Page 18 of Merciless Angel
Feeling ready to party, I gathered my things and headed out. The pink bracelet Daire had given me was wrapped around one wrist. The only time I’d removed it had been to shower. I wasn’t sure if it was water safe. Not wanting to take any risk of ruining it, I’d played it safe. Although I hated to admit it, the bracelet did make me feel safer. Knowing that I could summon the Angels at any moment provided me with a sense of comfort. Not that I’d ever tell them that.
As I sat in the back of an Uber on my way to the party, I wondered if the Angels would be there. I hadn’t seen them in a few days, although I suspected they were lurking around. They seemed to have a way of keeping an eye on me.
Loud music pounded from the house when I arrived. I’d been to a few parties here before. The inside door stood open. Through the screen door I saw a packed house. I let myself in, feeling good about getting out. I’d hidden in my dorm room all week. I needed this. I wondered if Raina was here yet.
The inside of the house smelled like marijuana, alcohol, and way too many bodies crammed into one space. I entered into the living room, finding it packed with people. A staircase to my left was occupied by a couple making out. Those going up and down squeezed by like they weren’t even there.
A keg sat on the floor next to the couch. Three frat guys held their buddy upside down while he did a keg stand, chugging beer like it was a sport. The chatter of voices and laughter made it impossible to pick out any particular conversation. I made my way through to the kitchen where some guy drunkenly cooked spaghetti. Two others dug through the cupboards, devouring any snack they came across.
A case of vodka coolers on the counter drew me. I helped myself to a strawberry cooler, wishing it had been refrigerated but willing to make do. A guy from my criminology class took the opportunity to flirt with me. I did the whole smile and nod routine while seeking a way out of the conversation. When Lyra entered from the backyard through the small porch off the kitchen, I excused myself and rushed over to her.
“How’s it going?” I greeted her with a hug. “You have no idea how bad I needed to hang with my girls. Is Raina here yet?”
Lyra shook her head, her long brown braid moving like a snake. “Haven’t seen her. Jet has been making me crazy lately. He’s going to a concert tonight. I really need this break from him.”
I pursed my lips, frowning as a I took a drink from my cooler. Lyra’s stepbrother was a total asshole. He was also rumored to be the leader of a campus cult. I didn’t know if that was true, and I didn’t want to find out.
“I’ve had a rough week too,” I muttered. “I’m sick of men and their bullshit.”
Lyra winced. “I hate to break it to you, Clover, but Zane is here. He’s out back.”
Of course he would be here. I groaned, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “I hope he doesn’t try to talk to me. I’m sick of his temper tantrums.”
“Hey, ladies! Are we drunk yet?” Raina bounded up to us with an enthusiastic smile. Eyeing the drink options on the counter, she helped herself to a plastic cup of whiskey. Straight with no ice or mix.
I held up my cooler bottle. “Working on it. You look good tonight. I see you’ve been wearing someone’s hands as a necklace. Gage?”
Raina’s hand strayed up to the bruises circling her neck. She hooked a finger through the metal collar she wore and grinned. “Who else? He’s not happy unless I’m marked up for days. It’s cool though. I like it. A lot.”
“So we’ve heard.” I rolled my eyes. Raina had endless wild sexy stories.
“You should give it a try some time,” Raina said with a wink. Glancing over her shoulder, she added, “Speak of the devil.”
A shudder rippled through me at her words. If the Angels had their way, I probably would be giving many things a try that I hadn’t anticipated. Kill me or keep me. Those were my choices. Surely they planned to take full advantage of what that meant.
Gage slithered up behind Raina, pulling her against him as he bit the back of her neck. “Talking about me, Cherry Pie? Only good things, right?”
“Of course. What else could I possibly say?” Raina turned to place a hand on his chest. Giving him a gentle shove, she said, “Now get out of here. I’m having girl time. No boys allowed.”
Gage helped himself to a handful of her ass before heading back to the living room where Knight and Havoc mingled. The very thought of the Angels touching me like that made me guzzle back the rest of my drink. Ditching the bottle with a pile of empties, I grabbed another drink.
“Should we go outside?” Raina asked, nodding to the back door. “It’s getting stuffy in here. You’d think nobody here wears deodorant.”
I made a face. “Zane is out there. I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
“Then don’t talk to him. If he makes trouble, we’ll kick his ass out of here. Don’t give him any power over you. He’s nobody.” Raina steered me along to the back door.
She was right. I couldn’t let him affect me so much that I was going to hide out at a party to avoid him. Screw Zane and his messed up temper.
The backyard was on the smaller side. There was a brick encased firepit in the middle, a circle of lawn chairs surrounding it. Groups of people stood about, drinking and mingling. Zane stood in a far corner with guys from campus. It was only a matter of time until he noticed me.
The three of us passed some time laughing and joking with each other. People that we knew from class came to chat here and there. Summer plans and next semester’s class load were common topics. Everything was going great. Until Zane got drunk enough to come over.
“I know I’m the last person you want to talk to,” he began, holding up a hand. “I need to apologize for what happened the other day. I shouldn’t have flown off the handle like that. Seeing you with Daire set me off. I’m not sure why it hit me so hard. I’m sorry.”
Raina’s brows shot up. I cringed. I hadn’t told her about any of that, knowing exactly how she’d react. Lyra merely watched the exchange while sipping her drink. Her expression revealed nothing.
“How exactly did you fly off the handle?” Raina asked, eyes narrowing.