Page 28 of Merciless Angel

Spending the day with Raina was exactly what I needed. For a little while I was able to forget about Zane and the Angels. I even managed to enjoy some Chinese food and shopping. Until Raina asked me how badly the Angels had beat Zane.

“Actually, I’m not sure. All I know is that they didn’t kill him. Yet.” I’d been toying with the thought of checking in on Zane. Probably a stupid idea. I felt like I needed to confirm for myself that he was alive.

“They should have,” Raina muttered. “They can’t even do that right. Figures.”

By the time she dropped me off back at the dorm, I’d made up my mind. I was going to check in on Zane. I waited for Raina to drive away before walking over to my car. Tossing the shopping bag containing a pair of bright blue boots into the backseat, I got in the front and started the engine.

A little voice inside my head told me this was a huge mistake. That I should stay away from Zane. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to make sure he was really alive. I didn’t want anything to do with him, but I also didn’t want him dead.

The drive to his parents’ house made me question my sanity. Although perhaps enjoying what the Angels did to me yesterday should have done that. I pulled up in front of the house and hesitated.

What if they had killed him and they’d lied about it? They wouldn’t do that, would they? Only one way to find out.

Steeling myself for the worst, I walked up to the front door and rang the bell. There was a muffled shout from inside followed by a thud. A minute later the door opened.

I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. Zane stood hunched over in the doorway, holding his bandaged ribs. Shirtless in only pants, his battered and bruised body was on display. Splotches of red, purple, and black colored his skin. I gaped in open mouthed horror.

His face was just as bad. His nose was swollen and bruised. Both eyes were puffy and purple, streaked with broken blood vessels. He had more marked up skin than clear spots. I felt sick.

“What’s wrong, Clover? Come to enjoy the damage your boyfriends did?” Zane hissed, almost falling when he let go of the door.

I reacted without thinking, moving to catch him. I wasn’t prepared to shoulder his full weight and almost went down with him.

“You need to sit down. Let’s go to the couch.” I urged him along, gritting my teeth under his weight.

Zane limped beside me, dragging one foot. The damage that had been done to him was far beyond what I’d imagined. Even though he’d hurt me, I felt bad. I didn’t want him beaten almost to death.

“What are you doing here, Clover?” he demanded, pushing me away when we reached the couch. “Do your boyfriends know where you are? I don’t need them coming back to finish the job.”

I stepped back, giving him space. “I’m sorry, Zane. I didn’t think it would go this far. I had no idea what they planned to do to you.”

“Yeah, sure.” Zane reached for a glass of what appeared to be whiskey on the coffee table. “This is exactly what you wanted. They did it for you.”

He tossed back the drink, draining the glass in a few swallows. I doubted that he should be drinking with those injuries. Not that he’d care what I thought.

“Have you been to a doctor? You need to be checked for internal injuries.” Maybe I shouldn’t have been so concerned for the man who’d slapped me around. I wanted him to be sorry. This was too much. The Angels had gone too far.

“Yeah, yeah. I was at the hospital. They wanted to keep me for observation, but I said fuck it. I’d rather die at home.” Wincing in pain, Zane adjusted himself on the couch. He laid down against a pillow, holding his ribs like they would burst free if he didn’t. It probably felt that way.

“Do you need me to do anything?” I asked, trying to stay calm. The sight of him severely tested me.

Zane peered up at me through swollen, blackened eyes. “Yeah. Get the fuck out of my house. You got your revenge. Now leave me alone to die in peace.”

What could I possibly say to that? I turned to go, leaving him to suffer. When I reached the door, Zane called my name. I turned back to find him glaring daggers in my direction.

“You deserve a lot more than a few slaps for what you’ve done to me. You better hope I do die, Clover. I owe you payback.”

A shiver ran through me, chasing me from the house. I slammed the door behind me and hurried back to my car. Coming here had been a huge mistake.

As I drove, I thought back on how every move I made had led me to this moment. Why couldn’t I stop making such shitty decisions?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CLOVER

“How crazy does a person have to be to take summer classes?” Blaze’s voice came from behind me, making me jump. “Wouldn’t you rather be out enjoying the sun and drinking by the pool at Raina’s?”

I turned around to find him right behind me. I hadn’t noticed him when I’d left class. His mention of Raina made me stiffen.