Page 44 of Soulless Angel

“If you want to blame Daire, then you have to blame Cash and me too.” Blaze slid closer, putting a hand over mine. “I really hope you don’t though. I’m sorry it was so triggering for you.”

When he slid an arm around me and pulled me against him, I didn’t fight or resist. His warmth provided a comfort I’d been longing for.

He was right. I couldn’t punish Daire. Not without punishing all of them. He’d been put in a tough spot, having to make a decision. He’d done what he felt was best at the time. I had to give him credit for being able to act under pressure, because I sure hadn’t been able to persevere.

Blaze and I sat there for a long time holding each other. I felt like hell. My mind was a mess and exhaustion plagued mybody. Not quite a good start to the day. Surely, it had to get better from here.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CLOVER

“I really don’t think you should go to class. It’s okay to take a day off.” Cash watched me hurry around the kitchen as I made coffee and dug through the pantry for a snack.

“I wish I could. I already fell behind when I had to drop out of my summer courses. No worries. I’ll be fine. Just a little tired.” I’d already popped a few Tylenol but paused to grab two more to shove into my bag just in case.

Pouring my coffee into a travel mug, I topped it up with the right amount of cream and sugar. Hopefully this would help push me through the day. Raina had been messaging me since last night demanding to know what had gone down. She was going to freak when I told her.

“Let me drive you,” Cash insisted. “My first class is in an hour. I can take you.”

Blaze had already left to go meet Daire on campus. I offered to go with him, but he told me to take more time for myself. Daire and I would have time later to talk things out. I owed Daire an apology. I felt like shit for hitting him.

By the time we got to campus, I’d already chugged back most of my coffee. Checking my phone, I was happy to see that I had enough time to swing by the cafeteria for a refill. This day was not going to happen without enough caffeine.

Cash insisted on walking me inside. “Are you sure you want to be here today? It’s not too late to say fuck it and go home. We can order pizza and watch movies.”

“Stop it.” I playfully swatted his arm. “You’re tempting me to make bad decisions. Let’s take a raincheck on the pizza and movies. Maybe tonight.”

He came with me to the cafeteria where I got another coffee and then accompanied me to my first class. More than once, I caught him looking over his shoulder, like he expected to find someone following us.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Why do you keep looking around like that?”

Cash shrugged. “Just playing it safe. Can’t be too careful after what we did last night. Don’t leave campus alone, okay?”

I swallowed hard, my gulp of coffee going down the wrong way. After I managed to finish coughing, I asked, “Do you think someone knows? Are we in danger?”

Cash lowered his voice, pulling me against the wall, out of the human traffic flowing down the hallway. “We left two bodies behind and a third in a dark alley. Whoever is in charge is going to want to know who fucked with their operation. This is no time to let your guard down, Sunshine.”

Fear rippled down my spine, leaving me cold. “I’ll be safe. Promise. I better get to class. I don’t want to be the person who does the walk of shame for coming in late.”

Cash kissed me, holding me longer than expected. When I started to pull away, he pulled me back against him, kissing me again.

“Okay, I really have to go now.” I laughed softly. “I’ll see you later.”

Reluctantly, he let me go, his eyes locked on me until I disappeared inside the classroom. I wandered to my usual seat a few rows back from the front. Stifling a yawn, I took my thingsout of my bag, doing my best to be prepared. I would’ve loved to stay home. Pushing through and forcing myself to be normal felt best for my mental health right now. Everything was normal. It had to be.

The professor of my criminology class was a captivating woman with intriguing stories to back up her lessons. I usually had no problem paying attention. Today felt different. It took mass amounts of effort to follow along as she spoke.

I downed my coffee in record time. My knee bounced as I struggled to sit still. More than once, I caught myself absently chewing my fingernails. The caffeine was starting to make me jittery. I also had to pee.

As soon as class finished, I shot out of my chair, quickly gathering my things. The closest restroom was at the end of the hall. That was my first priority. I was starting to reconsider attending the rest of my classes today. I wasn’t sure I could keep from falling asleep.

A few girls were at the counter, staring into the mirror while gossiping as they touched up their makeup. I hurried past them to a stall at the end of the row. Their voices faded as they left the room. As I finished up, I heard someone else enter and then the click of the door locking. What the fuck?

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Instinct screamed at me that this wasn’t right. My bag hung on the back of the stall door. I dug through it, pulling out the pepper spray. I held it in one hand, reaching for the switchblade with the other. I’d barely closed my hand around it when the stall door was kicked open.

The sudden force threw me back against the toilet. I fell down on top of it as a masked man burst into the stall. I opened my mouth to scream, barely getting a sound out before he clamped a gloved hand over my face.

My body moved on autopilot. I raised the pepper spray and fired. The ski mask protected him from most of the shot but still nailed him right through the eye holes. Unfortunately, the close proximity meant that I sprayed myself as well.

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