Page 126 of The Wildcard

“The same person who kidnapped our one lead.” Ray said, her hands on her hip as she gazed away, “They don’t know about Ira though.”

“Are you sure?” Kyle sneered, and Ray glared back at him dangerously, “With the way you’ve been parading her around town–”

“Iknowwhat I’m doing.” She snapped back viciously, and Kyle turned away from her with a huff, “Do you think I’ve been taking her around to show the world our one lead? If so, why hasn’t anyone come for her yet?”

“You’ve branded her. No one would dare.”

Ray shook her head, lifting her chin, “If they’re brave enough to go after our facilities, and our people in the hospital, they would’ve gone after Ira.”

Angel let loose a harsh breath, rubbing his brows as he interrupted, “Okay so what do we know? Sorin Ardelean is a mole from your end who works for someone else. We know this because he came to us with information about Raylene.”

“In an attempt to cause a rift between us.” Kyle added and Angel nodded,

“Which means they were provoked by the alliance rumors that were going around back then.”

Ray hummed, “Then the event was planned and sent all over the world, confirming their doubts about us coming together–”

“But they still needed proof.” Angel said and looked at Kyle, “So they sent someonehere.”

Kyle shook his head, “But that person isn’t Sorin. We’ve had our eyes on each and every staff member we’ve hired. No one knows anything.”

Angel didn’t know why Kyle protected the boy as he did, but he decided not to question it. Partly because Ray looked as though she was going to loose her mind and because he didn’t want to know.

“Alright, so someone working above Sorin comes on thisisland, and confirms our alliance.” He said a bit numbly, the effect of his father’sstupidactions hitting him like a blow. If he could’ve stopped this, could’ve gone back in time to haul his father’s ass back home instead of heading to the Lions he would’ve–

“And with the limited resources they have, they decide to ambush us.” Ray said, “With the intent being–”

“You.” Kyle said through gritted teeth, “Because you’re new. You had a bounty on your head, which made you important.”

“And then the fires.” Angel chose to add, and with a blink continued with the sudden thought that had hit him, “And your aunt. They’re burning all your options.”

“Which means if they know every detail about us somehow,” Ray began, her eyes widening with every word.

Angel gulped at the buildup, but his thoughts were running wild at the way she turned swiftly to face Kyle, “If theyknow,we know who they’re going to go after tonight.”

It took a second for him to piece it together. But then Ray was turning to him with wide eyes, with pursued lips.

Burning our options.

Angel swore just as Kyle threw his head back and ran a ragged down his face.

Noah fucking Hassan.

That’s who they’d target tonight.

That’s who they would have to protect.

27

Angel stared down on the tux laid down on his bed for what seemed like the fourth time. If his father was here he was be screaming at him to hurry.Quit your childish antics and just do as you’re told,he would say and then slap the back of his head in what looked like fatherly gesture. But everyone would know it was a threat.

A way for him to maintain his golden child reputation.

Angel rolled his eyes at his thoughts.No time for daddy issues,he murmured to himself and removed his clothes. He grabbed the black pants first, his eyes glazed in thought as he tugged them on and moved on to the black shirt. Angel faced the mirror as he slipped his hands through the black long sleeves. His tie was next, which he put on in ease.

His mind drifted to tonight as he turned away from the mirror and looked at his curtained room. It was going to be cold tonight, he thought as he swiped the curtains open to reveal the evening sky. His mind was barely on the black vest that he put over his black shirt. It rustled softly as the night hues tinted with the orange of the setting sun.

Tonight was going to be cold, he thought again,cold and deadly.

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