Page 49 of Merciless Angel
“It’s not your decision to make, Raina.” The vehemence in Blaze’s voice made all three Gods stiffen.
I stood up, putting myself in front of Raina. “Raina, please. I can’t handle any more violence right now. I’ve been through enough. Can we cool it?”
Her gaze darted between me and the Angels. Finally, she relented. “I’m sorry, Clover. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“She doesn’t need your protection.” Now Cash spoke up. Arms crossed over this thick chest, he shot Raina a dark glare. “She has us. We can take care of her.”
Tension fell over everyone present. The atmosphere grew thick with it.
“I’m sure you can,” Raina muttered. “For a price, right?”
“That’s right,” Daire confirmed, his attitude cocky as hell. “Clover is ours now. I know how much that must eat you alive. You’ll have to live with it. Just like you all live with knowing your drug business is endangering minors.”
Havoc’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your supply has been making its way to the high school. Don’t pretend you didn’t know that.”
“We only sell to adults. What they do with it is out of our control.” Havoc shrugged. “Not that it’s any business of yours.”
Cash held Daire back from taking another step forward with a hand on his shoulder. “It will be our business when a kid dies. Someone has to stop you guys from destroying the city’s youth.”
Gage let out a bark of laughter. “You’ll concoct any reason to start shit with us, won’t you? Don’t you hear how fucking stupid you sound?”
“You’re right,” Blaze said with a tight smile. “We don’t give a shit about high school kids. We just want to fuck with you and your business. I mean, someone has to, right?”
I gripped Raina’s arm, giving it a squeeze, silently begging her to put a stop to this before it got bloody.
“Why?” Knight asked, his tone calm and even. “Because it gives some sense of meaning to being self-appointed vigilantes? Maybe it’s time for a new identity.”
Cash was also frighteningly calm when he replied, “Maybe we enjoy the violence, and going after people like you keeps the cops off our backs. Nobody cares if a mobster bites it.”
All six guys took a step that brought them closer together. Raina shoved in between both groups, raising her hands.
“That’s enough dick measuring for today.” Her voice rang with authority. “This conversation is over. We’re leaving. Clover, I’ll call you later. We obviously can’t have a rational conversation with these guys around.”
I gave her a brief hug, watching as she and the Gods filed from the house. When they were gone, I turned on the Angels with a scowl. “Is it really so difficult for you jerks to act civil? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Pretty sure Daire has been asphyxiated too many times during sex,” Cash quipped. “Blaze hits the bong pretty hard some days. And me? I don’t know. I suspect I may have been involved in too many fights before my brain was fully developed.”
They laughed amongst themselves. It only upset me further. I started to wish that I’d told Raina to take me with her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CLOVER
“Let’s take a drive.” Daire tossed the Chinese leftovers in the fridge and pulled car keys from his pocket. “We can show Clover our spot by the river. It will be good for her to get some fresh air.”
“What if I don’t want any fresh air?” I glanced up from where I sat on the armchair in the living room, scrolling aimlessly on my phone.
Since Raina had left an hour ago, I’d done my best to avoid speaking to these jerk asses. All I wanted was to sit alone in my dorm room and process everything that had happened. I needed time. The Angels weren’t making it easy.
“Too bad. You obviously need some. It will do you good. Let’s go.” Daire beckoned me with a jerk of his head as he strode toward the front door.
With an exasperated sigh, I shoved off the chair and followed. “Is this some kind of trap? Are you going to toss my dead body into the river?”
“Not tonight. It’s actually a really nice spot. Perfect for a walk along the riverbank under the moonlight. You’ll love it.” The smile that Cash wore was almost friendly. He held the front door open, waiting for me to exit after Daire and Blaze before following.
I slid into the backseat with Blaze, doing my best to keep to my side of the car. Frustration had me clenching my teeth as we drove. Taking Raina up on her offer to get me out of here would have been the easy way out. For me. It would have only caused trouble between the Angels and the Gods. I didn’t want to be responsible for violence between the two groups.