Page 135 of The Wildcard
Angel’s shoulders stiffened as he heard Alessandro growl in a low voice, “Where are your people, Akash? Ask them to–”
“Where are yours?”
Something was wrong.
Terribly so.
Becauseindeed, where were their people?
Angel didn’t dare whip his head around, nor did anyone, not willing to give themanything.Because there should have been people coming in to take them away. Even the staff had disappeared. But everyone who stood up on the stage knew they had a crowd.
“We’re giving you time to leave Akash.” Alessandro said, his voice even despite the issue at hand, “Leavewith your pride intact.”
Akash’s dark eyes moved, his smile still intact as he continued, “Do you know what happens when something occurs on a private island?”
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Angel saw it in the way Ray took a step closer to where Maya and Alessandro stood as if shielding them from whatever was approaching. Akash’s eyes zeroed in on Ray.
Angel’s head snapped back ahead, narrowing at the boy standing before them who was looking at Ray as though she were a mere hindrance in his path.
“Nothing.” He breathed, straightening once again, “Because here?” a pause, a beat, “Here you’redead to the world.”
“You obviously don’t know how the law works.” Came Noah Hassan’s sharp voice from the other end of the venue and Akash’s head snapped back as the other boy stepped ahead.
He strode ahead, his hands in his pockets, looking completely relaxed as he brushed past Akash and moved in Angel’s direction.
A wave of relief washed over him as those black eyes shot him a wink and he stepped forward.
This was the first time Angel was grateful for Noah Hassan’s crude words.
They seemed to jar Akash enough to render him speechless. Enough for Angel to shoot Jack a subtle nod that had the other boy running with Christina at his side.
The Ravens hadn’t come here empty handed andhellif a stupid boy took it all away for his god damned vengeance.
His eyes snapped to Mia’s and the redhead seemed to understand the assignment because she grabbed Luke’s hand and began hauling him away.
If he’d turned around, he would’ve noticed the minute movements Alessandro made to get things in order. To understand whatthe fuckwas going on.
And maybe it was because he became so hellbent on damage control, that he didn’t realize the numbing silence that overgrew the atmosphere.
He was staring at Noah’s calm face. Was about to smile back when he heard that soft rustle. Heard Ray’s sharp inhale and herno.Felt the ball of dread swallow him whole when helooked over Noah’s shoulder and–
“And you obviously don’t know how this world works.” Akash said in a low,eerie voice.His words stopped Noah in his tracks and a slow smirk spread across his lips as he swiveled on his heels and faced Akash. Angel should have screamedno,should have stopped him from moving, but it was all too slow. Because right in front of his eyes, Akash pulled out a gun from the folds of his tux and pointed it straight at Noah’s chest.
No, no, no.
He jerked forward, Ray screaming something inaudible to his ears as they all moved to where Noah stood and faced Akash. But they were all too slow, toofucking slow.
Bang!
30
Angel flinched back so fast that his entire body shuddered and fell back. His eyes widened, a suddenroarbeginning in the back of his mind as he saw Noah Hassan fall to his knees. He took a second, just a fucking second before jerking into action and pulling that gun from the hidden folds of his tux as well and–
Saw Ray do the same.
She moved faster than him, a fierceness in her eyes as she pointed her gun in Akash’s direction andshot!Angel gritted his teeth as Kyle yelled out to the crowd andeveryonemoved to jump on him. He ran ahead to Noah’s jerking figure and crouched down next to him. If he’d looked up, he would’ve seen Ray shielding them from the bullets and the knives that rained down on them. He barely noticed the shadows move and turn onthemas masked strangers fell upon Ray.
