She’s one of our leads.”

“So why do the two of you look like you just survived a plane crash?” Jack asked incredulously and Kyle tucked his hands in the pocket of his pants roughly.

“We did.” Was Verana’s tight response.

A sudden thought hit Angel at the way they were both acting suddenly, making him go cold all over.

“Who talked to her?”

Angel had only heard rumors about Maya Larsen, but they were enough.Dios, he hoped not–

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