Page 60 of Merciless Angel

“Long week,” I said by way of explanation. “I’m taking summer classes. Biggest mistake ever.”

While sharing the joint, we made small talk about what courses we were taking. Riot was taking various computer science and technology programs, which came as no surprise to anyone. The mundane small talk helped me relax. Maybe that was the weed.

Perhaps it was my imagination but I thought Riot flashed me a flirtatious smile. When he nudged me and asked what I was doing later, I knew I hadn’t been imagining anything.

“Coming home with me.” A voice said from behind me. “Like she does every night.”

Daire shoved his way in between Riot and me. Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he pulled me against him. Raina’s eyes narrowed. For my sake, she didn’t voice her obvious disgust.

“Is that so?” A devious grin lit up Riot’s face. “Remember that favor you owe us for the work Felix did for you? I think I’d like to cash it in now. One night with your girl.”

My jaw dropped. So did Lyra’s. Not Raina though. She seemed mildly amused and even a little impressed at Riot’s audacity.

Daire didn’t find him the least bit amusing. His temper exploded. Releasing his hold on me, he threw a punch that Riot never saw coming.

My hand went to my mouth to cover my shocked gasp. Knowing exactly what was coming, Raina grabbed Lyra and me, pulling us away.

Riot stumbled back a few steps, almost losing his balance. He took a moment to process what had happened. “I can’t believe you did that. I could turn your life upside down with a few clicks, asshole.”

“Oh yeah?” Daire cocked his head to one side, inviting a fight. “Try it and they’ll be finding pieces of you from one side of the country to the other.”

Unwilling to walk away, Riot launched himself at Daire. The first punch he threw was blocked. The second one landed. Daire didn’t react like someone who’d been hurt. A maniacal laugh fell from his lips. He spat blood onto the grass before tackling Riot to the ground.

Several people took notice of the fight. It drew Riot’s friends as well as the Gods and the remaining Angels.

Before anyone could jump in or split them up, Raina raised a hand and shouted, “Leave them. If they want to be idiots, they deserve to hurt for it later. Especially Daire.”

I frowned, not loving how much she hated him but totally understanding. I should hate him too. I did. I had to.

Daire was a fighter. He had been as long as I’d been attending Ravencrest University. A hotheaded guy with an attitude. Always ready for a scrap. Watching him slam an elbow into Riot’s face before banging his head off the ground made me both uneasy and a little turned on.

My face flushed with embarrassment. Thankfully, nobody was looking at me. The warm twinge between my legs had me wanting to give myself a punch.

People shouted at each guy, encouraging them both to beat some ass. The Gods kept anyone from interfering or splitting it up. Only when Raina decided it was enough would they make a move. She was their Goddess after all.

The more punches Daire threw, the more enraged he seemed to become. Once Riot’s eyes rolled back in his head, I nudged Raina.

“Make it stop.”

She nodded to her guys who quickly dragged Daire off Riot. I breathed a sigh of relief when Riot got up, staggering away with his friends. Enough people had died because of me. Riot didn’t deserve that.

Those who’d gathered to watch the fight dispersed. Blaze and Cash took over, pulling Daire free of the Gods. They steered him toward the gate that led to the front yard.

Blaze glanced back at me, beckoning me with a finger. I sucked in a deep breath, bracing myself for what was to come.

“Guess that’s my cue to leave. I’ll talk to you girls later.” Before the expressions on my friends’ faces stopped me, I followed the Angels from the yard.

Some women would have been flattered to have someone snap the way Daire had because of Riot’s proposition. All it did was confirm for me that I needed to escape the Angels, and I needed to do it now.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CLOVER

Daire was frighteningly silent on the drive back to the house. Blood dried under his nose and on the corner of his mouth. Hands tight on the wheel, he stared straight ahead as he drove.

“Who the fuck does that guy think he is? Just because he can hack a bank account he thinks he can help himself to someone else’s girl? Fuck that shit. Fuck that guy.” Cash had been ranting since we left the party.

“I still think it could have been handled better,” Blaze said with a slight head shake. “He really can freeze our accounts. Or worse. He could get into our school records. He could undo everything we’ve done so far. He can probably access our medical records and alter info that could kill us. This isn’t something to take lightly. You should have handled it with a simple no, Daire.”